Drivers who speed up when a traffic light turns yellow, or ignore red lights altogether, wreak havoc on the roads in Nebraska. When drivers fail to stop and run a red light, other drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians can be seriously injured.
Fatality Rate Continues To Rise
The Drive reports that the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the American Automobile Association (AAA), Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, and the National Safety Council are pushing for cities nationwide to install more red-light cameras.
This combined effort is a response to the 17 percent increase in fatal accidents in the U.S. between 2012 and 2016. In 2012, there were 696 traffic fatalities caused by red-light runners, which marked one of only three years to experienced fewer than 700 deaths since 2000.
That figure has skyrocketed since then. In 2016, there were 811 traffic fatalities at red lights, which marked the highest fatality rate since 2007 (914 fatalities). More than half of those who suffered fatal injuries were not at fault. These included pedestrians, bicyclists, and other road users.
Finding Solutions To The Problem
From 2012 to 2018, the total number of red-light cameras in the U.S. dropped from 533 cameras to 421. The IIHS attributes the rise in fatal red-light accidents to this 21 percent decrease in traffic cameras.
According to 3newsnow.com, red-light runners are a growing problem in the Omaha, Nebraska area. They were responsible for roughly 13 percent of all crashes and six deaths in 2016. Additionally, seven people lost their lives in 2017 in the Omaha area due to drivers who ignored traffic signals.
In response to the problem, the City of Omaha began updating all of their traffic lights with fiber optic lines, according to 3newsnow.com. Such improvements have enabled officials to watch a live feed of every traffic light in the city.
However, there are currently no state or city ordinances in Nebraska permitting municipalities to use red-light or speed cameras, according to IIHS. And in many cases, it can be difficult to determine who was at fault in an intersection accident.
Live feed technology in Omaha can help hold negligent drivers accountable by showing how and why an accident occurred. It can also help catch drivers who leave the scene of an accident.
If you or a loved one was injured in a crash caused by a red-light runner, you need an experienced Omaha auto accident attorney on your side. Contact Ausman Law Firm P.C., L.L.O. today and find out how we can help you.