At one time or another, virtually all drivers have gone through a traffic light that was a bit too yellow. Too many drivers are taking inadvertent red-light running to the next level, though. Indeed, according to reporting from NPR, about 33% of drivers say they have gone through at least one red traffic light during the past month.
Without question, red-light runners are a hazard to themselves, other drivers, pedestrians and the public at large. Indeed, red-light collisions are responsible for roughly 1,000 traffic fatalities in the U.S. every single year. Unfortunately, red-light running seems to correlate with other types of bad driving.
Aggressive driving
Tailgating, where a car follows another vehicle too closely, is a common type of aggressive driving. It can also happen at red lights. That is, a driver may maintain an unsafe following distance in an attempt to get through a yellow light before it turns red.
Distracted driving
By now, everyone should know how important it is for drivers to put away their smartphones and focus on driving. Yet, distracted driving remains a common and dangerous problem in all parts of the country. When drivers are focusing on something other than the driving task, they may not realize they are driving through a red light.
Because they often involve high speeds and affect vulnerable parts of vehicles, red-light collisions often lead to catastrophic consequences. Ultimately, if you suffer a serious injury in a red-light accident, pursuing financial compensation may help to teach the at-fault driver a much-needed lesson in responsible driving.