Floridians know how dangerous the roads can be. With the number of risks including distracted drivers, reckless drivers, drivers under the influence and more, auto accidents can happen without warning and lead to serious injuries and fatalities.
One type of accident that drivers rarely expect happens when another vehicle runs a red light. Because stopping at a red light is a foundational part of learning to drive, it is reasonable to think drivers will adhere to the law in this way. Unfortunately, this does not always happen and it is a growing cause of fatal crashes.
According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, the number of fatalities because of a driver running a red light is the highest it has been in 10 years. The latest statistics are from 2017. That year, there were 939 such fatalities. This was up from 715 in 2009. That is a rise of 31%. In addition, 2017 was the fifth consecutive year that there was an increase. Everyone who died in these accidents is counted. That includes the driver who ran the red light and others. All told, this comes to an average of two people per day dying because a driver went through a red light.
The researchers began their study by using 2008 statistics. They did not dive deeply into why there has been such a troublesome rise, but they have certain beliefs as to why it is the case. People are taking to the road more frequently. There was an increase in miles driven by 5% in the years that were studied. However, there are other considerations including distracted drivers.
When surveyed, people admitted to ignoring red lights on occasion. Almost one-third stated they had gone through a red light in the past month.
Strategies to reduce this behavior include more red light cameras and road design that precludes drivers from speeding. When there has been a crash, people who have been hurt or lost a loved one should have legal help in determining the cause and pursuing compensation in a legal filing. A law firm experienced in auto accidents can investigate the collision and help with filing a claim.