2. 1The Effects of Distracted Driving on Intersection Safety
StopDistractionOnRed.org
The National Coalition for Safer Roads (NCSR) and FocusDriven are pleased to announce the launch of a new joint campaign
effort, Stop Distraction On Red.
Our collaboration aims to highlight the dangers of distracted driving and red-light running — two serious driving epidemics that
significantly and negatively affect the safety of our roads and highways. We are excited to bring our organizations together to
address these important road safety issues, raise awareness about how they correlate and ultimately improve driver behavior.
Red-light running remains the number one cause of urban crashes in the United States, according to the Insurance Institute
for Highway Safety. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that more than 8,700 traffic deaths
in 2009 resulted from intersection-related traffic collisions and red-light runners injure 165,000 people annually. Distracted
behavior on our roadways is on the rise, and it greatly increases the likelihood of a driver recklessly running a red light.
The National Safety Council estimates that 25 percent of all crashes involve drivers distracted by cell phone use, noting that
drivers talking on a cell phone are four times more likely to be involved in a collision. Distracted driving behavior is claiming
lives. In 2009 alone, an estimated 5,474 people were killed and 448,000 were injured in motor vehicle collisions involving drivers
distracted by cell phones, according to NHTSA.
To kick off the partnership between our organizations, we’ve conducted a joint analysis that takes a close look at how distracted
driving leads to red-light running. The results show just how often distracted drivers are running red lights — and endangering
everyone who shares the roadways.
Both of our families have been personally affected by red-light running and distracted driving, so we understand the importance
of raising awareness about these safety issues. Melissa lost her husband when a red-light runner blew through an intersection,
t-boning the passenger side of the car he was in. She was nine months pregnant with their daughter at the time. On the day of
her college graduation, Jacy lost her parents in a red-light running collision caused by a driver distracted by a cell phone. Jacy,
who was also in the vehicle, sustained, and still suffers from, crash-related injuries.
Distracted driving and red-light running changed our lives and robbed us of our loved ones. We truly hope this campaign helps
drivers across the country better understand just how deadly distracted driving and running red lights can be.
Our ultimate goal is to make our roads safer for drivers, passengers, pedestrians and bicyclists. Safer driving practices can help
save lives. Together we can raise awareness and positively change driver behavior, making our communities safer for everyone.
Sincerely,
Melissa Wandall Jacy Good
President Board Member and Survivor Advocate
National Coalition for Safer Roads FocusDriven
A MESSAGE FROM NCSR
AND FOCUSDRIVEN

3. 2The Effects of Distracted Driving on Intersection Safety
StopDistractionOnRed.org
While most people acknowledge that distracted driving is dangerous, there has been little research into its effects on red-light running. Red-
light violations are a serious public safety hazard that put the lives of drivers, pedestrians and others who share the road at risk. This analysis
is the first of its kind to quantify the dangers of distracted driving as it relates to intersection safety.
Stop Distraction on Red: The Effects of Distracted Driving on Intersection Safety analyzed a sample of 19 communities across the United States,
looking at 118 intersections with red-light safety cameras over a three-month period. The analysis found that 12 percent of all violations during
this period involved distracted driving. Using the numbers from this sample, it is projected that more than 7.3 million red-light violations in
2012 involved distracted behavior. Using the same formula from the Institute of Transportation Engineers, the number of red-light violations
caused by distracted driving were estimated for each state.
The analysis also examines the effect of distracted driving legislation on intersection violations by comparing the sample communities that
have cell phone bans with those that do not. Less than 10 percent of red-light violations involved distracted driving in communities that
have strict laws against distracted driving — compared to more than 16 percent in communities that do not. These laws prove to be a strong
deterrent against distracted driving.
Research indicates that red-light safety cameras are improving driver behavior when it comes to intersection safety. Now the safety cameras
are also showing us how and why people are running red lights. All of the findings point to a clear conclusion: distracted driving increases
red-light running and puts lives at risk. Fewer distractions on the road will ultimately save lives.
EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY

4. 3The Effects of Distracted Driving on Intersection Safety
StopDistractionOnRed.org
Through the sample analysis, it has
been estimated that more than 7.3
million red-light violations in the
United States involved distracted
driving in 2012. The analysis found that
12 percent of the red-light violations
across the 118 intersections studied in
Arizona, California and Colorado could
be attributed to at least one type of
distracted driving behavior. Stemming
from the findings, a formula determining
the number of signalized intersections
in a given population was used to project
how often distracted driving contributed
to violations taking place at intersections
across the country.
TOPLINE
FINDINGS
Communities Intersections Months
19ANALYSIS
PARAMETERS
FINDINGS
PROJECTED
NATIONAL
IMPACT
118 3
5,808
Total Red-light Violations
704
Red-light Violations Involving
Distracted Driving
310,538
Intersections in U.S.
12%
of Violations
in Sample
Caused by
Distracted
Driving
7.3 MILLION
Red-light Violations
Caused by Distrated Driving
in 2012 Across the U.S.

