Traffic Safety Coalition supports national stop on red week


August 11, 2012 · 7:28 PM

The Traffic Safety Coalition (TSC) is marking National Stop on Red Week by launching a new chapter and education campaign in Washington.

The TSC, a national not-for-profit grassroots organization, works to improve road safety across the country by focusing its campaigns on working with concerned citizens, traffic safety experts, law enforcement, public officials, victim's advocates and health care professionals who are committed to making our roads safer for drivers, passengers, cyclists and pedestrians alike.

“No family should ever have to endure the loss of a loved one because someone illegally ran a red light.  This week is a reminder to all drivers about the importance of obeying our most basic traffic safety law: Red means stop,” said Traffic Safety Coalition Co-Chair Paul Oberhauser, whose daughter Sarah was tragically killed in 2002 when a driver ran a red light and crashed into her car.
The Traffic Safety Coalition will work with its partners, including Safe Kids Pierce County and Sound Steps Walking Program, to release traffic safety data and share the proven benefits of safety cameras with members of the driving public and media as well as elected officials.

Communities across the state are using traffic safety cameras as an important law enforcement tool to save lives and to reduce red light running and avoidable crashes and injuries.  Statistics show safety cameras are working in Washington communities, including:

Puyallup: 52% reduction in red light running after installing traffic safety cameras in May 2008 in Puyallup (The Olympian, 1/29/10)
Seattle: 50% decrease in Seattle’s red light violations since using cameras (City of Seattle Traffic Safety Camera Pilot Project, 12/07) Auburn: Red light violations dropped 26.4% when comparing the third quarter of 2009 to the third quarter of 2010 in Auburn (Auburn Reporter, 11/15/10)
The TSC works with more than 100 partners across the country, including National Alliance for Biking and Walking, National Safety Council, Ride of Silence, and local chapters of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), Safe Kids USA and other local community organizations across the country.

If you are interested in learning more about the TSC or participating in its efforts in Washington, visit www.TrafficSafetyCoalition.com.

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