by Terry Mitchell

Created on: February 25, 2009

I have nothing but contempt for red-light running. To me, people who do this are much more dangerous than speeders. I'm not talking about people who, once in a blue moon, slip up and run a red light due to a brief lapse in attention. That can happen to anyone. I'm referring to those who habitually speed up or refuse to slow down when they see a yellow light well out ahead of them, consequently running newly-turned red lights on a regular basis. What is their problem? Which part of "stop" do they not understand? Are they content to risk their lives and those of everyone else on the road just to arrive at their destinations a few minutes sooner?

If I were not an extremely cautious driver, I would have been killed by one of them last week. About a second after my light turned green at the intersection where I was stopped, a tractor-trailer came barreling through from my right. Fortunately, I hadn't started to go yet. As I customarily do, I waited two seconds before proceeding, after my light turned green. I do this to avoid being hit by idiots like the guy who was driving that truck. Anyway, I let him and everyone else within earshot know how I felt about the situation, as I mashed on my horn held it as I cleared that intersection.

The thing that really burns me up is that it's not like they are just a little late getting through when they run a red light and hit someone. One light doesn't turn green as soon as the opposite light turns red. There is a delay. So when someone runs a red light after the opposite one has turned green, they are doing it after they had plenty of time to stop - they are not just going through as the light changes from yellow to red. In most cases, it is an intentional act.

I think part of the problem is that we tolerate these lawbreakers. Where I live, red-light running seems to be the most prevalent at intersections where there is a left-turn arrow. After the green arrow changes over to a red light, as many as four additional automobiles will turn left while drivers waiting to proceed straight ahead - and who have now have the green light - wait patiently for them to do so. To me, that kind of tolerance of red-light runners is outrageous. When this happens while I'm in the first in line, I loudly indicate my displeasure by honking my horn and staying on it until those left-turning scofflaws hit their brakes and clear the way.

While I don't agree with the use of cameras to ticket red-light runners, I think cops should be posted on a random and rotating basis at intersections that have the highest incidences of red-light running. Those who run a red light after the opposite light has turned green should be fined at least $100 for the first offense, $500 for the second, and $1000 thereafter. Maybe that would curb this deadly epidemic.

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