5. 4The Effects of Distracted Driving on Intersection Safety
StopDistractionOnRed.org
Although many people associate distracted
driving with cell phone use, distracted
behavior comes in many different forms.
This fact was reinforced when 5,808
red-light violations were analyzed revealing
several categories of distraction that took
the drivers’ attention away from the road.
These categories include cell phone use,
looking away, drinking/eating and smoking.
As expected, a significant cause of
distraction was cell phone use (both
handheld and hands-free), which comprised
39.3 percent of the distracted behavior
documented in the sample. Another leading
cause of distraction was looking away, at
43.2 percent, which included drivers who
were looking down or clearly away from the
road. It is important to note that the looking
away category did not include anyone who
was looking left or right to make a turn.
Instead, these photos were coded under
no distraction.
CONTRIBUTORS
TO DISTRACTED
DRIVING
Eyes Closed
Smoking
Drinking or Eating
Applying Makeup
Reading
17.5%
43.2%
Looking
Away
Other
39.3%
Cell Phone
Use
*Ranked in order of prevalence

6. 5The Effects of Distracted Driving on Intersection Safety
StopDistractionOnRed.org
In an effort to determine the effectiveness
of banning cell phone use while driving,
we compared the laws of each state in
the sample. California has the strictest
laws against cell phone use while driving,
whereas Colorado has more lenient laws
and Arizona has no statewide regulations.
California’s state legislature has instituted
a ban on all handheld cell phone use
while operating a motor vehicle. The state
of Colorado has banned texting for all
drivers and cell phone use altogether for
drivers under the age of 18, but has not yet
regulated overall cell phone use for adults.
Arizona has no statewide regulations on
the use of cell phones, however the city of
Tucson has banned texting.
It can be inferred that strict cell phone
legislation has an impact on reducing the
prevalence of distracted driving. In the
California communities analyzed, only 9.7
percent of intersection violations involved
distracted driving. The Arizona and Colorado
communities show 16.4 percent of red-light
violations involved distracted behavior. This
suggests that strict cell phone bans reduce
the risk of distracted driving by nearly 7
percentage points.
IMPACT OF
BANS ON CELL
PHONE USE
WHILE DRIVING
Total Violations
Distracted Driving Violations
Laws in Place(California)
3,741
364
Violations Caused
by Distracted Driving
9.7%
No Laws in Place(Arizona & Colorado)
2,067
340
Violations Caused
by Distracted Driving
16.4%
Cell Phone Bans Reduce Risk of
Distracted Driving By Nearly 7%

7. 6The Effects of Distracted Driving on Intersection Safety
StopDistractionOnRed.org
The findings of the sample analysis were used to estimate the number of intersection
violations that involved distracted driving at the state level in 2012. Below are
projections for the number of red-light violations caused by distracted driving in all
50 states and the District of Columbia.
DISTRACTED
DRIVING BY
STATE
INTERSECTION VIOLATIONS INVOLVING DISTRACTED DRIVING IN 2012
Alabama 112,932
Alaska 16,776
Arizona 151,012
Arkansas 68,892
California 880,156
Colorado 118,812
Connecticut 84,440
District of Columbia 14,224
Florida 444,188
Georgia 28,888
Hawaii 32,132
Idaho 37,044
Illinois 303,144
Indiana 153,188
Iowa 71,964
Kansas 67,407
Kentucky 102,512
Louisiana 107,096
Maine 31,376
Maryland 136,416
Massachusetts 154,700
Michigan 233,516
Minnesota 125,312
Mississippi 70,136
Missouri 141,496
Montana 23,364
Nebraska 43,140
Nevada 63,812
New Hampshire 31,092
New Jersey 207,716
New Mexico 48,644
New York 457,820
North Carolina 225,272
North Dakota 15,900
Ohio 272,572
Oklahoma 88,620
Oregon 90,152
Pennsylvania 300, 096
Rhode Island 24,876
South Carolina 109,268
South Dakota 19,232
Tennessee 149,928
Texas 594,092
Utah 65,300
Vermont 14,788
Virginia 189,028
Washington 158,884
West Virginia 43,780
Wisconsin 134,360
Wyoming 13,324

