Official statistics show that people often run red lights. For instance, more than 1,100 people died in red light accidents in 2021 alone. Every year, there are hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries due to this one single mistake.
This is often very frustrating to other drivers because it is a mistake that should never happen. One of the clearest rules of the road is that drivers have to wait for the light to turn green, and there’s really no excuse for a driver going through while the light is still red. So why does it happen so often?
Speeding up for a yellow light
One potential issue is that many drivers will speed up when the light turns yellow. They just want to get through the intersection. Instead of slowing down so that they can stop in time for the red, they hit the gas. But if they don’t make it before the light turns red, then they are inevitably going to run the light.
Not leaving enough time
The root cause in many cases, is just that drivers are in a hurry. They feel like they are running behind. Maybe they didn’t leave enough time to get to their destination, so they’re trying to rush to get to work or school. They run the light so that they don’t have to wait.
Additionally, there are drivers who do leave enough time to arrive at an appointment, but they get caught in traffic or otherwise delayed for reasons that are out of their control. These drivers may be more likely to run red lights because they’re trying to make up time and only focusing on their own schedule – rather than the safety of those around them.
If you have been injured in an accident caused by someone who ran a red light, you may deserve compensation for medical bills and more.