Cornell Police is supporting National Stop on Red Week 2008, Aug. 3-9, by using extra patrols to monitor all intersections on central campus and issuing traffic citations for any traffic infraction observed.

National Stop on Red Week is intended to educate motorists about the dangers of running red lights. Sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration and the American Trauma Society, its motto is "The light is red for a reason: So stop!"

Cornell Police's extra patrols for the week are being funded through a grant from the New York State Governor's Traffic Safety Committee. Intersections will be monitored on a random basis during this period, including those with stop signs. Motorists who run red lights or stop signs and who fail to yield the right of way to pedestrians will be targeted during this "zero tolerance" enforcement effort.

On the Cornell campus during the past academic year, Cornell Police issued 63 traffic citations to motorists for running red lights. Police also issued 204 traffic citations to motorists who went through stop signs, and 259 motorists were cited for speeding. Failing to yield the right of way at intersections continues to be a major cause of motor vehicle crashes on campus, according to Cornell Police.