LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) — The Lafayette Police Department is putting special emphasis on drivers running red lights in the city, starting now.

LPD is urging drivers to stay alert while driving around town, not because of the police, but for traffic lights about to turn red.  

According to a recent report by AAA, about 46% of people killed by drivers blowing through red lights were passengers or occupants of other vehicles, while more than 5% were pedestrians or cyclists. 

The red light awareness push includes patrol officers being on the lookout for drivers running red lights, according to LPD Sgt. Robin Green.

“Traffic officers have been deployed strictly to do this campaign,” Green said. “They are all over the city at different times of day. You might see them in the morning at one location and in the afternoon, you might see them in a different location.”

The campaign is targeted particularly in areas of the city with a high number of violations, but Green said police are aware that the problem is widespread.

“Right when it turns green, I will not proceed through an intersection,” Green said. “I will give it three to six seconds, then I will go because I’ve seen so many times when people run the light.”

The 30-day campaign runs through April 11.

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