Nearly 1,000 people were killed in the United States by drivers running red lights, according to the latest statistics released by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. Stunningly, over one of every 10 of those fatalities occurred here in Florida in 2017!
The study says 939 people were killed at signalized intersections in 2017 when drivers blew through red lights. In Florida, 99 deaths occurred in that year with 741 deaths reported from 2008 to 2017.
Passengers of other vehicles are the most frequent victims
AAA reports red light running fatalities have reached a 10-year high and increased by 28% since 2012. The study’s other key findings include:
- 28% of crash deaths at intersections with signals are the result of drivers running red lights
- 46% of those killed were passengers in another vehicle
- 35% of drivers who ran red lights were killed
- 5% of victims were pedestrians or cyclists
Majority of drivers own up to dangerous behavior
Of the drivers who responded to the AAA survey, 85% view running a red light as dangerous behavior. However, nearly one in three said they had blown through a light when they could have stopped in time. Two out of five also said it’s unlikely they would be pulled over by police.
Penalties in Florida can be steep for drivers who injure or kill others when running a red light. Without question, victims of these types of collisions face serious injuries and even death. An experienced personal injury attorney can help victims recover past and future damages, including those for medical costs, lost wages pain and suffering, and other expenses resulting from someone else’s negligence.