Statistics from Across America about Tickets and Running a Red Light

What follows is the ‘official’ definition of what running a red light is.  A violation occurs when a motorist enters an intersection some time after the signal light has turned red. Motorists inadvertently in an intersection when the signal changes to red (waiting to turn left, for example) are not red light runners. 

 

The general rule is that if the front set of tires of your vehicle are already in the intersection when the light changes from yellow to red you are legally in the clear.  Remember though that ‘legal’ is not necessarily to say ‘safe’.  Many drivers in cross traffic are anxious for their light to turn green, and may ‘jump the light’ prior to it turning green.

From the National Institute for Highway Safety:  A nationwide study of fatal crashes at traffic signals in 1999 and 2000 estimated that 20 percent of the drivers involved failed to obey the signals.₁ In 2006, almost 900 people were killed and an estimated 144,000 were injured in crashes that involved red light running.

 

About half of the deaths in red light running crashes are pedestrians and occupants in other vehicles who are hit by the red light runners.

Motorists are more likely to be injured in urban crashes involving red light running than in other types of urban crashes. Institute researchers studied police reports of crashes on public roads in four urban areas during 1990-91. Occupant injuries occurred in 45 percent of red light running crashes, compared with 30 percent of other crash types.₂

₁Brittany, N.; Campbell, B.N.; Smith, J.D.; and Najm, W.G. 2004. Analysis of fatal crashes due to signal and stop sign violations. Report no. DOT HS-809-779. Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

₂Retting, R.A.; Williams, A.F.; Preusser, D.F.; and Weinstein, H.B. 1995. Classifying urban crashes for countermeasure development. Accident Analysis and Prevention 27:283-94.

 

Obviously, avoiding a ticket and running a red light altogether is the safest and cheapest way to go, but if you have received a ticket running a red light, we can help.

 

Have questions? Feel free to contact one of our red light camera ticket fighting experts at 800.850.8038, explore this site (fightredlightcameratickets.com) in more detail or visit our main Ticket Busters of California site at www.TicketBust.com.  We can show you how to beat that traffic ticket for running a red light.

Contact a Red Light Camera Expert at 800-850-8038

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