RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Red-light running is a serious intersection safety issue across the nation. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Traffic Safety Facts 2008 Report, there were more than 2.3 million reported intersection-related crashes, resulting in more than 7,770 fatalities and approximately 733,000 injury crashes in 2008; and
WHEREAS, Automatic Traffic Law Enforcement Systems, better known as red light cameras, are designed to reduce intersection-related crashes at both rural and urban intersections; and
WHEREAS, After being used extensively overseas for decades, in recent years the use of red light cameras has risen dramatically in the United States as an effective tool to reduce intersection-related crashes and support police efforts to enforce traffic safety; and
WHEREAS, In 2003, the City of Chicago (the "City") instituted a red light camera enforcement program when the City began a pilot program at two locations. Today, red light cameras are operating at 174 intersections, chosen based on crash reports; and
WHEREAS, An analysis conducted by the Chicago Department of Transportation found that when red light cameras were installed at high crash rate intersections, the number of dangerous right angle crashes was reduced by an average of 30%; and
WHEREAS, The significant reduction in the number of right angle crashes is a critical safety improvement because right angle crashes are most likely to result in serious injuries or fatalities; and
WHEREAS, Further, research suggests that "intentional" red light runners, who account for a significant percentage of red light runners, are most affected by enforcement countermeasures, and the operation of a red light camera program may reduce the amount of recidivism; and
WHEREAS, Recent reports have ignored the important safety efforts of automated enforcement programs; and
WHEREAS, The City Council wishes to be provided with more information as to the benefits of our red light camera enforcement program and its effect on reducing crashes; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and Members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled this thirtieth day of July, 2014, do hereby request appropriate members of the Department of Transportation, at a hearing to be convened by the City Council Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety, to give a report on the effectiveness of the City's red light camera enforcement program in promoting safety; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be sent to the Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety and to the Commissioner of Transportation.