A Red Light Means Stop

Have you ever been slowing down to stop at a red light and the car next to you goes flying by and runs the red light? I see it all the time. In fact, this happened to me this morning on Bardstown Road, and it was a TARC bus to boot. Not only had the light turned yellow, but it was red when the bus entered the intersection. Thankfully, the cars coming from the other direction were not timing the lights or there could have been a horrible accident. The simple truth is that this is very dangerous and causes accidents.

Related: Three Reasons Why People Run A Red Light

Don’t run red lights
Many times, running a red light results in car accidents. These accidents often involve pedestrians, bicycles or motorcycles, too. That is because they are less visible. These accidents can also lead to serious injuries because of the element of increased speed and the element of surprise. It’s dangerous and could be deadly.

Red light accidents
If you have been in a red light accident, you may have trouble determining whose fault the accident was. I often see accident reports where the police officer writes that there is no determination of fault due to conflicting stories. Both drivers swear that they had the green light and that the accident was not their fault. These swearing contests are difficult to prove unless you have a witness who stops and is willing to give a statement to the police. Without an independent witness, your accident case will have a lower value. It will be difficult to convince the insurance company to settle or a jury to award you damages at trial.

Related: Bill Filed To Ease Long Waits At Red Lights

The point is, be careful out there. Traffic lights are there for a reason. Whether it is a traffic light, a crosswalk sign or some other road sign, you should pay attention to them. Stop when you are supposed to and you can avoid being in an accident. Drivers are in a hurry, talking on their phones and just plain rude sometimes. As drivers ourselves we need to leave more time so we’re not in a hurry, put away distractions (like cell phones) and try to be courteous to other drivers. Red light accidents are preventable. By following the rules of the road and obeying traffic lights, we will help prevent accidents.