Evaluating the Effectiveness of Red Light Running Camera Enforcement in Cedar Rapids and Developing Guidelines for Selection and Use of Red Light Running Countermeasures Final Report November 2011 Sponsored by Iowa Department of Transportation Midwest Transportation Consortium (InTrans Project 10-386) About the MTC The Midwest Transportation Consortium (MTC) is a Tier 1 University Transportation Center (UTC) that includes Iowa State University, the University of Iowa, and the University of Northern Iowa. The mission of the UTC program is to advance U.S. technology and expertise in the many disciplines comprising transportation through the mechanisms of education, research, and technology transfer at university-based centers of excellence. Iowa State University, through its Institute for Transportation (InTrans), is the MTC’s lead institution. 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If you need accommodations because of a disability to access the Iowa Department of Transportation’s services, contact the agency’s affirmative action officer at 800-262-0003. The preparation of this (report, document, etc.) was financed in part through funds provided by the Iowa Department of Transportation through its “Agreement for the Management of Research Conducted by Iowa State University for the Iowa Department of Transportation,” and its amendments. The opinions, findings, and conclusions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Iowa Department of Transportation. Technical Report Documentation Page 1. Report No. 2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient’s Catalog No. InTrans Project 10-386 4. Title and Subtitle 5. Report Date Evaluating the Effectiveness of Red Light Running Camera Enforcement in Cedar November 2011 Rapids and Developing Guidelines for Selection and Use of Red Light Running 6. Performing Organization Code Countermeasures 7. Author(s) 8. Performing Organization Report No. Shauna Hallmark, Nicole Oneyear, and Tom McDonald InTrans Project 10-386 9. Performing Organization Name and Address 10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS) Center for Transportation Research and Education Iowa State University 11. Contract or Grant No. 2711 South Loop Drive, Suite 4700 Ames, IA 50010-8664 12. Sponsoring Organization Name and Address 13. Type of Report and Period Covered Iowa Department of Transportation, Office of Traffic and Safety, 800 Lincoln Final Report Way, Ames, Iowa 50010 14. Sponsoring Agency Code Midwest Transportation Consortium, Institute for Transportation, 2711 S. Loop Drive, Suite 4700, Ames, Iowa 50010-8664 15. Supplementary Notes Visit www.intrans.iastate.edu for color PDF files of this and other research reports. 16. Abstract Red light running (RLR) is a problem in the US that has resulted in 165,000 injuries and 907 fatalities annually. In Iowa, RLR-related crashes make up 24.5 percent of all crashes and account for 31.7 percent of fatal and major injury crashes at signalized intersections. RLR crashes are a safety concern due to the increased likelihood of injury compared to other types of crashes. One tool used to combat red light running is automated enforcement in the form of RLR cameras. Automated enforcement, while effective, is often controversial. Cedar Rapids, Iowa installed RLR and speeding cameras at seven intersections across the city. The intersections were chosen based on crash rates and whether cameras could feasibly be placed at the intersection approaches. The cameras were placed starting in February 2010 with the last one becoming operational in December 2010. An analysis of the effect of the cameras on safety at these intersections was determined prudent in helping to justify the installation and effectiveness of the cameras. The objective of this research was to assess the safety effectiveness of the RLR program that has been implemented in Cedar Rapids. This was accomplished by analyzing data to determine changes in the following metrics: Reductions in red light violation rates based on overall changes, time of day changes, and changes by lane Effectiveness of the cameras over time Time in which those running the red light enter the intersection Changes in the average headway between vehicles entering the intersection 17. Key Words 18. Distribution Statement . automated enforcement—cameras—countermeasures—crash mitigation— No restrictions. intersection safety—red light cameras—signalized intersections—speed cameras 19. Security Classification (of this 20. Security Classification (of this 21. No. of Pages 22. Price report) page) Unclassified. Unclassified. 66 NA Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72) Reproduction of completed page authorized EVALUATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF RED LIGHT RUNNING CAMERA ENFORCEMENT IN CEDAR RAPIDS AND DEVELOPING GUIDELINES FOR SELECTION AND USE OF RED LIGHT RUNNING COUNTERMEASURES Final Report November 2011 Principal Investigator Shauna Hallmark Associate Professor Center for Transportation Research and Education, Iowa State University Co-Principal Investigator Tom McDonald Safety Circuit Rider Institute for Transportation, Iowa State University Authors Shauna Hallmark, Nicole Oneyear, and Tom McDonald Sponsored by the Iowa Department of Transportation and the Midwest Transportation Consortium (InTrans Project 10-386) A report from Institute for Transportation Iowa State University 2711 South Loop Drive, Suite 4700 Ames, IA 50010-8664 Phone: 515-294-8103 Fax: 515-294-0467 www.intrans.iastate.edu TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ............................................................................................................ vii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................... ix 1. BACKGROUND .........................................................................................................................1 1.1 Magnitude of Red Light Running ..................................................................................1 1.2 Red Light Running Camera Enforcement ......................................................................1 1.3 Violations as a Safety Surrogate for Red Light Running ..............................................2 1.4 Effectiveness of RLR Camera Enforcement in Reduction of RLR Violations .............4 1.5 Project Objectives ..........................................................................................................6 2. SITE INFORMATION ................................................................................................................7 2.1 Selection of Intersections ...............................................................................................7 2.2 Description of Camera Systems ...................................................................................12 3. DATA COLLECTION AND REDUCTION.............................................................................16 3.1 Data Reduction.............................................................................................................16 3.2 Data Limitations ...........................................................................................................18 4. COMPARISON OF VIOLATION RATES AFTER INSTALLATION OF CAMERAS ........19 4.1 Methodology ................................................................................................................19 4.2 Results for Daytime versus Nighttime Changes in Violation Rates ............................21 4.3 Results for Changes in Violation Rates by Lane .........................................................23 5. EVALUATION OF CHANGE IN RED LIGHT RUNNING VIOLATIONS OVER TIME ...28 5.1 Data ..............................................................................................................................28