Running red lights is one of the top reasons why people suffer injuries or even pass away in car accidents. For instance, in 2023, over 136,000 people suffered injuries and another 1,086 people died in accidents caused by drivers who ran red lights. The numbers do fluctuate a bit every year, but you can see that there are serious risks for tens of thousands of people on an annual basis.
But why do these accidents happen in the first place? They are so easy to avoid if people would just stop running red lights, so what are some of the reasons that they do so?
1. Rushing through the intersection
One common problem is that people are always in a rush. So when a light turns yellow, instead of slowing down and stopping as it turns red, drivers will hit the gas and try to speed through at the tail end of the yellow light. They do not want to wait for another light cycle.
2. Distraction or impairment
Distracted driving and drunk driving can also play a role. A driver who has had too much to drink or who is looking at their cellphone behind the wheel may not even realize that the light turned red until they accidentally drive through the intersection.
3. They didn’t think there was other traffic
In some cases, you will even find drivers who will intentionally run a red light. They may slow down or even come to a stop before doing so. Often, their excuse is that they looked around and did not see cross traffic, so they treated the red light like a four-way stop.
All of these driving mistakes can cause serious accidents and injuries, so be sure you know how to seek financial compensation if you are hit by another driver.