Impacts of Automated Red Light Running Enforcement Cameras on Driver Behavior

The primary objectives of this study were to 1) determine the impact of automated red light running enforcement on driver behavior and 2) provide guidance towards the timing of yellow change intervals at locations where red light enforcement cameras exist. To accomplish these objective, naturalistic driver behavior data were covertly collected using high definition video cameras at 82 signalized intersection approaches selected from four different regions of the United States. Ten of these sites included automated red light running enforcement cameras. Data were obtained for a total of 7,306 vehicles that were approaching a study intersection during the yellow interval. The following response variables were investigated: brake response time; deceleration rate; time of entry into the intersection after the onset of red; and driver action, which was categorized as stopped, proceeded through legally, or proceeded through illegally (i.e., red light running). The following conclusions related to the presence of red light enforcement cameras were drawn from the research findings: 1) Drivers react approximately 5 percent (0.05 seconds) more quickly to the yellow indication when stopping at locations where red light cameras are present; 2) red light cameras do not impact deceleration rates; 3) red light cameras increase the likelihood of stopping by 2.4 percent; 4) red light cameras decrease the likelihood of red light running by 19.4 percent; and 5) red light cameras reduce the intersection entry time for red light runners by approximately 43 percent (0.24 seconds). As camera enforcement of red light running had little to no impact on brake response times or deceleration rates, it is not necessary to deviate from baseline values for yellow change interval timing.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AHB50 Traffic Control Devices.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Gates, Timothy
  • Savolainen, Peter T
  • Maria, Honey-Um
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 93rd Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC
  • Date: 2014-1-12 to 2014-1-16
• Date: 2014

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 13p
• Monograph Title: TRB 93rd Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automatic data collection systems; Deceleration; Driver performance; Offsets (Traffic signal timing); Red light running; Yellow interval (Traffic signal cycle)
• Uncontrolled Terms: Red light cameras
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01518176
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 14-0943
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Mar 12 2014 9:33AM