AAA has found that the number of deaths caused by red-light runners reached a 10-year high in 2017. The total that year came to 939 people, nearly half of whom were drivers or passengers in cars other than the red-light runner’s. Over a third of the victims were the red-light runners themselves. Indiana residents may be wondering what is behind the trend.
First, it’s not because drivers are unaware that running a red light is illegal. Most even acknowledge that it’s dangerous. In a AAA survey, 85% of drivers said as much, yet at the same time, one in three admitted to running a red light in the previous 30 days. Also, two in five expressed their belief that they would never be pulled over for the offense.
Many drivers, then, run red lights intentionally without anything to deter them. Others do so because of inattention. For this reason, some experts are encouraging cities to implement red-light cameras, which take pictures of offenders. A study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says cameras can reduce red-light violations by 40%.
Overall, traffic deaths have slightly declined. The National Safety Council, looking at the statistics for 2018, found that even phone use went down. However, distracted driving, drunk driving and speeding are still the leading causes of accidents.
Those who are involved in car accidents through no fault of their own may be able to file a claim against the other driver’s auto insurance company. This will especially be the case if the driver ran a red light. Indiana follows a modified comparative fault rule, so even those who are partially to blame for a crash may still seek compensation. Whatever their case is like, it may be wise to have a lawyer evaluate it before moving forward.
