While most Colorado drivers know that running a red light can cause serious injuries or even death, many don’t realize just how pervasive the problem is. And while many Colorado communities have begun to address the problem with red light cameras and other tools, drivers who run red lights continue to pose a risk.
According to research from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), 673 people lost their lives in 2010 and about 122,000 were injured in crashes caused by a driver who ran a red light. In context, this means a driver runs a red light in the U.S. about once every twenty minutes. About 39 percent of all red light runners cause a crash that leaves someone injured or killed.
About half of those who are injured or killed in red light running accidents are pedestrians, bicyclists, and passengers – not drivers. Meanwhile, drivers who run red lights are more likely to be younger, to not use their seat belts regularly, and to have poorer driving records than other drivers – including multiple speeding convictions.
In fact, speed and distraction are the top two reasons drivers run red lights, according to one IIHS study. Drivers who are distracted by texting, eating, cell phone use, and other activities behind the wheel are less likely to see a light changing from yellow to red and thus more likely to run through it.
If you’re injured by a driver who runs a red light, please don’t hesitate to call the experienced Colorado Springs car accident attorneys at The Bussey Law Firm, P.C. to learn more about your legal rights and options. Our number is (719) 475-2555, and your initial case evaluation is free and confidential.