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Drivers face numerous potential dangers every time they share the road with other motorists. A reality of sharing the road with others is that some drivers do not follow the rules of the road, such as adhering to the speed limit, obeying traffic signs, and avoiding running red lights.
Drivers running red lights are among the significant contributors to traffic accidents each year, and some of those accidents end in serious injury or death. Traffic cameras were introduced to help reduce the number of drivers running red lights and causing crashes.
If you have been injured in an accident caused by a driver who ran a red light, injury lawyers can help evaluate your case and help you explore your legal options. Our firm has years of experience helping our clients pursue compensation for injuries sustained in traffic crashes. Call us at (888) 488-1391 or visit us online to schedule a free initial consultation.
What Does Running A Red Light Mean?
You have run a red light if you enter an intersection after the traffic signal has turned red. However, if you entered the intersection while the light was still green or yellow and are waiting to turn, you are allowed to complete your turn even if the light changes to red while you are in the intersection. In some cases, drivers are permitted to make a right turn on red after coming to a complete stop, unless there are signs prohibiting it. If you ignore such signs, you are violating traffic laws.
Understanding your rights can be challenging, especially after a traffic crash. If you have been hurt in a crash, contact us at (888) 488-1391 to speak with one of our experienced car accident lawyers. We offer a free initial consultation to discuss your case and your options.
Do Extended Yellow Lights Help Reduce Drivers Running Red Lights?
The Institute of Transportation Engineers conducted a study about whether the extension of yellow lights would reduce the number of drivers running red lights. The study found that extending the duration of a yellow traffic light results in a significant decrease in the number of crashes caused by drivers running red lights. Because of the improvement brought by extending yellow light times, the ITE recommends that local traffic engineers calculate the vehicle speed by using the actual speed of cars approaching the intersection.
Who Tends To Run Red Lights?
In 2019, the AAA Foundation conducted a national telephone survey and found that 86% of drivers reported that they believe that it is dangerous for a driver to run a red light. 31% of the drivers surveyed reported that they had run a red light in the last 30 days. According to the AAA Foundation, the following qualities are commonly found in the profiles of people who run red lights:
- Younger and male.
- Having a DUI on their driving record.
- Likely to be speeding or under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Likely to have a valid driver’s license.
If you have been hurt in an accident, our California personal injury lawyers at Arash Law have decades of experience helping our clients file a claim against the at-fault parties for the harm they caused. Schedule a free case review with one of our lawyers by calling (888) 488-1391.
What Are The Benefits Of Traffic Camera Lights?
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety conducted a study about the benefits of having red light traffic cameras. The IIHS concluded that using traffic cameras at red lights was safe and effective, discouraging drivers from running red lights. Decreasing the rate of drivers running red lights is directly related to making traffic safer for everyone on the road. The IIHS found that having traffic cameras present at red lights made traffic safer because cameras caused drivers to follow the rules of the road and slow down instead of trying to speed up and beat the light.
Having red-light cameras also maximized police presence without requiring police officers to be physically present at the scene. The IIHS study concluded that enforcing traffic laws is the proper method to help pedestrians, especially frequent violators, comply with the law. Many of us have been tempted to speed up to make it through a yellow light, but since the introduction of camera lights, drivers are more likely to slow down at a yellow light and come to a stop at a red light if they see a traffic camera above the light.
The IIHS study found that traffic cameras reduced the number of fatal traffic crashes caused by drivers running red lights by 21%. The use of traffic cameras helped reduce the number of all types of fatal crashes by 14%.
Before cities and states installed traffic cameras, crashes related to red-light running were rampant. Many drivers often run past red lights when they feel there are no police officers around to observe traffic. There were no consequences for violating this traffic law. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety conducted a study of five busy intersections in Fairfax, Virginia. The study found that a driver ran a red light every twenty minutes before the city installed traffic cameras, and that number significantly increased during peak traffic hours. It expanded its study to four more states. The foundation studied 19 intersections and found that the drivers ran a red light at a rate of 3.2 cars per hour per intersection.
These numbers may remain similar in other states that have not yet installed traffic cameras. The increased number of motorists violating traffic laws could potentially lead to more traffic accidents, resulting in more injuries and some fatalities. If you or your loved ones have been involved in a traffic accident and were injured, our car accident lawyers at Arash Law can help you navigate the complexities of the process. Call us at (888) 488-1391 to schedule a free initial consultation with one of our experienced attorneys.
Can Properly Installed Traffic Cameras Keep Drivers Safe?
Properly installed traffic cameras can help keep drivers safe. The AAA Foundation recommends that local governments incorporate the following:
- Use a traffic camera program that creates a comprehensive traffic safety strategy, including engineering and education.
- Local governments should focus on programs that specifically focus on roadways that have a demonstrated pattern of drivers running red lights.
- Notify drivers about the traffic cameras in use.
- Regularly calibrating traffic cameras.
- Law enforcement should directly supervise the traffic cameras.
- Periodically analyze the traffic programs and maintain the usage of the traffic cameras.
