ITHACA, N.Y. -- Cornell University Police will be supporting National Stop on Red Week 2004, Aug. 30-Sept. 6, by employing selective traffic enforcement measures on campus, including extra patrols.

National Stop on Red Week is dedicated to educating American motorists about the dangers of running red lights. It is 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 during the week are being funded through a grant from the New York State Governor's Traffic Safety Committee. These patrols will monitor all intersections on the university's central campus and issue traffic citations for any traffic infractions observed. Intersections will be monitored on a random basis during this period, including those with stop signs. Motorists who run red lights, or run stop signs, and motorists those 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 74 traffic citations for red-light running. They also issued 212 traffic citations to motorists who went through stop signs, and 34 motorists were cited for failing to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks. 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.