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A 69-year-old woman in Naples died from injuries she sustained on December 13, 2018. She was driving south on Santa Barbara Boulevard when she ran a red light, and her car collided with two others, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

A new report from the American Automobile Association Foundation for Traffic Safety (AAA) says deaths caused by red light runners hit their highest rate in 10 years.

Tamra Johnson, Manager of AAA Public Relations, wrote in AAA Newsroom, “More than two people are killed every day on U.S. roads by impatient and reckless drivers blowing through red lights. The most recent crash data available shows 939 people were killed in red light running crashes in 2017, a 10-year high and a 28 percent increase since 2012. With the number of red light running crashes on the rise, AAA calls for drivers to use caution when approaching signalized intersections, and for pedestrians and cyclists to stay alert when crossing the street.”

AAA reported that nearly half (46 percent) of those killed in red light running crashes were passengers or people in other vehicles, and more than 5 percent were pedestrians or cyclists. Just over 35 percent of those killed were the drivers who ran the red lights.

Manager of statistics at the National Safety Council Ken Kolosh said, “While the uptick in deaths is alarming, crashes at signaling intersections are common. It’s frustrating because it’s so obviously preventable.”

Experts, like Jessica Cicchino, Vice President for Research at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), believe red light camera programs can dissuade drivers from running red lights because drivers will be caught, and if the programs are well publicized, drivers will be reluctant to run red lights.

IIHS recommends local governments incorporate best practices into red light camera programs, such as:

• Using the camera program as part of a comprehensive traffic safety strategy, including engineering and education.
• Only implementing programs on roadways with a demonstrated pattern of violations or crashes.
• Notifying drivers that cameras are being used (signage and other methods).
• Calibrating cameras regularly.
• Only operating cameras under the direct supervision of law enforcement personnel.
• Evaluating the programs on a periodic basis to ensure safety benefits are being realized.

AAA recommends drivers change their behavior by:

• Preparing to stop
• Using good judgment
• Tapping the brake
• Driving defensively
• Waiting
• Staying alert and listening
• Being visible
• Making eye contact

“Should you or a loved one be injured because of the negligence of another, please contact the experienced legal team at Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. All of our clients have unique personal injury cases, and we provide personal contact and communication along with aggressive representation,” said Naples Personal Injury Lawyer Randall Spivey.

Naples Personal Injury Lawyer, Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys. He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida. For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839,or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com. Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information. You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.