TECHNICAL REPORT STANDARD TITLE PAGE 1. Report No. 2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient's Catalog No. FHWA/IN/JTRP-2002/12-1 4. Title and Subtitle 5. Report Date Evaluation of Safety Enforcement on Changing Driver Behavior – Runs on Red, Volume 1 January 2003 6. Performing Organization Code 7. Author(s) 8. Performing Organization Report No. Andrzej P. Tarko and Naredla Lakshmi Kanth Reddy FHWA/IN/JTRP-2002/12-1 9. Performing Organization Name and Address 10. Work Unit No. Joint Transportation Research Program 1284 Civil Engineering Building Purdue University West Lafayette, IN 47907-1284 11. Contract or Grant No. SPR-2484 12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address 13. Type of Report and Period Covered Indiana Department of Transportation State Office Building Final Report 100 North Senate Avenue Indianapolis, IN 46204 14. Sponsoring Agency Code 15. Supplementary Notes Prepared in cooperation with the Indiana Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration. 16. Abstract Red light running (RLR) is a dangerous act. Approximately 22% of urban crashes at signalized intersections are caused nationwide by RLR. Nearly 1,036 deaths were caused nationwide by RLR in the year 2000. Indiana had no previous research conducted in this area; therefore, this research was aimed at estimating the RLR problem in Indiana. The other objectives of this research included: learning drivers’ opinions on the problem, studying the effectiveness of selected countermeasures, and studying the legal issues related to photo-enforcement. A crash statistics study, telephone survey, and extended monitoring of a selected intersection were the three major approaches chosen to estimate the magnitude of the problem. The crash statistics for the 1997-1999 period showed that 22% of signalized intersection crashes were caused in Indiana by RLR. RLR preceded 50% of fatal crashes at these intersections. The telephone survey showed that 67% of Indiana drivers felt that RLR was a problem in the state. Twelve percent of them claimed to have been involved in a RLR crash. The extended monitoring of the through movements at the study intersection also recorded a considerable violation rate. These results indicate that RLR may be considered a problem in Indiana. Traffic at a selected intersection in West Lafayette, Indiana, was videotaped and the video material was used to detect the red light violations. The expected number of drivers arriving at the start of the red signal has been proposed as a true measure of exposure to RLR. We call it an opportunity for RLR. This exposure was used to estimate the RLR rate. The statistical significance of the difference in the RLR rates between different periods was estimated using binomial distribution. Police enforcement was evaluated and found to reduce the violation rate by approximately 75% in the week immediately after the enforcement. A reduction of 37% was observed after another two weeks. The photo- enforcement reduced the violation rate by 62% during the week of enforcement and by 35% during the week immediately following. Young people violated red lights more frequently than other drivers. The legal issues that related to RLR and photo-enforcement were studied. The present state law in Indiana does not support the use of photo-enforcement. 17. Key Words 18. Distribution Statement red light running, enforcement, safety, driver behavior. No restrictions. This document is available to the public through the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA 22161 19. Security Classif. (of this report) 20. Security Classif. (of this page) 21. No. of Pages 22. Price Unclassified Unclassified 161 Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-69) TECHNICAL Summary Technology Transfer and Project Implementation Information INDOT Research TRB Subject Code:51-4 Transportation Safety Law Enforcement January 2003 Publication No.: FHWA/IN/JTRP-2002/12, SPR-2484 Final Report EVALUATION OF SAFETY ENFORCEMENT ON CHANGING DRIVER BEHAVIOR – RUNS ON RED (A Two-Volume Report) Introduction Twenty-two percent of crashes at urban the frequency of red light running. The second signalized intersections are claimed to be caused research group developed a random selection nationwide by drivers who run red lights. To process, utilizing a cross section of improve safety at signalized intersections, red-light- intersections in Tippecanoe County. Variables running countermeasures have been applied in in the selection process included posted speed, twelve states. Currently, there are no specific number of lanes, presence of turn lanes, and countermeasures in Indiana nor is there an different traffic signal controls, as examples. assessment of the red light running in Indiana. This Randomly established observation times and research project was designed to assess the days were determined. After the conclusion of magnitude of red light running, evaluate selected the first round of studies, the experiment was countermeasures, and, finally, identify driver and repeated introducing different sites, dates, and road characteristics that are associated with excessive times. As a result, over representation patterns red light running in Indiana. of red light running were identified. Both The project consisted of a telephone survey groups then introduced the perceived risk of to assess Indiana drivers’ perception of the presence being stopped for violation of the law. This and seriousness of red light running, observational occurred through the involvement of local studies at a cross section of intersections (in radio, television, and print media. This was Tippecanoe County), the introduction of selected followed by a period of police enforcement at countermeasures, and the measurement of the the selected intersections. In the case of the effectiveness of the measures. In parallel, an intersection with continuous traffic monitoring, analysis of Indiana crash data was conducted to police enforcement was present during the red- determine the extent of red light running as reported light-running campaign and four months later, by the investigating officers. Finally, the legal signs were installed at approaches to the aspects of a red light running law were researched intersections, advising drivers that photo both as it relates to Indiana and the experience of monitoring of red light running was taking other states. place at that intersection. The reduction in red The observational studies included two light running was investigated. Both the groups different approaches. One group of researchers measured the immediate and residual effects of focused on one intersection, using continuous the higher enforcement periods. video monitoring over extended period to measure Findings Indiana crash statistics for 1997-1999 urban areas. Fifty percent of all fatal crashes at indicates that 22 percent of signalized these intersections were caused by red light intersection crashes are caused by red light runners. Red light running is perceived by two- running supporting the national average for thirds of the survey respondents as a problem in 51-4 01/03 JTRP-2002/12 INDOT Division of Research West Lafayette, IN 47906 Indiana. Ninety-five percent of the respondents the road concurs with the past research findings indicated that they observed people running a that young drivers are more aggressive and red light in Indiana. Seventy-six percent of the violate traffic rules more frequently than other respondents believed that a prime factor is drivers. drivers in a hurry, with 35 percent indicating The randomly selected sites measured driver inattention as a factor. Support for not only frequency of red light running but also increased fines and enforcement was expressed captured the offending driver’s gender, estimated by a clear majority. Seventy-eight percent of the age group of driver, type of vehicle, the presence respondents supported or strongly supported of other occupants, and the type of driving photo enforcement. maneuver at the time of the red light violation This research used two measures of red (left, straight, or right hand turn). This data were light running intensity: frequency and rate. The contrasted against posted speed limit, roadway red light running frequency is a useful measure type, intersection design, and signal light for planning effective enforcement while the red configuration. From the initial round of light running rate is useful in investigating driver sampling, over represented times of day and behavior because the exposure effect days of week were identified. Subsequent (combination of frequency of red signals and sampling rounds also further validated these volume) is removed. At the video-monitored trends. From the full set of results, no type of intersection, the rate and frequency of red signal vehicle (such as SUVs, cars, pickup trucks, etc.) violations were detected and recorded prior to, are over represented nor does race appear to be a during, and after police enforcement. A police factor. Gender, however, is a factor. Male patrol was present and ticketed violators for five drivers committed 64 percent of the red light days during the afternoon peak hours. The red running violations observed, while other studies light running rate did not change significantly (Indiana Annual State Wide Seatbelt Surveys) during the one-week enforcement but decreased have shown male drivers representing 52.7 by 75 percent the next week following the percent of the drivers in 2000, and 53.1 percent enforcement period. One month later, the red in 2001. Results also