Running Red Lights Caused 147 Deaths In Maryland

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD — With a big travel weekend ahead for Labor Day, AAA warns people to pay close attention to traffic signals and stop running red lights. More than two people are killed every day on U.S. roads by drivers blowing through red lights, according to a data analysis performed by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. Out of the 50 states and District of Columbia, Maryland is 18th in terms of fatalities per capita at 2.4 fatalities per million of the 6,024,891 statewide population from running lights.

In Maryland, 147 people died between 2008 and 2017 due to red light running crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) FARS data analyzed by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

The foundation’s analysis of Maryland data revealed:

• More than half (61.2%) of those killed in red light running crashes were passengers or people in other vehicles and 5.4 percent were pedestrians or cyclists.
• Slightly more than 33 percent of those killed were the drivers who ran the red light.

The most recent crash data available shows 939 people were killed in red light running crashes in 2017 across the country, representing a 10-year high and a 28 percent increase since 2012. With the number of red light running crashes on the rise, AAA is reminding drivers to use caution when approaching intersections, and for pedestrians and cyclists to stay alert when crossing the street.

“Drivers who carelessly run a red light when they could have stopped safely are making a reckless decision that not only jeopardizes their lives but endangers the lives of all road users,” said Ragina C. Ali, public and government affairs manager at AAA Mid-Atlantic. “Unfortunately, the data indicates that red light running continues to be a traffic safety challenge. It is incumbent upon motorists to obey traffic laws and change behaviors that lead to fatalities on our roadways. Traffic safety stakeholders must continue to work together to identify effective countermeasures."