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Running a Red Light Can Ruin Your Day
We are currently trying to make a dent in the number of crashes at intersections. Those who run the red light are taking their toll on us. Nationally, the rate of death at a red light is three times the rate of all other fatal crashes, up 18%. 200,000 are injured yearly at red lights. So what can we do to avoid those who don't care about anyone but them selves when they are behind the wheel?
- When approaching an intersection, take your foot off the gas and just cover the brake with it. You don't have to touch the brake yet. But you will reduce your reaction time by being prepared. And more importantly, you re-focus your attention on the task at hand: DRIVING.
- Realize that the green light only gives you permission, it gives you the right of way. It doesn't give you the promise of safety. When approaching a green light, look both directions as you cover the brake.
- When your light turns green, look left, right, then left again, then go if it's clear to do so.
- Don't time the light: You are approaching a red and you see the other lights turn red and you time your green to hit the intersection at the instant it turns green. What if someone picks that light to run the red? Or you enter a late yellow (almost red, but let's give you the benefit of the doubt here) and someone else times their light. They see that yours has turned red and they decide to go for it even though theirs hasn't quite turned green yet. Either way, you are in one of two groups of drivers: 1- those who have wrecked, or 2- those who will.
Some explanations are needed here to answer the questions that you have in your mind.
- How many cars can go when the light turns red?
Answer: When the light turns red, those cars that entered the intersection before it turned red can clear the intersection. No more can enter the intersection!!
- What designates the intersection?
Answer: Typically there are three lines on the pavement: the two lines composing the crosswalk and the stop line prior to the crosswalk, if there is a stop line. The first line encountered by an approaching vehicle designates the intersection for purposes of stopping at a red light.
- Who gets the ticket if there is a crash?
Answer: Right of way is "the right of one vehicle...to proceed in a lawful manner in preference to another..." This means that if one person turns left after having been stopped in the intersection waiting for the break in traffic and then the light turns red and they are struck by another car running the red light, the red light runner did not have the right of way, because he was not proceeding in a lawful manner and he can get the ticket. Any vehicles that enter on the yellow and are going straight have the right of way over left-turning vehicles.
- How slow is "stopped"? (This often comes up in relation to a "California Stop" on a right turn).
Answer: A vehicle must stop and remain stopped when it's red, until it's green. On a right turn, Aa vehicle facing any steady red signal may cautiously enter the intersection to turn right...after stopping as directed. Stopped means Astopped. It doesn't mean Aslowly moving. The bottom line is not to quibble over semantics. The bottom line is to comply, for safety reasons. 200,000 of them.
We have designated traffic officers and motorcycle officers that have made it a point to target these dangerous drivers and ticket them in an effort to reduce the number of crashes at intersections. We are trying to make the traffic problem less of a problem. Any way you slice it, an intersection is a dangerous place. People are in too much of a hurry. The red light is only going to slow us down about 40 seconds. A traffic stop by an officer can take up to 20 minutes. A crash, about an hour, if you're lucky and don't need a ride. Slow down. And be safe out there.
Craig Harding
Public Information Officer
St. George Police Department
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