Distracted Driving Caused 7.3 Million Red Light Infractions in 2012: Report
According to recent study released by the National Coalition for Safer Roads (NCSR) and FocusDriven, an estimated 7,336,696 red-light infractions occurred last year due to distracted driving.
The study analyzed around 118 red-light safety cameras in 19 different communities during a three-month period. According to the data, around 12 percent of the red-light violations were caused by distracted driving. By extrapolating the data collected in three months, the two traffic safety organizations estimate 7,336,696 intersection violations occurred in the U.S. last year as a result of distracted driving.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) also ranks red-light running as the top cause of urban crashes. As a result, the study finds that there’s a “close connection” between distracted driving and red-light violations. In addition, less than 10 percent of red-light violations involved distracted driving in communities with strict laws against cell phone use, while 16 percent occurred in communications that do not.
“Distracted driving is a pervasive threat on our roadways, particularly when it comes to cell phone use while driving,” said NCSR and FocusDriven in a release. “According to the National Safety Council, cell phone use is a factor in 21 percent of crashes, and drivers talking on handheld or hands-free cell phones are four times more likely to be involved in a car crash.”
Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
More by Jason Siu
Comments
Join the conversation