Title
Providing for civil liability for violations of certain provisions of the Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Code relating to obedience to steady red-light signals and stopping at an intersection or crossing; and establishing an administrative system for adjudicating liability in connection with such violations; all under certain terms and conditions.
Body
WHEREAS, The running of red lights by careless drivers is a contributing factor to traffic accidents and personal injuries in the City and therefore creates a serious public safety hazard; and
WHEREAS, A vehicle, which enters an intersection on a green signal and which is then trapped in the intersection when the signal turns red because there is no space on the opposite side of the intersection for the vehicle to proceed, blocks traffic coming into the intersection on the cross street on a green signal, creating a traffic condition commonly referred to as "spillback;" and
WHEREAS, As the effects of spillback multiply, the result is "gridlock," a traffic condition in which traffic in every direction comes to a standstill; and
WHEREAS, Spillback and gridlock create severe public safety problems for pedestrians attempting to cross the street and for emergency vehicles attempting to safely navigate city streets; create an impediment to fast, convenient, and efficient public transportation; create environmental pollution due to the increased time cars spend idling in gridlocked traffic; and contribute to the overall deterioration of the quality of life in the City of Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, Spillback and gridlock are significant contributing factors to traffic disruptions in Philadelphia and, therefore, may deter visitors from coming into the City to enjoy all that the City of Philadelphia has to offer; and
WHEREAS, The use of cameras at intersections around the City will help the City officers enforce the provisions of law hereby established to protect the safety of the citizens of Phi...
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