National Stop On Red Week Aims To Reduce No. Of Drivers Running Red Lights

DETROIT (WWJ) - This is National Stop on Red Week - an effort to reduce the number of crashes where the driver runs a red light.

Last year, there were more than 3,400 accidents resulting in 21 deaths across Metro Detroit where drivers blew through red lights or stop signs. Carmen Polumbo of SEMCOG -- the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments -- says that's the reason for Stop on Red Week.

"It's just a week to try to bring everybody's attention to the fact that there's a significant number of crashes and deaths that occur at signalized intersections that are caused simply by the fact that people don't stop when the light is red, which we all learned to do when we were in drivers training."

Polumbo also says he believes there are a number of reasons for the increase in these types of crashes.

"It's probably a little bit of everything. I think it's a case of distraction; I think it's a case of people driving too fast. I think it's a case of people trying to beat the light, trying to get places quickly."

Detroit, Sterling Heights and Warren are the communities with the most red light running accidents.