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National Stop on Red Week enters the middle of its campaign today in full stride. Police, city officials and drivers in the news stories below are taking to the streets and airwaves to let people know it’s better to stop on red than to race ahead. Reckless red-light running kills hundreds and injures tens of thousands every year, and, as RanARedLight.us shows, these terrible collisions occur at intersections across the U.S. Please, stop on red. For more information about National Stop on Red Week and how to get involved, visit ATS on Facebook, the National Coalition for Safer Roads or the Federal Highway Administration. Then go to the ATS Twitter page and spread the message using #StopOnRed2014!

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Police, Locals Get Involved in Stop-On-Red Week
KTNV-TV ABC 13 (Nevada), Aug. 6, 2014

Police officers, safety advocates and hospital workers are taking the streets to remind drivers not to run red lights. Red Light Running Day is being hosted by Sunrise Hospital. A lot of their trauma patients are people who’ve been hit by cars. Many happen when drivers speed through a red light. This also puts other drivers at risk.

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Wilmington Officials Urge Drivers to Stop on Red
WECT-TV NBC 6 (North Carolina), Aug. 6, 2014

Wilmington’s 13 traffic cameras tell the stories of several red light runners. To mark National Stop on Red Week, city officials are urging drivers to stop by releasing video of accidents and near misses red light runners cause.

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Red-Light Camera Program Helps Sarasota Decrease Crashes, Violations
Herald Tribune/SNN (Florida), Aug. 6, 2014

Sarasota Police Officer John Lake says red-light running crashes and violations are decreasing at the city’s intersections with red-light safety cameras. Twenty cameras are installed at 10 intersections, with some locations showing violation drops by as much as 50 percent and crash decreases of 10 to 14 percent.

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City Committee Endorses Hiring Agency to Collect Unpaid Fines
Tuscaloosa News (Alabama), Aug. 5, 2014

A City Council committee has endorsed the hiring of a debt collection agency to recover outstanding parking ticket fines and unpaid civil penalties for red-light violations captured on the city’s camera network. A total of 657 red-light violators have gone at least three months without paying their issued citation.

Police Pull Red-Light Camera Footage in Robbery Investigation
Riverside-Brookfield Landmark (Illinois), Aug. 4, 2014

Riverside police say that a 70-year-old Hillside man was beaten and robbed of an undetermined amount of jewelry by two masked men after he got out of his car in the driveway of a friend’s home on East Burlington Street on Sunday afternoon. Two Riverside police officers have been assigned to collecting evidence for the case, including obtaining surveillance camera and red-light camera footage along the victim’s route to Riverside.

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Knoxville Police Chief Supports National Stop on Red Week
Knoxville News Sentinel (Tennessee), Aug. 4, 2014

Sunday marked the beginning of National Stop on Red Week and Knoxville Police Chief David Rausch is embracing the concept sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration. National Stop on Red Week runs from Aug. 3-9 and is “dedicated to educating Americans about the dangers of running red lights and to reducing the number and severity of traffic citations and crashes,” according to a news release from the Knoxville Police Department. (WVLT-TV Channel 8 image)

Staff to Newark Council: Crashes Decrease with Cameras
The Star-Ledger (New Jersey), Aug. 4, 2014

The city placed red-light cameras at intersections as part of a state pilot program about five years ago. Since then, the city has seen a drop in the number of accidents near intersections with cameras and other nearby intersections, Jack Nata, manager of traffic and signals, said.

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Coalition Directs Attention on National Stop on Red Week
MYGTN.TV (Florida), Aug. 4, 2014

National Coalition for Safer Roads will recognize National Stop on Red Week (August 3-9, 2014) by promoting safe driving and raising awareness about the dangers of red-light running. … Red-light safety cameras are a critical tool in improving driver behavior and reducing red-light running. Nationwide, 89 percent of drivers who received a ticket issued by a red-light safety camera in 2013 have not received another.

Davenport Accepts Ticket Amnesty Program Results
WQAD-TV Channel 8 (Iowa), Aug. 4, 2014

Davenport’s red-light amnesty program that was introduced on June 3, 2014 ended August 4 with 1,500 people paying their overdue fines while avoiding late fees. All the money generated from the red light/speed camera tickets goes toward the police general fund. Starting August 5, a $25 fine will be added to all overdue, unpaid red-light camera tickets and a notice will be sent to the state of Iowa to hold the vehicle registration.

