Red Means Stop

Drivers running red lights is a growing problem and it's getting worse in Warsaw.

Ann Sweet presented a proposal to the Warsaw City Council Monday evening asking that the council consider the addition of photo-red technology to help curb the problem.

"It's an epidemic throughout the United States," said Sweet. "I have listened while others have blamed semis, cars, the lights and, of course, the police. I personally am a little tired of people blaming the police. Let's just quit laying the blame. Red means stop."

Sweet also would like to emphasize that it isn't just the semis that are running lights. Everyone is doing it.

Sweet's interest in this topic comes from the loss of her daughter, Shawnee Ulrey, who was killed Oct. 17, 1997, by a semi that ran a red light. Sweet dealt with a lawsuit for two years.

According to an editorial in Wednesday's South Bend Tribune, Indiana ranks 10th among the states for deaths related to red-light runnings, with 2.7 deaths per 100,000 population as opposed to the average 2.3 per 100,000.

A study on photo-red technology was funded by DaimlerChrysler Corp. and performed by Old Dominion University.

Photo-red technology involves hidden cameras at traffic lights that record the intersection 24 hours a day. Three types of cameras are used: 35 mm cameras, video cameras and digital cameras. In testimony on photo-red technology, Dr. Bryan Porter, assistant professor of Psychology at Old Dominion, said 98.8 percent of participants in the study believed that red-light running is dangerous. However, 55.8 percent had run lights. Only 5.8 percent reported being ticketed for running the lights.

"Through my research I came to the overall conclusion that red-light running behavior is prevalent in our society," said Porter. "And reducing it to safe levels that are maintained for extended periods of time will require more than traditional education, engineering and police initiatives."

"Enforcement has to be done 24 hours a day," Sweet said.

According to an article in the August 1999 edition of the Institute of Transportation Engineers Journal, "More than one million motor vehicle crashes occur annually in the United States. ... A major cause of such crashes is drivers disregarding traffic signals."

A study was conducted in Fairfax, Va., on the effect of cameras on red-light running. Fairfax is the closest city in size to Warsaw that has initiated the use of photo-red technology, Sweet said. The study showed an overall 44 percent reduction rate of red-light running after a year. This includes lights that have no cameras.

According to the June 2000 issue of Insurance Insight, a publication by the Insurance Institute of Indiana, 37 jurisdictions use cameras today as opposed to only one five years ago. Washington, D.C., has 40 cameras, Baltimore uses 24 and New York City has decided to add more.

Sweet is hoping to start a petition asking for the cameras. She has the support of State Sen. Kent Adams and State Rep. David Wolkins.

"David Wolkins and I support her without any reservations at all," said Adams of Sweet. "I commend her for doing this."

Adams and Wolkins are hoping to establish photo-red technology without legislation. The only holdup to passing this issue would be any tiny clause or statement in Indiana laws preventing it. Laws would have to be changed and approved by the Indiana Department of Transportation because moving vehicle violations have to be witnessed by a police officer for a ticket to be issued. Michigan has had to enact a law to make photo-red technology possible.

Some people will be concerned about the possible invasion of privacy that goes along with 24-hour camera coverage. When asked about the issue of privacy, Adams said, "These are public highways. This is a matter of public safety."

"The need is there," Adams said in reference to red-light running. "It's something that is really becoming a concern because motorists are violating it more and more. Statistically, it has become something that deserves attention."

"I would like that no other family has to go through what our family did," said Sweet.