ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Phoenix, Arizona
red lights; violations;
procedures
(NOW: traffic lights; violations; procedures)
Requires the Governor’s
Highway Safety Team to study methods to reduce red light violations.
Red light running crashes
have become an increasing concern for the traffic safety community. According to the Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA), in 1998, red light running accounted for about 89,000
crashes, 80,000 injuries and nearly 1,000 deaths. The cost to the public is estimated to be as much as $7 billion
per year. According to the Insurance
Institute for Highway Safety, Arizona has the highest rate of fatal red light
running accidents in the United States, and Phoenix, Mesa and Tucson are three
of the top four cities that have the highest death rate in red light crashes
from 1992 to 1998.
In response to this type of
information, the FHWA created the Stop Red Light Running Program in 1995 as a
community based safety program. The
program attempted to raise awareness of the dangers of red light running and
help reduce fatalities in many of the participating communities. In January 1999, three Arizona families
who incurred the consequences of red light runners founded The Red Means Stop
Coalition (RMSC). The
goal of the RMSC is to increase public awareness of the dangers and tragic
consequences of intersection crashes, to support legislation, enforcement and
prosecution that imposes stiffer penalties on violators and to establish a
center and volunteer program to help victims and their families survive the
painful circumstances that follow these tragedies.
The Motor Vehicle Division
administers the Traffic Survival School program to attempt to modify the
behavior of drivers by teaching them how to avoid adverse traffic situations by
increasing their knowledge of Arizona traffic laws, defining their
responsibilities while driving and improving their attitude toward safe driving.
Traffic Survival School should not be confused with Defensive Driving School,
administered by the Arizona Supreme Court, that allows for the dismissal of a
citation based on attendance.
There is no known fiscal
impact to the state general fund associated with this legislation.
1. Requires the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), upon notice from the court, to suspend a persons driving privilege until completion of Traffic Survival School, if a person is responsible for a red light, stop sign or left turn violations that results in serious injury or death.
2. Requires the Governor’s Highway Safety Team to conduct a traffic and engineering study in conjunction with the federal government, other states and local authorities to determine methods to reduce red light violations including enforcement, design and systems for intersections on streets and highways.
3. Specifies the focus of the traffic and engineering study.
4. Requires the Governor’s Highway Safety Team to submit a written report on its findings to the Governor, the Legislature, Secretary of State and the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records on November 1, 2001 and 2002.
5. Repeals the traffic and engineering study on January 1, 2003.
6. Extends the deadline in which a civil traffic violation case must commence to within 60 days from 30 days.
7. Makes technical and conforming changes.
8. Provides for a general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by the Transportation Committee
1. Removes the requirement that a person the receives a red light citation must attend Traffic Survival School.
2. Removes the requirement that ADOT must suspend a person's drivers license until the person completes Traffic Survival School except for violations that result in an accident that results in serious injury or death to another person.
3. Reinstates a persons ability to attend Defensive Driving School if the person is eligible to attend.
JUD 1/30/01 DPA 10-0-0-0 TRANS 3/22/01 DPA 6-2-0
TRANS 3/5/01 DPA/SE 10-0-0-0
3rd Read 3/12/01 50-3-7-0
Prepared by Senate Staff
March 23, 2001