Risks of Accidents When Running Red Lights in Florida

South Florida is among the most dangerous places for driving as many drivers don’t follow the traffic laws. Because of this, Florida has been listed as the number two state for having the most distracted drivers. Running red lights is included in the bad habits of reckless drivers.

To get a better understanding of the problem, let’s discuss what exactly running a red light means. In Florida, as the traffic signal turns red, according to law, the drivers should stop their vehicles either before to enter the crosswalk or if they have entered the crosswalk they should remain standing until the signal turns to green to avoid the possibility of an accident. If a driver doesn’t do so the consequence comes in the form of severe road accidents injuring both the parties.

Installation of Speed Cameras

Attempts have been made to minimize the risk of running red lights by the installation of cameras at busy intersections in Florida. These red light cameras are triggered when a car runs a red light. Unfortunately, the results of these cameras have been mixed in Florida.

Red Light Running led to Major Accident in October

Earlier this month, a major accident occurred as a result of one of the vehicles running a red light.  Footage of the accident shows that in Miami beach a Tesla of white color ran the red light and then struck an SUV. This accident seriously injured the three people that were inside the SUV, which was almost sliced in half due to the severity of the collision.

How Dangerous is Running a Red Light?

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reported that in 2016, over 800 people were killed including bicyclists, pedestrians, and other vehicle drivers due to accidents involving running red lights. Another study by the Institute of Urban Crashes found that running red lights accounts for some 22 percent of all road accidents. Running red lights not only harms the reckless driver but also other innocent people. According to the study, running red lights kills an average of two people daily.

According to the report of the Traffic Safety Culture Index in 2017, 42.7 percent of drivers have admitted that they had driven their vehicle into an intersection after the light turned red in the last 30 days, although they had the chance to stop safely before the light turned red.

Reasons for Running Red Lights

Drivers run red lights for a variety of reasons including, but not limited to, the following:

• Distracted driving in which the drivers don’t pay attention to traffic signals
• Drivers eagerness to reach the destination
• Drivers poor reaction after the consumption of alcohol
• Increased speed at yellow light that shifts faster than predicted

Contact an Experienced Attorney Today

If you have been injured in an accident due to another driver running a red light, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and damages under Florida Law. If you believe you are entitled to compensation, contact the West Palm Beach auto accident attorneys at Pike & Lustig, LLP today to schedule a consultation.

Resources:

leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0700-0799/0768/Sections/0768.81.html

dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6711393/Shocking-moment-Tesla-speeding-128mph-crashes-Lyft-SUV-nearly-cutting-HALF.html

https://www.turnpikelaw.com/filing-claims-against-your-family-or-friends/