PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

Update: Pittsburgh City Council voted unanimously on Sept. 10, 2024 in favor of Automated Red Light Enforcement systems. These systems are a part of Vision Zero, a city goal of achieving zero traffic-related deaths in Pittsburgh. 

On a typical workday, Chris Sandvig was struck by a car while riding his bike. He fell to the ground and suffered multiple broken bones and ended up spending 10 days in a hospital trauma unit.

As a result, Sandvig has dedicated his work as the founder and executive director of Mobilify, a southwestern Pennsylvania organization aimed at improving city transportation. 

He spoke about his experiences at a City of Pittsburgh news conference Tuesday in support of the use of Automated Red Light Enforcement systems, in which photos would be taken of cars running red lights. A bill introduced by City Councilmember Erika Strassburger calls for installing ARLE at the city’s most dangerous intersections to help decrease the number of drivers running red lights and putting lives at risk.

“It comes down to this bill is about saving lives. That’s why I’ve been pushing for it,” said Strassburger. “To those who might have an issue with this life-saving program, I’ll remind you that you have a choice when you’re driving. You can choose to put down the phone, pay attention, obey traffic signals, and drive safely or you can choose not to and potentially pay the price.” 

An average of two people are killed every day and another 50,000 injured each year in the United States due to ignored red lights, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. A total of 23 Pittsburghers were killed on city roadways in 2023, seven of them pedestrians. 

ARLE is a part of Vision Zero, a city goal of achieving zero traffic-related deaths in Pittsburgh. 

“We want to work on policies and procedures in making sure that we’re the safest city in America,” said Mayor Ed Gainey at the news conference. “For all of our pedestrians in this city, we want our streets to be as safe as we can make them.”

If passed by Council at a later date, Pittsburgh would be the fifth city in Pennsylvania to implement ARLE, alongside four others in the eastern part of the state, including Philadelphia. Intersections where ARLE is installed would be marked with signs informing drivers of the photo enforcement. If a red-light violation occurs, it would be recorded, processed and sent to the police. An officer would review the footage before sending a ticket to the motorist by mail. 

Motorists would have 30 days to pay the $100 fine or appeal. Any revenue gained from the ARLE systems will benefit the Commonwealth’s Transportation Enhancement Grants Program. Employees in the city’s Department of Mobility and Infrastructure would work with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and public safety officials to identify dangerous intersections where the technology would be installed.

Sandvig closed the news conference by posing a question to drivers in favor of rushing through red lights. 

“I ask people who are against this sort of thing, is 45 seconds saved worth killing someone?” he asked. “I personally don’t think so. I don’t think my life is worth 45 seconds.” 

Jilian Musser’s reporting is supported by the Pittsburgh Media Partnership.