Red light runners are fairly common. They cause a significant number of accidents. For instance, reports note that over 136,000 people suffered injuries in these accidents in 2023, while another 1,086 people lost their lives in fatal crashes.
Some rules of the road are complex and difficult to follow, but traffic signals are not one of them. Stopping at a red light is one of the easiest and most basic elements of driving a vehicle. So why is it that so many drivers make the same mistake and cause serious accidents?
1. Driver distraction
In some cases, it’s because the driver is distracted and doesn’t see the light change. Someone may be trying to type a text message, just glancing up at the road periodically. They look up and see that it’s a green light, but it switches to yellow and then red while the driver is still looking down at their phone, so they don’t see the change.
2. Driver impairment
Impairment from alcohol and drugs can also lead to red light running. Drivers often suffer from poor reaction times when they’re impaired, so someone may try to hit the brakes but not be able to stop in time, or they may not react quickly when they see the light turn red. Other drivers are so impaired that they don’t see the light at all.
3. Rushing
Finally, there are drivers who are fully aware that they are running the red light, but they do it on purpose. They may speed up to try to get through the yellow light before it changes, for instance, or even intentionally run the red light if they think they can do so before cross traffic starts. Often, they’re just in a hurry, so they’re trying to rush through the light instead of waiting.
If you suffered serious injuries or lost a loved one in a car accident, you may deserve substantial compensation.
