Running a red light is one of the most common reasons for receiving a traffic ticket. In fact, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) did a study where they discovered that when a red light camera is not in use, the rate of vehicles running a red light was 3.2 per hour.
According to the IIHS, 709 people were killed in 2014 because someone ran a light. Another 126,000 were injured from the same type of situation. Many of them were pedestrians and bicyclists.
In these cases, the one vehicle will crash into the side of another vehicle, which often causes serious injuries. The sides of a vehicle are not as well protected as the front or rear because there is less machinery between the person and the crashing vehicle. The result is more severe injuries such as lost limbs, spinal and head injuries, and broken bones.
If a car is already in the intersection before the light turns red, they are not considered red light runners. In states where making right turns on red is legal are also not included in this category. However, they are required to stop before making the turn. If they fail to do so, they would be considered a light runner. Even where it’s legal to make a right turn while the light is red, the driver is expected to exercise caution.
A person who disobeys the traffic laws and continues driving through a red light may receive a traffic ticket. This is illegal in all 50 states, and each state has its own law regarding this infraction. You may be subject to a fine and have points added to your license for driving through a red light.
In addition, you will be found at fault if an accident should occur as the result of your actions. Because you disobeyed the law, you are automatically assumed to be at fault for a collision that occurs in the intersection.
Many cities have installed red light cameras, which take a picture of your vehicle so that you are issued a ticket for running through. You would receive the citation in the mail showing the date and details of the occurrence. So, even if you think you got away with it, you may be fined if you ran the light where a camera is installed.
Running through a traffic light is a serious problem that can lead to serious consequences. It’s important to slow down and pay attention to traffic lights and avoid a fine or even worse, a serious accident that could result in a fatality.