Pedestrians Wave Flags to Warn Drivers
Star Tribune (Minnesota), Aug. 4, 2014

A new safety program lets pedestrians who cross the street at five intersections on St. Paul’s Grand Avenue carry bright orange flags and wave them to get the attention of motorists who might not otherwise see them. The new pilot project kicked off Sunday and is the latest initiative from the Summit Hill Association to educate motorists about state crosswalk laws and improve pedestrian safety. And it comes as St. Paul is holding its first citywide Pedestrian Awareness campaign this week.

Red-Light Violations a Growing Problem
WilliamsonDailyNews.com (West Virginia), Aug. 3, 2014

Running a red light has become a national problem, but locally this issue is also widespread and all too common. There are more injuries due to red-light running than any other type of crash, and the death rate caused by red-light running is increasing more than three times the rate of all other fatal crashes.

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Will Amped Up Traffic Enforcement Improve Safety on Gratiot Road?
MLive.com (Michigan), Aug. 1, 2014

A new effort to increase safety for motorists traveling on Gratiot (M-46) will begin next week. Officials announced the formation of the Enforcement Coalition that will focus its efforts on red-light running, seat belt use and speed enforcement, the major contributing factors to the majority of recent fatal crashes. (MLive.com photo by Jeff Schrier)

Red-Light Runner Caught on Dash Camera
Orange County Register (California), July 31, 2014

Today, I was stopped at an intersection. A person in the lane to my left blew through the red light. My dashboard camera caught it all. Should I send the video to law enforcement? You could see the license plate.

Don’t Let Red Light Be Last Thing You See
ITBusinessNet.com (California), July 31, 2014

August 3-9 is National Stop on Red Week, and the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) is reminding Californians to slow down, stop for red lights and stop signs, and practice safe driving now and at all times throughout the year. Stop sign and red-light running caused 141 deaths in California in 2011, along with over 20,000 serious injuries.

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Aurora Considers Speed Van to Assist Traffic Enforcement
KDVR-TV FOX 31 (Colorado), Aug. 5, 2014

As students in Aurora returned to school on Tuesday, city leaders debated whether to give police officers a new tool to fight speeding in school zones. In addition to the officers who spend time patrolling school zones before and after school, the Aurora city council will soon decide whether to spend money to operate a photo radar van in school zones. See related coverage from KMGH-TV ABC 7.

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School Zone Speeders Photographed in Nassau
12 News Brooklyn (New York), Aug. 4, 2014

Drivers traveling through Nassau have been warned: cameras have started snapping photos of school zone speeders. White vans equipped with photo radar are now operating in front of select schools in Nassau County. Drivers who go more than 10 mph over the posted speed limit will receive tickets in the mail for $80.

Speed Camera Coming to Lido Boulevard School Zone
Long Island Herald (New York), July 31, 2014

Nassau County has begun installing speed cameras in school zones, part of an initiative to crack down on speeding, protect children and make roads near schools safer. The County Legislature approved a contract amendment with American Traffic Solutions on May 19 to install the cameras.

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School Officials Call Illlegal Bus Passing a ‘Serious Problem’
Charleston Daily Mail (West Virginia), Aug. 5, 2014

Despite flashing lights and stop signs warning drivers to keep a distance, about 500 motorists illegally pass school buses each day in West Virginia, a survey conducted by the state Department of Education has found. (WMBG-TV image of West Virginia incident)

Kentucky Urges Drivers, Students to be Cautious
MiddlesboroDailyNews.com, Aug. 4, 2014

It’s back-to-school time and the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety is reminding drivers to be alert, use extreme caution and be safe behind the wheel. In 2013, there were 825 collisions either directly or indirectly involving a school bus in Kentucky. These collisions resulted in 316 injuries and one fatality. See related news coverage from WDAM-TV NBC 7.

School Bus Safety Cameras Launch in Decatur
School Transportation News, Aug. 1, 2014

City Schools of Decatur will soon become the 12th school district in Georgia to partner with American Traffic Solutions (ATS) to deploy CrossingGuard, ATS’ technology to help school districts address the growing problem of illegal passing of school buses that are stopped and boarding or disembarking children.

