When people run red lights, there’s a very high chance that they will cause an accident. Other drivers will not be expecting such an egregious mistake, and traffic has to cross paths at an intersection. A driver who runs the light could T-bone another vehicle.
So why is it that drivers continue to run red lights? It’s clearly dangerous and it’s an easily avoidable error. Below are three reasons why it happens anyway.
1. People are in a rush
Modern culture often makes people feel like they need to rush from one event to the next. It feels very urgent for them to be on time, and many people live in this headspace for most of their lives. This is why people will speed up when the light turns yellow, for instance, rather than slowing down to stop at the red light.
2. Drivers are distracted
Another reason is driver distraction. Someone who is looking down at their phone may never see the red light at all. They could also be distracted by eating and drinking in the car, talking to passengers, looking at a GPS or listening to the radio.
3. Some drivers are impaired
Naturally, impaired drivers will also run red lights. Many of these drivers are impaired by alcohol, but there could also be issues with illegal drugs, cannabis products, prescription medications and much more. A driver who is impaired will often make mistakes for that reason alone.
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