National Stop Red Light Running Week - August 2 - 8: VIDEO ENHANCED

NEW YORK - August 4, 2009: August 2 through August 8 is national "Stop on Red Week." Drivers are reminded to be careful on the road and mindful of the danger of disobeying traffic control signals. While the message is sound, this particular safety campaign is unlike traditional safety programs like "Click It or Ticket." The "Stop on Red Week" program has a decidedly corporate slant.

The big push behind this week appears to be coming from the photo enforcement industry. These are the companies that install red light cameras. Photo enforcement is right in the middle of the "safety vs. revenue" debate taking place nationwide. It's likely this campaign is mostly about telling the public how necessary photo enforcement is and encouraging towns to install such cameras.

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Campaign motives aside, failure to stop on red can result in terrible accidents. Our bottom line at www.NYTicketHELP.com:

  --  If you are the first car at a red light, don't rush into the
      intersection when the light changes.  Give a couple of seconds and an
      extra look to make sure traffic with the red signal has stopped.
  --  If the light is amber, don't speed ahead to "make the light."  Slow
      down and prepare to stop.  Remember amber lights vary greatly in their
      timing.  If you have enough time to stop, then stop.
  --  If the light is red, certainly stop.  No decision to be made there. 
      Do it for your own safety, not because you want to avoid a ticket.
  --  Know the difference between arrow signals and disc signals.  An arrow,
      red or green, controls drivers intending to move in a particular
      direction.  A traditional disc, or circle signal, generally applies to
      drivers moving in any direction at the intersection.  Pay attention to
      the types of signals you are facing.

  --  If you are in a strange location and don't know the traffic patterns,
      traffic signal timing, or intersections, proceed with caution.  Many
      accidents occur when drivers are lost and some intersections are
      trickier than others.

At www.NYTicketHELP.com, attorneys handle traffic tickets and driving related matters and strive to reduce, if not eliminate, the potential impact of traffic tickets. For more information, call 877-LAW-4 TIX, visit www.NYTicketHELP.com, or send us an email at info@tickethelp.com.