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Cameras, Deputies on Duty to Protect Students
WHAG-TV NBC 25 (Maryland), July 31, 2014 

The effort continues to make sure students are safer when they get back on and off school buses. The Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention awarded 53 agencies from 22 jurisdictions $540,722 to help make the trip to and from school safer for Maryland’s children. Washington County Sheriff Douglas Mullendore, said his department received $9,000 to help install more cameras on school buses and provide overtime for deputies to travel the school bus routes along the buses.
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City of Cleveland TX @CityClevelandTX Wed #StopOnRed2014 tip: Occupant injuries occurred in 45% of red-light running crashes compared w/30% of other crash types. #clevelandtx

AAA Foundation @AAAFTS @SaferRoadsUSA Time 2 work on the 1/3 of drivers who say they ran a red light in the past month! #StopOnRed2014 https://www.aaafoundation.org/sites/default…

NHTSA If the light’s red, STOP. It might seem like an easy message, but many still run red lights, putting pedestrians … http://fb.me/3ipa1qOLm

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Toll Dodger Who Owed $5,000 Arrested
The News Journal/DelawareOnline, Aug. 5, 2014

A New Jersey driver wanted for dodging more than $5,000 in tolls and fees on the Delaware Memorial Bridge was arrested last weekend, authorities announced Monday. Delaware River and Bay Authority spokesman Jim Salmon said the arrest should serve as a  teachable moment for others.

Push to Electronic Tolling Brings Demand for Pass Cards
WGGB-TV ABC 40 (Massachusetts), Aug. 4, 2014

The push by Massachusetts Department of State Transportation to have the Mass Pike cash free by the summer of 2016 prompted dozens of people to sign up for EZ Passes at the ABC 40 station today. The electronic toll system will eventually replace every toll plaza in Massachusetts. That means, no more booths with toll takers.

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Verrazano Bridge Will Soon Accept Debit, Credit Cards for Payment
Staten Island Advance (New York), July 31, 2014

The Verrazano Bridge will soon be accepting debit and credit card payments — potentially within several weeks, according to Metropolitan Transportation Authority spokesperson Judie Glave. In addition to cash-paying customers, EZPass users with negative account balances will be able to use cards to pay the cash-rate toll. (Staten Island Advance photo by Bill Lyons)

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Commentary: Our Priority Is to Keep Kids Safe
School Bus Fleet, August 2014

Changing driver behavior is at the heart of all of American Traffic Solutions (ATS) road safety camera solutions. Whether the problem is speeding, running red lights or rushing past stopped school buses, our products provide law enforcement with additional resources to help improve traffic safety. This is especially true of CrossingGuard, ATS’ school bus stop arm enforcement solution.

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Editorial:  Dangerous Intersection Needs Expert Fixes
Tampa Bay Times (Florida), July 31, 2014

Twenty years ago, traffic experts anticipated the problems that now plague the Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard and Belcher Road intersection in Clearwater. But opposition from residential neighborhoods along with the expense of acquiring right-of-way, led the county to never substantially widen the commercial stretch north of Druid Road. In hindsight, what a mistake that was. The hazards are plain to see, but it took the May death at the intersection of a popular school crossing guard and retired police officer, to prompt new action from local and Florida Department of Transportation officials.

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Letter: It Is the Law
Kane County Chronicle (Illinois), Aug. 5, 2014

I am a 39-year resident of Wayne, and ever since the red light cameras went up, I stop a complete stop before turning right – no matter the time or traffic. It is posted, and whether I agree with the law or the means of enforcement, it is the law and I stop.

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“When they’re driving and they’re making stops, their focus is on students exiting the bus or boarding the bus and trying to keep an eye on traffic, so if they do have a violator it’s nearly impossible to identify the make of that vehicle, get a tag number and be able to report that effectively. As far as it’s good for students, it’s a matter of saving a life, that’s how important it can be.”
Barbara Scotto, Washington County Public Schools Transportation Supervisor
WHAG-TV NBC 25 (Maryland), July 31, 2014  

District 3
“Innocent lives are lost every day when drivers recklessly or inadvertently run red-lights. Most of the time these incidents happen because the driver is in a hurry to get to their destination, but it’s important that all drivers remember that being late is infinitely better than losing their life or injuring others due to a careless decision.”
Rhonda Craft, California Office of Traffic Safety Director
ITBusinessNet.com, July 31, 2014

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Indiana
Lafayette School Corporation Transportation Director Jim Scroggin said the School Transportation Association of Indiana’s annual survey to see how many people disregard the stop arms on school buses revealed more than 2,500 violations this year. This year, nearly 200 school corporations participated with 7,500 school buses. SOURCE:  WLFI-TV Channel 18, Indiana, July 31, 2014.

Minnesota
Statewide 35 pedestrians were killed in and 867 injured in 2013, and 369 have been killed since 2004, according to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. SOURCE: Star Tribune, Aug. 4, 2014.

North Carolina
Crash counts are rising again at the three Knightdale Boulevard intersections where red-light cameras nabbed violators until last October – a 32 percent increase in accidents, when the first six months of 2014 were compared with the same period of 2013, according to the town. SOURCE: The News & Observer, Aug. 4, 2014.