Red Light Running Crash Deaths Hit 10-Year High, Says AAA

BOSTON (CBS) – According to AAA's new study, red light runners have killed so many people, that fatalities have hit a 10-year high.

"We don't really have a conclusive answer as to why it's happening," said Mark Shieldrop, a spokesperson for AAA Northeast. "A good guess might be distracted driving."

Massachusetts ranks better than other states, with 43 deaths from 2008-2017. Per capita, Arizona has the highest rate, while New Hampshire has the lowest.

However, it wasn't hard for a WBZ camera crew to track the problem down in the Bay State. In less than 10 minutes on Route One in Westwood, nine cars could be seen running red lights.

The WBZ-TV crew found more cars running lights on Mystic Avenue in Somerville, in the area where two pedestrians have been killed this summer.

Flowers mark the spot where a woman was hit in a crosswalk in July. A month later, pedestrian Natasha Dunker ran across, hoping to dodge traffic.

"I just ran to make sure I just got across," she said. "Traffic is moving quickly."

Other states have installed cameras that automatically trigger violations for red light runners. While Massachusetts hasn't gone that far, Shieldrop says they're effective.

"We're not opposed to red light cameras, however we think that local municipalities should be the ones making those decisions, and it should never be a revenue source," he said. "Traffic safety technology should be for traffic safety…that's what the public deserves."