Target Red: Police to crack down on drivers who disobey red lights and stop signs

CHARLESTON, WV (WVNS) — The West Virginia Governor’s Highway Safety Program (GHSP) is reminding the public that officers will be stopping any drivers who do not stop at red traffic lights and stop signs.

This high enforcement will be running from August 1, 2024 through August 15, 2024.

“Nationally, drivers running a red light is a serious and extremely dangerous problem; locally it is no different. Yellow signal lights caution motorists that the red signal is about to appear and does not mean to ‘go fast’,” said Jack McNeely, director of the GHSP.

Drivers always need to be aware of their surroundings, including traffic signals and preparing to stop when the light begins to change. Officers will be stopping anyone that fail to stop at stop signs or red traffic lights. Even a “rolling” stop can get a driver a citation.

According to the West Virginia Department of Transportation, from 2016 to 2020, crashes from intersections made up 18 percent of all crashes in West Virginia, 14 percent of all fatalities and 19 percent of all major injuries.  During this time, speeding and aggressive driving were the most significant causes of intersection crashes.

In 2008, the Target Red campaign was first introduced in the Beckley area. Before this campaign, red light violations, crashes, injuries, and fatalities were increasing and very high. When the campaign began, and enforcement and education were present, car incidents decreased by 60 percent.

This is why officers remind the public to Slow down. Save a life. STOP.

To contact the West Virginia Governor’s Highway Safety Program, visit highwaysafety.wv.gov or call 304-926-2509.

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