From rural highways to busy city streets, red lights are one of the most important signals on the road. Unfortunately, too many Americans continue to put others in danger by running red lights.
According to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, 849 people lost their lives in 2019 due to collisions involving red-light running.
Statistics on red-light injuries and deaths
The IIHS reports that drivers passing through red lights injure tens of thousands and kill hundreds of people every year. Some statistics on red-light collisions include:
- Of the 849 people killed in 2019, over half were bicyclists, pedestrians or individuals in the struck vehicle
- Around 140,000 people in the U.S. had an injury in 2019 due to red-light running
- About 28% of auto collision deaths at intersections with signals involve red signal running
- Red-light runners are more likely to be speeding, distracted or intoxicated
Why do Americans run red lights?
A recent American Automobile Association survey found that around 85% of U.S. drivers consider running a red light to be very dangerous. Still, almost one in every three motorists say that they have ignored a red signal in the past 30 days, even though they could have stopped at the intersection safely.
Reasons that motorists ignore or overlook red signals range from distractions behind the wheel, speeding or simply being in a hurry to intoxication or reckless driving. Those injured in a red-light-running accident should know that they may be able to receive compensation for medical bills, lost income and more by filing a personal injury claim against the careless driver.