8. 7The Effects of Distracted Driving on Intersection Safety
StopDistractionOnRed.org
Data was collected from a three-month sample
(June – August 2012) of 118 American Traffic
Solutions red-light safety cameras located in
19 communities where cameras capture facial
recognition. The data was then analyzed to
determine the total number of violations that
involved distracted driving. Distractions were coded
into several categories, including cell phone use,
looking away, eating/drinking, smoking, reading,
eyes closed and applying makeup. All violations that
did not involve distracted behavior were coded as no
distraction. It is important to note that the looking
away category did not include anyone who was
looking left or right to make a turn. Instead, these
photos were coded under no distraction.
To determine the national-level projection, a
proportion was set up comparing the total number
of red-light violations (5,808) in the sample to
the number of intersections (118) in the sample.
This proportion was then used to project the
total number of red-light violations for the
same three-month period in the United States
(15,284,786) based on population size. (The Institute
of Transportation Engineers employs a ratio of one
signalized intersection for every 1,000 people to
determine the number of these intersections in a
given area. This proportion was used in conjunction
with 2010 U.S. Census Bureau population counts to
determine the number of signalized intersections
across the United States [310,538].) The percentage
of distracted driving-related violations (12 percent)
determined from the sample was then applied to
the total number of violations across the United
States (15,284,786) to project how many involved
distracted driving across a three-month period
(1,834,174). This number was multiplied by four
to project the number of intersection violations
attributed to distracted driving in 2012 (7,336,697).
The same formula was used to project the number
of intersection violations involving distracted driving
in all 50 states and the District of Columbia based
on population size.
METHODOLOGY
Distracted driving laws were researched for each state included in the
sample to determine if they had any impact on violation counts.
Communities in the sample include:
Arizona:
Mesa
Scottsdale
Tucson
Pima County
Colorado:
Boulder
Cherry Hills Village
Commerce City
Greenwood Village
Littleton
Lone Tree
Pueblo
California:
Capitola
Cathedral City
Cerritos
Covina
Davis
Millbrae
San Diego
South San Francisco

9. 8The Effects of Distracted Driving on Intersection Safety
StopDistractionOnRed.org
FocusDriven and the National Coalition for Safer Roads have partnered to launch a new multimedia campaign
effort, Stop Distraction on Red, to raise awareness about distracted driving and intersection safety. The campaign
effort is led by NCSR President Melissa Wandall and FocusDriven Board Member and Survivor Advocate Jacy
Good – two spokespeople who have been personally impacted by the dangers of red-light running and distracted
driving. Campaign elements include an infographic based on study findings, video of distracted red-light running
and related statistics, media appearances and opportunities for partner collaborations.
Visit StopDistractionOnRed.org for more information.
The National Coalition for Safer Roads (NCSR) helps save lives and protect communities by demonstrating how
red-light safety cameras can improve driver behavior. NCSR brings together policymakers, community leaders
and concerned citizens in support of red-light safety cameras, advocating for their use in cities and communities
across the country. NCSR is proud to advocate on behalf of the traffic safety technology industry to change
reckless driver behavior, stop red-light running and save lives. NCSR’s coalition partners include the National
Safety Council; Safe Kids USA; Child Safety Network; National Organizations for Youth Safety; America Walks;
and Red Means Stop, as well as numerous police departments, medical professionals, safety advocates, industry
leaders, community leaders and concerned citizens.
For more information, visit NCSRsafety.org, follow @SaferRoadsUSA on Twitter and on Facebook at
facebook.com/SaferRoadsUSA.
Advocates for Cell-Free Driving (focusdriven.org) is a nonprofit advocacy organization for victims of motor vehicle
crashes involving drivers using cell phones. FocusDriven supports victims of cell phone distracted driving and
families of victims. Its goal is to increase public awareness on the dangers of cell phone distracted driving by
putting a human face on the disastrous impact of the behavior, in order to promote corresponding public policies,
programs and personal responsibility.