According to the National Coalition for Safer Roads, 2014 saw over 3,700,000 drivers running a red light in the United States. These red light violations most often occurred during peak summer travel months. Friday afternoon between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. were known for the highest rate of red light violations. Motorist driving carelessly and often distracted in Rhode Island and Providence Plantations may lead to a running red light accident. If you were injured as a result of a traffic signal violation, running a red light or failure to stop at a stop sign, contact a Rhode Island personal injury attorney.
red light accident
Problem with running red lights
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety compiles studies and publishes data on crashes each year. In 2014, 709 people were killed in crashes involving people who ran red lights. It’s estimated that 126,000 people were injured in crashes involving someone who ran a red light. This is a sad and pathetic state of affairs considering that running red light accidents are completely preventable. Public awareness and education to the dangers of running red light accidents as well as enforcement of existing laws by authorities should help reduce the number of the incidences. These incidences of reckless driving in Rhode island and Providence Plantations often result in t-bone / broadside collisions. These Rhode Island car crashes may result in traumatic brain injury (tbi), fractured bones, whiplash injury etc.
Red Light Running Definition
After a light has turned red and a vehicle has entered the intersection, that’s considered a violation. If a driver is waiting at an intersection before taking a right, they must come to a complete stop. Failure to do so can be considered running a red light. Running a red light is negligence per se and is neither admirable nor advantageous in any meaningful way.
Careless Driving and Accidents
Driving through a red light is considered reckless driving. Running a red light is the leading cause of crashes in an urban setting. These statistics are part of the study from the IIHS or Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. “Descriptive statistics from the analysis of the red light violation data suggest that younger drivers under 30 years of age are more likely to run the red light than drivers in other age groups. In addition, most red light violations occur during the daytime (i.e., 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.) with highest counts of red light violations during the period from 2:00 p.m. to 2:59 p.m. The three most frequent vehicle speeds at the time of the violation were: 18 mph (1,762 records), 17 mph (1,715 records), and 19 mph (1,711 records). The average red light violation speed was 31.6 mph. It should be noted that the highest posted speed limit among these 11 RLPEC-equipped intersections is 45 mph. About 18 percent of the violators ran the red light at speeds higher than 45 mph. Moreover, about 56 percent of the violators were traveling at or below the posted speed limit (i.e., not speeding). “ US Department of Transportation, National Highway traffic safety Administration, Analysis of Red Light Violation Data Collected from Intersections Equipped with Red Light Photo Enforcement Cameras Research and Innovative Technology Administration Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, Cambridge, MA 02142-1093 , DOT HS 810 580 March 2006 The City of Providence ATVMS 2010 annual report
Cameras on Traffic Lights |
Some communities have taken red light running seriously. They’ve installed cameras to catch drivers who speed through a red signal. These cameras automatically take pictures of the vehicles that enter the intersection after a yellow light has changed to red. The license plate is captured on film, which means the driver can be sent a citation in the mail.
Reduced Violations
Studies by the IIHS showed that many communities with red light cameras saw a significant drop in the amount of violations as well as the amount of crashes. Overall, communities with red light cameras saw lower violations by at least 40 to 50 percent. Interestingly, Providence has a drastically different experience with red light cameras as set forth below.
Providence red light cameras
“After a decade of toying with the use of red light cameras, Providence, Rhode Island has seen a continued spike in the number of accidents at photo enforced intersections. Between 2006 and 2012, the program generated $6,160,975 in revenue, but accidents have skyrocketed over the last three years. According to the city’s annual reports to the state, obtained by GoLocalProv, there were 28 property damage collisions and 10 injury collisions at red light camera intersections in 2010. In 2011, collisions jumped 189 percent to 81, though injury collisions dipped to 7. Last year property damage accidents increased another 15 percent to 96 while injury accidents grew to 12. Over three years, the number of collisions had grown 242 percent.” The Newspaper.com, Driving politics
Can an emergency vehicle run a red light under Rhode Island law? What happens if a running red light accident occurs when a police officer runs a red light in an emergency causing a fatal car crash?
Rhode Island law 31-12-7 allows emergency vehicles such as police and fire trucks certain privileges set forth in the statute.
“Privileges allowed emergency vehicles. — The driver of an authorized emergency vehicle may:
“(1) Park or stand, irrespective of the provisions of any law;
“(2) Proceed past a red or stop signal or stop sign, but only after slowing down as may be necessary for safe operation;
“(3) Exceed the prima facie speed limits so long as he or she does not endanger life or property;
“(4) Disregard regulations governing direction of movement or turning in specified directions.” § 31-12-7 TITLE 31
Motor and Other vehicles CHAPTER 31-12 Applicability of Traffic Regulations SECTION 31-12-7
The Rhode Island Supreme Court sitting in the Capital City of Providence in Seide v State of Rhode Island makes it clear that privileges for emergency vehicles to run red lights and disobey stop signs are not absolute. “When a police officer pursues a person suspected of violating the law, § 31-12-6(a)affords the officer, as the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle, the privilege of disregarding many traffic laws. However, § 31-12-9 also provides that these privileges are not without limitation, including the “duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons.” This duty of care is set forth in § 31-12-9: “Due care by emergency vehicles. — The provisions of this chapter shall not relieve the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons, nor shall the provisions protect the driver from the consequences of the drivers reckless disregard for the safety of others.” Mary SEIDE v.STATE of Rhode Island, 875 A.2d 1259 (2005).
A police chase motor vehicle wreck in Rhode Island
The pertinent facts in Seide are set forth in the Court’s decision set forth herein. “In the Riverside area of East Providence, around midnight, a flatbed tow truck (truck) was stolen by David D’Angelo (D’Angelo) from a local business, Jerry’s Chevron. As the theft was broadcast by the dispatcher for the East Providence Police Department, Detective Diogo Mello (Officer Mello) positioned his cruiser on the Taunton Avenue on-ramp to Interstate 195 (Route 195). He observed a flatbed tow truck, matching the description of the stolen vehicle, traveling west on Route 195. As Officer Mello followed the truck, radio dispatch confirmed that it was the stolen vehicle. When additional police cruisers from the East Providence and Providence Police Departments joined Officer Mello, the officers activated their emergency lights and sirens. Thus began a high-speed pursuit that lasted over thirty minutes. The chase culminated in a caravan of cruisers trailing D’Angelo on Interstate 95 (Route 95 or interstate) heading south in the northbound lanes and ended when the operator of the stolen vehicle drove around a hastily erected Rhode Island State Police (state police) roadblock and smashed into Mary Seide’s car.” Mary SEIDE v.STATE of Rhode Island et al, 875 A.2d 1259 (2005). Supreme Court of Rhode Island. May 16, 2005. Joseph F. Dugan, for Plaintiff. Kathleen M. Daniels, Stephen P. Cooney, for Defendants. Present: WILLIAMS, C.J., GOLDBERG, FLAHERTY, SUTTELL, and ROBINSON, JJ.OPINION GOLDBERG, Justice.
The Help of a Rhode Island injury Lawyer
For anyone involved in a red light violation that resulted in a crash, it can be tough to help fight photographic evidence of the red light running that occurred. It’s a boon for those who have been the victim of an accident involving someone who ran a red light. It’s important to retain an attorney before the evidence is destroyed. In many communities, the photographs are destroyed after a certain amount of time depending on the procedures of the location. Red light running is the cause of many accidents in the U. S., and IIHS has data to prove that many accidents occur because of this deadly driving. Looking for an AFFF firefighter foam lawyer?