Three intersections around city monitored week of Aug. 6-12
Morgan Hill – Thirteen was an unlucky number for drivers who ran red lights in Morgan Hill this week.
During National Stop on Red Week, Aug. 6-12, Morgan Hill police officers ticketed 13 drivers for failure to stop at a red traffic light.
“The idea behind red light enforcement is that accidents caused by people running red lights are typically more serious in nature,” Morgan Hill police Sgt. David Swing said. “The vehicle is hit broadside, and there’s less protection on the side of the car than on the front or rear. And the body is not designed to move in that way.”
Officers focused on four major intersections during the campaign: Monterey Road and Dunne Avenue, Monterey Road and Main Avenue, Monterey Road and Second Street and East Dunne Avenue at the northbound Highway 101 exit ramp.
The intersection at the exit ramp has been the scene of several problems, Swing said, including an accident earlier this year that caused major injuries. Three vehicles were involved, and the chain-reaction crash started when one of the drivers ran the red light at that intersection.
The campaign against red light runners is organized in Santa Clara County by Traffic Safe Communities Network (TSCN). Law enforcement officers in 12 South Bay cities also participated in the stakeout. The penalty for running a red light is $336.
Since 1998, TSCN and its partners have been successful at installing “rat-boxes” at more than 100 intersections in the county. The boxes are low-tech electronic devices that allow police officers patrolling an intersection to easily determine when a motorist runs a red light. Intersections where rat boxes were previously installed served as this year’s enforcement sites.
Swing said officers see several factors that play a role in this dangerous violation. Speed may be the reason, as the driver is going too fast to stop for the red light. Distraction is also a problem, Swing said, as people talk on cell phones, deal with children in the back seat or talk with other passengers. Impatience can also motivate some drivers to decide to run a red light, Swing said.
A January accident illustrates how deadly impatience can be, he added. Nathan Schrock was allegedly trying to beat a train, ignoring the red crossing lights, when the train struck his pickup truck, killing his girlfriend, 18-year-old Jackie Gamboa.
Swing said the severity of the consequences of running red lights is the main reason for the campaign.
Martin Fenstersheib, county health officer and TSCN co-chair, said, “Red light running is a significant contributor to the number of people who are unintentionally injured on our roadways. The focus of this campaign is to reduce the number of motor vehicle crashes caused by red light running.”
“Although the official campaign ends this weekend, that doesn’t mean we stop looking for red light runners,” Swing said. “Morgan Hill residents need to continue to drive with caution and care and certainly be aware of how dangerous running a red light can be.”
In 2003, there were 1,086 crashes in the county in which running a red light was the main cause of the crash. As a result, there were 1,092 injuries and three deaths.
County law enforcement agencies participating in the Red Light crackdown include Campbell Police, Office of the Sheriff, Gilroy Police, Los Altos Police, Los Gatos Police, Milpitas Police, Mountain View Police, Palo Alto Police, San Jose Police, Santa Clara Police, Sunnyvale Public Safety and California Highway Patrol.
Marilyn Dubil covers education and law enforcement for The Times. Reach her at (408) 779-4106 ext. 202 or at md****@mo*************.com.
