ATSSA urges FHWA to expand countermeasures for red light issues

ATSSA urges FHWA to expand countermeasures for red light issues

ATSSA President & CEO Stacy Tetschner contacted Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Administrator Shailen Bhatt today to ask for an expansion of countermeasures beyond the 28 identified as part of the Proven Safety Countermeasures initiative (PSCi).

Tetschner specifically asked for red-light running management (RLRM) and red-light indicator lights (RLILs) to be added to the program.

“Most urban crashes happen at intersections, many of which are signalized; many serious injuries and fatal crashes are caused by drivers who run red lights,” Tetschner noted in his letter. “Research has shown that RLRM and RLIL can result in a significant reduction in serious injuries and fatalities, both with and without enforcement. The key element is for drivers to realize that red-light running enforcement is possible.”

He suggested that FHWA Report No. FHWA-HRT-17-077, “Safety Evaluation of Red-Light Indicator Lights at Intersections,” provides an excellent starting point for developing the countermeasure.

Tetschner also recommended guidance statements be added to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) on the safety effectiveness of RLRM and RLILs as well as the 28 current countermeasures, saying “it is time to transition the MUTCD from nominal safety to substantive safety.”

“Referencing the PSCi in the MUTCD is an excellent first step in accomplishing that,” Tetschner wrote.

Read ATSSA’s full letter here.