Department of Motor Vehicles

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Contacts:
Joe Morrissey    [email protected]
Casey McNulty [email protected]

NEW YORK STATE MARKS ‘NATIONAL STOP ON RED WEEK’ AND URGES NEW YORKERS TO REFRAIN FROM DISTRACTED DRIVING
Distracted driving leads to collisions at intersections, causing thousands of injuries and fatalities each year

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC) today reminded New Yorkers of the dangers of running red lights, and urged motorists to refrain from texting while driving and other behaviors that take their eyes off the road. Raising awareness of these dangerous incidents coincides with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)’s National Stop on Red Week, which is typically recognized during the first week of August to educate the public about the dangers of red-light running.

A survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the American Trauma Society (ATS) indicated two out of three Americans see other drivers run red lights almost every day. Carelessness or distraction at intersections frequently causes crashes, injuries, and even deaths.

While drivers who run red lights often cite being in a hurry, the connection between distracted driving and red-light running is apparent:

• In 2012, it is estimated that more than seven million intersection violations across the country can be attributed to distracted driving. [National Coalition for Safer Roads]
• Research suggests that stricter laws against cell phone use, which Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has promoted throughout his administration, can reduce the risk of distracted driving by nearly seven percent, and has resulted in fewer red light violations nationwide. [National Coalition for Safer Roads]
• About 36 percent of drivers responding to a national telephone survey in 2014 by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reported going through a red light when they could have instead stopped safely, though 94 percent said it’s unacceptable to do so. [Insurance Institute for Highway Safety]

DMV Executive Deputy Commissioner Terri Egan said, “There’s no excuse for running a red light and putting lives in danger – not only your own, but those of your passengers, fellow motorists, and pedestrians. It’s important for New Yorkers to remember the rules of the road at all times, and keep preventable tragedies from happening by refraining from distracted driving. Put down your phone, your makeup, and your food – it can wait!”

Driver inattention is often a contributing factor in crashes and near-crashes. According to the GTSC, looking away from the road for two or more seconds will double the risk of a crash or near crash. The following actions, labeled as distracted driving, can increase the driver risk factor of a crash by two to three times:

• Talking into, listening to, or dialing a hand-held device, like a cell phone.
• Checking email or operating a smartphone.
• Inserting or retrieving a compact disc.
• Reading.
• Applying makeup.
• Eating.

For more information about distracted driving, visit safeny.ny.gov.

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