Focus on Denver’s Photo Red-Light Program

Guest Writer – Kory Nelson (Assistant City Attorney – Senior)

The Dangers Involved

Traffic crashes are the single most significant cause of preventable death and injury in North America. In 2007 in the U.S., almost 900 people were killed and an estimated 153,000 were injured in crashes that involved red light violations. One in three Americans knows someone who has been injured or killed in a red light violation crash. Public costs exceed $14 billion per year, and more than half of the deaths in red light violation crashes are other motorists and pedestrians. There is no doubt that red light runners are dangerous drivers who irresponsibly put others at risk. In America's cities ― where too often the yellow light has come to symbolize "hurry up" instead of "slow down" ― red light violations is the leading cause of all urban automobile crashes.