Arizona has most red light-running fatalities per capita, says AAA

PHOENIX — Red-light runners cause fatalities at a higher rate in Arizona than in any other state, according to a new report from AAA.

The report released Thursday found that fatalities due to a driver running a red light have hit a 10-year high nationwide.

“Blowing through a stoplight to shave off a few seconds of time to reach your destination is not only dangerous, but it can be deadly,” Albo Vasquez, AAA Arizona spokesman, told KTAR News 92.3 FM.

Vasquez said 352 were killed in Arizona by red light-running crashes from 2008 to 2017. Phoenix had 132 fatalities due to the crashes in that 10-year period.

Red Light Running Deaths Hit 10 Year High https://t.co/drYmeShEGH

— AAA (@AAAnews) August 29, 2019

The number of fatalities per capita in Arizona was more than double the national average.

According to the report, 46% of the people killed in the Arizona crashes were occupants of the victim vehicle.

Almost 34% of those killed were the red light-running driver, while nearly 14% were a passenger of the violating vehicle and 6% were cyclists or pedestrians.

Vasquez said along with distracted and impaired driving, “recklessness on the part of drivers to beat a red light” was one of the primary causes of the rise in fatalities.

He said although 87% of people told AAA they see running a red light as “very dangerous,” 1 in 3 of those drivers admitted to doing so in the past 30 days.

Vasquez said the organization recommends driving defensively, slowing down for yellow lights and being aware of your surroundings.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Molly Hudson contributed to this report. 

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