Accidents at intersections are incredibly common. In fact, they lead to around 50% of fatal accidents in the United States. In many cases, these crashes happen because one driver runs a red light.
But why do drivers make this mistake? Following traffic control devices is one of the easiest aspects of driving. In theory, these accidents should never happen, but they continue to occur every day. Below are a few reasons why.
Trying to beat the yellow light
Often, it’s because drivers see the light turn yellow. They’re supposed to take this as a warning so that they can slow down and stop in time. But many people will try to “beat” the light and so they speed up, trying to get through while it is still yellow. Some of them don’t make it and run the red light.
A sense of urgency
Another potential reason is that people often feel like everything is urgent or that they are constantly in a rush, hurrying from one appointment to the next. This can lead to aggressive and dangerous driving. For instance, someone who is rushing to clock in at work on time may be more likely to run a red light.
Distraction and impairment
Finally, many drivers run red lights just because they’re distracted. Maybe the driver is looking at their phone, so they don’t see the light change. Other drivers are impaired by alcohol or illegal drugs. They may simply not have the level of cognitive function needed to react properly to the control devices around them.
Have you been injured in one of these accidents, or have you lost a loved one? If so, you need to know how to seek financial compensation.