Houston's red light running epidemic

11:23 AM CDT on Monday, May 2, 2005

By Jeremy Desel / 11 News

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Mayor Bill White says drivers who run red lights are "an epidemic".

If you're looking for lawbreakers who don't like to wait for lights, you don't have to wait long to find them in Houston. "The light is red now. One, two, three four. They just keep coming," says HPD officer Cedric Nickerson.

KHOU-TV

Apparently, too many Houston drivers ignore red lights when it comes to scooting through an intersection.

For now, officers pull over violators when they can. "You slowed down but you didn't stop," Nickerson says to one driver. Mayor White wants to see more of that., which is why he wants a concerted effort at problem intersections

"We've got to have more tickets. For people running red lights. There has to be a consequence to it. And when there is, people will adapt," says White. There is plenty of adapting to do. At the intersection of Westheimer and the Loop, for example, people ran the light 80 percent of the time.

At Gessner and Braeswood, it's even worse, with 95 percent of people in the turn lane running the light, There is not even a question.

It may seem petty, but there are consequences. "You risk the chance of getting serious injuries. Or causing serious injuries to other individuals," says Nickerson.

Here are the most dangerous intersections for the first three months of this year:

• Tomball Parkway and FM 1960
• 59 and Beechnut
• 59 and Hillcroft
• 59 and Chimney Rock
• I-10 and Gessner
• 59 and Beltway 8
• Westheimer and Highway 6
• Bissonnet and Beltway 8

Topping the list is the Katy Freeway and Highway 6 with 25 accidents just in the last 90 days. Beechnut and Beltway 8 ranks second with 23 accidents there in just the last three months.

"In Houston, it is unacceptable right now. There are too many people getting hurt from people running red lights," the mayor says.

But enforcement can be tough at busy intersections. The officers have to think about their safety, as well.

That's why Mayor White and the city council want to use cameras to catch violators.

But for now it will have to be the old fashioned way and, unfortunately, officer Nickerson could do it all day.

The city's red light camera proposal is currently stalled in the state legislature, where there is an effort to block the city's ability to have them. Mayor White expects that to be rectified one way or the other by the end of the session.