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Research and Publications

Rural Signalized Intersection - Photoo by Vaughn Inman (used with permission) This page is a repository of FHWA-sponsored research and technical publications related to red-light running and red-light running cameras/automated enforcement (resources are sequenced in order of recency within these two categories).

Resources

Red-Light Running (General)

Cooperative Intersection Collision Avoidance System Limited to Stop Sign And Traffic Signal Violations Midterm Phase I Report May 2006 – April 2007, DOT HS 811 048, October 2008. [PDF 1.35 MB]
This report presents the Midterm Phase I Report for the Cooperative Intersection Collision Avoidance System (CICAS) Limited to Stop Sign and Traffic Signal Violations (CICAS-V) project. The CICAS-V project is a 4-year project to develop a cooperative intersection collision avoidance system to assist drivers in avoiding crashes in the intersection by warning the driver of an impending violation of a traffic signal or a stop sign.

Reducing Red-Light Running Through Longer Yellow Signal Timing and Red-Light Camera Enforcement: Results of a Field Investigation, Retting RA et. al., Accident Analysis & Prevention, Volume 40, Issue 1, January 2008, Pages 327-333. [PDF 648 KB]
Two principal methods used to reduce red-light running involve lengthening the duration of yellow change intervals and automated red light enforcement. This study evaluated the incremental effects on red-light running of first lengthening yellow signal timing, followed by the introduction of red-light cameras.

Development of Guidelines for Identifying and Treating Locations with a Red-Light Running Problem, Report 4196-2, Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX., September 2004. [PDF]
Research can help agencies identify effective red-light running countermeasures and where to implement them.

Red-Light Running Handbook: An Engineer’s Guide to Reducing Red-Light-Related Crashes, Report 4196-P1, Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX, September 2004. [PDF]
A guide developed for transportation engineers to help identify available countermeasures that can reduce red-light running.

Crash Rates at Intersections, Kentucky Transportation Center in Cooperation with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and the Federal Highway Administration, Research Report KTC 03-21-SPR 258-03-21, August 2003. [PDF 222 KB]
This report analyzes crashes at intersections in order to identify the intersections with the highest crash rates. It provides an example for the procedure necessary to perform similar calculations elsewhere.

Engineering Countermeasures to Reduce Red-Light Running, Report 4027-2, Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX., August 2002. [PDF]
Report summarizes studies which indicate the frequency of red-light running decreases in a predictable way with decreasing approach flow rate, longer clearance path lengths, longer headways, and longer yellow interval durations. The crash data analyses indicate that right-angle crashes increase exponentially with an increasing frequency of red-light-running.

Red-Light Running In Iowa: The Scope, Impact and Possible Implications, Summary Report, January 2001. [PDF 27KB]
Many states and local jurisdictions have undertaken studies and enacted programs in reaction to the major transportation safety concern of red-light running. This research study examined the scope of this phenomenon in Iowa, reviewed red-light running reduction studies and programs nationwide, and proposed countermeasures to address significant violation problems.

Association of Selected Intersection Factors with Red-Light-Running Crashes, FHWA-RD-00-112, Washington, DC, May 2000. [PDF 538 KB]
The purpose of this study was to examine selected geometric characteristics of intersections and their impact on red-light running crash rates and to establish a relationship between them.

Statistical Models of At-Grade Intersection Accidents—Addendum, FHWA-RD-00-094, March 2000. [PDF 343 KB]
This report is an addendum to the work published in FHWA-RD-96-125 titled “Statistical Models of At-Grade Intersection Accidents.” The objective of both research studies was to develop statistical models of the relationship between traffic crashes and highway geometric elements for at-grade intersections.

Red-Lights Mean Stop, Hasson, Patrick, FHWA, Washington, DC, 2000. [PDF 13 KB]
This brief article provides insight into red-light running as a national issue and specifically covers the FHWA review of enforcement techniques.

A Nationwide Survey of Red-Light Running: Measuring Driver Behaviors for the “Stop Red-Light Running” Program, Old Dominion University, June-August 1999. [PDF 205 KB]
This report reviews the background, method, results, and discussion of a 58-question telephone survey administered regarding red-light running. The report provides insight into red-light running behaviors and future research considerations.

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