The use of traffic cameras helps protect drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and cyclists when they share the road with others. Although the nationwide implementation of this safety measure is commendable, traffic crashes continue to occur. If you are hurt in an accident, facing the aftermath can be challenging. Seeking legal representation after a crash can help you address the challenges that may arise when dealing with insurance companies and defense attorneys, such as delays or denials of claims.
The injury attorneys at our California accident law firm have decades of experience pursuing compensation on behalf of our clients. Our lawyers have represented clients across California who are involved in traffic accidents in a wide range of personal injury claims. If you have been hurt in a traffic accident and are looking for legal representation, our attorneys are ready to help. You can contact us at (888) 488-1391 or visit us online to schedule a free case review. Our California accident lawyers can evaluate your situation and determine whether you have a valid claim.
How Can I Keep Myself Safe On The Road?
Drivers can adopt certain behaviors to keep themselves safe while driving. Changes that the AAA Foundation recommends include:
- Practice defensive driving. Before entering an intersection after a light turns green, look both ways to check if it is safe to proceed.
- Hover over the brake as you prepare to stop. As you are preparing to stop, position your foot above the brake without touching it. Tap the brake a couple of times before fully applying the brake, slowing down, and coming to a complete stop.
- Use your logical judgment and be ready to react while driving. Be ready to react by monitoring green lights that may have already been green for a while before you approach the intersection.
Pedestrians and cyclists can also adopt certain behaviors to help keep themselves safe from harm on the road. Recommendations from the AAA Foundation for pedestrians and cyclists include:
- Do not take chances while on the road. Be careful if you want to use headphones. Headphones can make it unsafe because you cannot hear what is happening around you.
- At nighttime, stay in well-lit areas, especially while crossing the street.
- Wait a few moments and check if all the cars have stopped before proceeding through the intersection.
- Observe other drivers in stopped vehicles and double-check the surrounding areas, especially the counterflow lane, to be safe in crossing the road in front of them.
Do Traffic Cameras Violate Privacy Law?
A big question that many drivers have regarding traffic cameras is, “Do traffic cameras violate my privacy rights?” The answer to this question is no. Cameras placed on traffic lights that monitor drivers do not violate drivers’ privacy rights. Driving is a privilege, and to maintain the ability to use the privilege requires drivers to follow the rules of the road.
When you have a driver’s license, you have entered into an agreement that you will follow the road rules and obey traffic signs and traffic lights. Traffic cameras are a tool to help wrangle and punish people who break the law by snapping pictures of them passing through the light and their license plate. The driver usually gets a ticket in the mail. In those cases, the traffic camera takes the place of a police officer pulling over a driver when they violate a traffic law.
Why Should I Obey Traffic Laws?
Following traffic laws is essential for many reasons, including honoring your oath to drive safely when you get your license and helping keep others safe. Other reasons include:
- Running red lights can cause deadly accidents.
- Traffic crashes caused by drivers running red lights can often be prevented through careful driving and following traffic laws.
- In 2019, a red-light running crash caused 846 deaths and 143,000 injuries.
- One in three Americans has a friend or family member who was injured or killed in a red-light running crash.
- From 2008 until 2019, 9227 people were killed in traffic crashes where the driver ran a red light.
- In 2019, two people died every day in a red-light-running-related crash.
- Pedestrians, bicyclists, and passengers make up more than 50% of deaths in red-light-related crashes.
- Red-light running crashes are among the common urban crashes across the country.
- 86% of drivers surveyed agreed that running a red light is unacceptable.
Traffic Deaths From Red-Light Running Accidents Have Hit A Ten-Year High
One of the important reasons to obey traffic laws is to help keep other drivers, passengers, cyclists, and pedestrians safe. According to the AAA Foundation, two people are killed every day after being involved in a red-light running accident. This number includes drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and cyclists. The AAA Foundation has also found that:
- In 2017, 939 people were killed in red-light running accidents. This number represents a ten-year high and a 23% increase in the number of accidents since 2012.
- The AAA Foundation found that 28% of traffic crash deaths occurred because a driver ran a red light.
- In 2017, 46% of people killed in red-light running crashes were passengers.
- 35% of people killed in red-light-related crashes were the drivers who ran the red light.
- 5% of people killed in red-light crashes were pedestrians and cyclists.
Every driver’s responsibility is to do their part to keep the shared roadways safe. Unfortunately, some drivers can put you and others at risk by driving recklessly and causing accidents. If you have been involved in an accident with a driver who ran a red light, our traffic accident lawyers can conduct a thorough investigation and gather evidence to identify potentially liable parties, working to help you pursue compensation for your injuries and losses resulting from the accident.
Reach Out To Our California Personal Injury Attorneys At Arash Law
Reckless driving is a daily risk for everyone on the road. At least two people die every day because of reckless driving. Our traffic accident lawyers are committed to advocating for the rights of accident victims, their families, and the communities they serve, representing these interests both in and out of court.
If you have been in an accident caused by a driver who ran a red light, our team at Arash Law is ready to help. We offer focused legal representation and can help connect you with doctors who may be able to assist with your medical needs. Contact us at (888) 488-1391 or complete our “Do I Have A Case?” form here to schedule a free initial consultation.
