Red Light Running Photo Enforcement Program
Overview
The numbers for those injured and killed in crashes where a red light is run are sobering.
In Virginia in 2004, red light running caused nearly:
- 5,000 crashes
- More than 3,600 injuries
- At least 26 fatalities
Nationally, more than 800 people die in red light running crashes each year, while more than 200,000 are injured.
None of these statistics take into account the high costs of property damage, medical treatment and productivity losses.
Most red light running crashes are angle or side impact, which tend to be more severe than rear-end crashes.
The 2007 General Assembly enacted legislation that allows counties, cities and towns to use red light camera enforcement – commonly called photo enforcement. Localities now have the option of installing and operating red light running camera systems.
The number of intersections where a locality is allowed to operate photo enforcement is based on population. The legislation allows no more than one intersection per 10,000 residents. See chart 
(PDF, 45 KB) based on 2005 population data.
Before red light running cameras can be installed at an intersection, a locality must complete an engineering safety analysis for the specific intersection, taking into account the intersection’s accident rate and the difficulty law enforcement officers have in apprehending violators, among other factors. A template (PDF, 58 KB) is provided as a guide for preparing the analysis.
Localities also must submit the list of potential photo enforcement intersections to the Virginia Department of Transportation for approval.
Guidelines (PDF, 1.3 MB) are available for localities to use in deciding whether to participate in photo enforcement.
- Frequently asked questions (95 KB)
- Guidelines for localities (1.3 MB)
- Engineering safety analysis template (58 KB)
Links
- Code of Virginia, Chapter 903
An act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 15.2-968.1, relating to local ordinances establishing certain traffic signal enforcement programs; penalties. Approved April 4, 2007
- Red Light Camera Systems: Operational Guidelines
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, January 2005
- Making Intersections Safer: A Toolbox of Engineering Countermeasures to Reduce Red-Light Running
FHWA and Institute of Transportation Engineers, 2003
- Intersection Safety Briefs
FHWA and Institute of Transportation Engineers, 2004
- The Impact of Red-Light Cameras (Photo-Red Enforcement) on Crashes in Virginia
Virginia Transportation Research Council, June 2007
- National Campaign to Stop Red Light Running
- System specifications, International Association of Chiefs of Police, November 2007 (PDF, 355 KB)
Contact Us
Help implement the Red Light Running Photo Enforcement Program.
Please direct comments on the engineering safety analysis guidelines to:
Michael O. Clements, P.E.
Virginia Department of Transportation
Traffic Engineering Division
1401 E. Broad St.
Richmond, VA 23219
Phone: (804) 786-9609 (TTY/TTD users call 711)
Fax: (804) 225-3761
E-mail: Michael.Clements@VDOT.Virginia.gov
