Drivers, cyclists must be vigilant at traffic signals

Even if you are a safe, responsible driver and you consistently follow the rules of the road, you still face unavoidable dangers when other motorists fail to exercise the same level of care behind the wheel. At Dean Standish Perkins & Associates, we understand that the number of fatalities caused by drivers who run red lights is at an all-time high, and that many red-light car crashes are avoidable and caused by the negligence of other motorists.

According to NBC News, 939 people lost their lives due to other drivers running red lights in the United States in 2017, which is the highest number of red-light-related deaths since 2008. It is also nearly 30% higher than the number of deaths linked to drivers running red lights that occurred in 2012, highlighting a troubling trend.

The number of total road fatalities occurring on U.S. roads since 2012 has increased by only 10%, which is substantially lower than the 28% jump in deaths related specifically to drivers running red lights. While these figures are alarming, there are some things you can do as a motorist or cyclist to help stay safe.

When riding a bike, for example, make a point to make eye contact with motorists who are sitting at red lights, and take a few moments to make sure traffic has come to a complete stop before crossing an intersection. When driving in your car, it may serve you well to tap your brakes as you approach a red light. You may, too, want to wait a second before proceeding through an intersection once the light turns green to make sure everyone is out of it. You can find more about car wrecks on our webpage.