City Council's 'Responsible Action' Will Save Lives and Improve Safety for Philadelphians

National Campaign Urges Mayor to Sign Ordinance into Law

WASHINGTON, May 15 -- A lifesaving traffic safety ordinance that establishes a photo red light camera pilot program today received the support of the Philadelphia City Council with swift approval. Bill 000682, introduced by Councilman Frank Rizzo (at-large), passed the City Council overwhelmingly by a vote of 15 to 1.

"We applaud the leadership of Councilman Rizzo and the City Council for their responsible action taken today in passing this bill," said Leslie Blakey, Executive Director of the National Campaign to Stop Red Light Running. "Red light running is a reckless and preventable traffic safety menace and red light cameras are a solution that works. It's a matter of saving lives. The citizens of Philadelphia are the real winners as a result of today's actions."

In Philadelphia during 2001, there were 20 fatalities caused by red light runners. Fatal red light crashes in Philadelphia are increasing and they account for nearly half of the red light crashes in the state of Pennsylvania. Nationally, red light running caused as many as 218,000 crashes last year resulting in more than 181,000 injuries and 880 deaths at a $14 billion cost to American taxpayers.

One in three Americans knows someone who has been injured, someone who was killed, or both because of a red light runner. Red light running crash deaths are increasing three times faster than any other type of roadway fatality.

The National Campaign to Stop Red Light Running is an industry-funded, independent advocacy initiative guided by a national advisory board and focuses on both the national and grass roots levels. The goal of the Campaign is to reduce the incidence of red light running in the United States and the fatalities and injuries it causes.