Top Intersections for Red Light Running in Orange County

23 September 1999

Auto Club Names Top Intersections for Red Light Running in Orange County; Auto Club Joins National ``Stop on Red'' Campaign to Reduce Leading Cause of Traffic Crashes

    COSTA MESA, Calif.--Sept. 23, 1999--The intersection of Bear Street and South Coast Drive in Costa Mesa is the most dangerous red-light running intersection in Orange County, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California.
    Ten crashes occurred at the intersection in 1998, the latest year for which complete data is available.
    The Auto Club has named five intersections in Orange County as dangerous red-light running locations (see attached list) as part of National Stop on Red Week, which begins Friday. The goal is to educate the public about the dangers of red-light running.
    "When drivers get to the point that they can't take the time to stop for red lights, they're really courting disaster," said Arline Dillman, Ph.D., the Auto Club's chief traffic safety expert. "This risky behavior endangers everybody on the road and significantly increases the number of traffic collisions."
    The highest number of red-light running crashes tend to be at or near freeway entrances and exits, according to Auto Club research. Three of the intersections on the Auto Club's list, Lambert Road and the 57 Freeway in Brea, Orangethorpe Avenue and the 57 Freeway in Placentia and Lake Forest Drive and the 5 Freeway, are all located at freeway off-ramps.
    "Motorists could be taking on a `freeway driving' mentality before they actually reach the freeway, or keep driving like they're on the freeway when they are exiting," Dillman said. "Drivers have to be able to quickly adapt to new conditions, and too many aren't paying attention."
    The Auto Club supports numerous law enforcement and traffic engineering efforts to reduce the number of red-light runners on the road. These techniques include special red-light enforcement, and redesign or fine-tuning of intersections including changing the timing of lights or constructing underpasses in place of intersections.
    A new red-light running survey being released today by the Red Light Running Partnership, including the Federal Highway Administration, the American Trauma Association and Daimler-Chrysler, says that while 97.5 percent of California drivers believe that red-light running is a serious traffic hazard, 52.7 percent admit they run red lights.
    According to the survey, the majority of those who run red lights do so because they are in a hurry.
    "This thinking flies in the face of solid defensive driving techniques," Dillman said. "Motorists cannot afford to gamble that cross traffic will wait for them to speed through an intersection. The only action to take when a light turns red is to stop. It's the law and it could save a life."
    Disregarding traffic controls is a leading cause of vehicle collisions in urban areas of the United States, accounting for 22 percent of all crashes, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The economic impact of these crashes is estimated at $7 billion each year in medical costs, time off work, insurance hikes and property damage, according to the institute.
    The Automobile Club of Southern California, the largest affiliate of the AAA, has been serving members since 1900. Today, the Auto Club's members benefit by the organization's emergency road service, insurance products and services, travel agency, financial products, automotive pricing, buying and financing programs, automotive testing and analysis, trip planning services, highway and transportation safety programs and legislative advocacy. Information about these products and services is available on the Auto Club's Web site at www.aaa-calif.com.



           Most Dangerous Red Light Running Intersections in
                             Orange County

     The following intersections in Orange County had the highest
number of collisions in 1998 caused by drivers who ran red lights:

 1. Bear St. and South Coast Dr., 10 crashes (Costa Mesa)
 2. (Tie with 8 crashes apiece) Lambert Rd. and 57 Freeway, southbound
                                off ramp, (Brea)
                                Orangethorpe Ave. and 57 Freeway, 
                                northbound off ramp, (Placentia)
                                Edinger Ave. and Jamboree Rd., 
                                (Tustin)(a)
 3. Lake Forest Dr. and 5 Freeway, northbound off ramp, 7 crashes 
   (Lake Forest)

     Note: (a) This location was under construction during 1998 and
now is a grade-separated intersection.

Source: California Highway Patrol