Study: Phoenix second-most dangerous city for red-light running

PHOENIX — Phoenix is the second-most dangerous city for red-light running, with 127 fatalities between 2004-2013, according to a new study from the National Coalition for Safer Roads.

The NCSR released an interactive map Wednesday detailing the number of fatalities in specific areas and pointing out the intersections where people have lost their lives to red-light runners.

The map was released as part of Stop on Red Week, a national week of awareness between Aug. 2-8 that educates local drivers on traffic safety and helps them understand how it affects communities across the country.

Melissa Wandall, president of the NCSR, wants to use Stop on Red Week as a way for people to communicate about the dangers of red-light running and share their own stories.

“Our ultimate goal is to honor the lives that have been lost,” said Wandall. “One in three people know someone who was injured or killed by a red-light runner.”

Wandall went on to say this issue hits close to home.

“My husband, for example, was killed by a red-light runner in 2003, just two weeks before our daughter was born.”

The problem is not the intersection, but the driver’s attentiveness, according to Wandall.

“In our vehicles, there is mindless driving,” said Wandall. “People are just not paying attention and unfortunately, innocent people are getting caught in the cross fire.”

With more than 7,000 people in the U.S. killed by red-light running since 2004, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Wandall wants people to know that practicing cautious traffic habits can go a long way in ensuring safety.

“No one is immune,” said Wandall. “We want people to share their stories so that they can hopefully encourage other people to make better driving decisions so that they don’t ultimately end up in the same shoes of the victim or the violator.”

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