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The Next Generation of Safety Technology is Here

Redflex goes beyond red-light cameras to increase traffic safety

The average American spends almost 20,000 minutes a year in the car, according to the 2016 AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety American Driving Survey. But for all of the time that we spend in our cars, driving-related incidents are still far too deadly in the United States – in 2015, there were nearly 11 driving-related deaths per 100,000 people according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Technology is rapidly shaping the transportation landscape to meet the changing demands of consumers across the world. But how else can the power of technology be harnessed to make driving better? Whether this is by enforcing red-light running, monitoring speed or preempting crashes, the best way to improve the driving experience is by making it safer for everyone.

Redflex is focused on using new technology to do just that. You probably already know about red-light camera programs and how effective they are at saving lives, preventing crashes and optimizing law enforcement resources, but Redflex’s technology tackles many more problems.

Monitoring Speed

According to Quoted, an average of 78 people receive speeding tickets every minute in America – and for good reason. Speeding is one of the most common factors in deadly automobile crashes – in 2015, 27 percent of deadly collisions had at least one speeding driver. Enforcing the speed limit is a very important job of law enforcement officers, as speed limits are set with your safety (and the safety of others around you) in mind.

The next generation of the REDFLEXspeed® product line uses the latest technology to help police enforce these speed limits. Due to its handheld format, REDFLEXspeed technology can be more effective than fixed formats because law enforcement officers can collect evidence in challenging terrain where it makes more sense to place an officer, as opposed to a mobile speed unit. Officers can also move easily between locations, while fixed formats are available in one static location. Driver information is made available in real time, without the need for an officer to pursue a speeder. Most importantly, these technologies have been shown to bring down crashes by as much as 44 percent where they are located, according to Cochrane.

Preempting Deadly Crashes

There is a reason why so much traffic safety technology is focused on intersections – they can be the deadliest places on the road. Right angle or ‘t-bone’ crashes (the deadliest type of automobile collision) usually happen at intersections. While red-light cameras detect violations at intersections after they occur, the Redflex Intelligent Crash Preemption System (ICPS) helps prevent crashes before they happen. ICPS, which is available in the Redflex Halo system, detects when a car could run a red light and holds the “all red” phase for each approach, ensuring vehicles stay put as the red-light-runner clears the intersection.

Protecting School Children

According to the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services, in 2016 almost 75,000 vehicles illegally passed school buses in one day. While school buses on average are very safe, children are most vulnerable in the so-called “danger zone” – while entering and leaving the bus. Redflex Student Guardian works to make this process safer. Redflex Student Guardian detects drivers who illegally pass school buses while children are entering or exiting, and the stop-arm is displayed. Prior to this technology, bus drivers had to manually report illegal passes of their busses. This was not only impractical, it was also ineffective. Redflex Student Guardian is helping to deter this dangerous, and all-too-common, driving behavior.

Keeping Railroad Crossings Safer

Railroad crossings are another particularly dangerous location for drivers. Violations at crossings are not only difficult to enforce, but they are among the most dangerous since it is near-impossible to stop a moving train for an obstruction on the tracks. Crashes involving cars and trains are usually deadly. Redflex Rail combats these types of crashes, using state-of-the-art technology to enhance safety and security at high-risk crossings. This technology can detect and deter drivers from illegally passing active warning devices and help prevent gridlock on the rails.

Monitoring High-Pedestrian Intersections

The dangers of the road don’t just affect other drivers. In 2015, 5,376 pedestrians were killed in traffic-related crashes in America, according to the CDC. Think of the times when pedestrians are most at risk – crossing the street at stop signs and crosswalks probably come to mind. Redflex is harnessing the power of technology to make these situations safer. Redflex Stop can be deployed in high-pedestrian areas such as parks, recreational facilities and shopping districts to detect when drivers run stop signs. Redflex technology has drastically improved the way municipalities can combat the dangerous driving behavior of running stop signs.

Driving can be dangerous, but it doesn’t have to be. Redflex is focused on harnessing the power of innovation to make the driving experience safer for everyone.



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