When did it become acceptable to run red lights?

[C.Ann]

The same reason that people drink and drive; speed; blow through stop signs; don't insist on their children wearing seat belts; talk on their cell phones (or text) while driving; and any other number of rules/laws that only pertain to "other" people..

Of course those are also the same people that would be screaming the loudest for "justice" if they - or one of their family members or close friends - were severely injured; disabled for life; or worse yet, killed by a person doing any of the above..

I will never, ever understand the mentality that goes along with "rules are made to be broken".. If they're made to be broken, why have them??

 

[bigmerle1966]

I drive a school bus. You should see how many people intentionally run my lights everyday.

A couple times this school year when I was running late to work I saw people doing this and have considered calling the non-emergency police number to complain about it. One road out of my neighborhood has three lanes, two traffic and the turn lane. People will get in the turn lane, pass waiting traffic and turn right in front of the bus.

We have red light cameras here too and people seem to be paying better attention to them, I haven't seen lights flash in a long time.

 

[Carriemel]

Here where I live, it's quite common for people to do a U-TURN on red. Turning right on red, I can totally get. But a U-TURN? C'mon.

 

[christineann]

Regarding officers speaking on cell phones - my son is a police officer, and we know not to call him unless it's an emergency. He works in a high crime area, and witnesses (especially in CDV's) and informants call him on his cell phone because they do not want to go through dispatch.

Please don't jump to conclusions when you see an officer on a cell phone.

 

[Micca]

Here where I live, it's quite common for people to do a U-TURN on red. Turning right on red, I can totally get. But a U-TURN? C'mon.

How on earth does that work?

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

The people who run red lights are the same people who go more than 10 MPH over the speed limit, who text while they are driving, who drink and drive, who weave in and out of traffic dangerously.... they have no respect for authority or other people and their lives...

Absolute scum, in my book. Flame all you want, but they are.

 

[Muushka]

It became acceptable to run red lights just after it became acceptable to speed.

To all who come up behind me and have to slow down or stop:

I choose to obey the speed limit. Just like I choose to stop at yellow lights that are about to turn red.

 

[TwingleMum]

Around here we also have seen an increase in people who run red lights and honk as they are doing it. As if that makes it OK. We have had several fatalities also. When I see someone run a red light I say a little prayer that that idiot doesn't kill someone.

 

[VickiVM]

is very much alive and well. They have 1 camera intersection in the North Austin area. I'd say it's been in place for well over a year. There is a sign visibly displayed and very prominent in each direction...I've looked.

I use this intersection Mon-Fri and I've got a good idea how the lights are timed and about the length it will take to get through. Odds are great I'll hit the yellow just coming up. That's just the way it is.

And so I get a bird's eye view of how many drivers are just blantanty running the red light just on my 1 exchange.

I don't think the problem is the fact that there is a red light camera. Heck, they could even post law enforcement at each corner.

I sincerely believe the problem is the general fact that our society is rapidly detiorating into the self-entitlement mentality and it is just going to get worse. Even the visible threat of law enforcement doesn't phase people...it just justifies their behavior even more. The internet has exposed the world instantly to tirades, outbursts etc. Shock value of such behavior is at an all-time low.

The whole premise is if they believe it...it must be so. This environment is self-perpetuating and will continue. There is no barometer.

BINGO! I think more than anything this is the most common reason. I live in a fairly affluent community in SA and it's not just running red lights - it's running stop signs, it's driving on the shoulder of a single lane of traffic @ 5pm and then forcing yoursef into the lane at the front (illegal Fast Pass, if you will), it's speeding through school zones...even when a cop is present, and my all time favorite...turning right or left at an intersection when you're two or 3 lanes over on the opposite side. Complete indifferance to traffic laws.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

I always try to stop when I see the light turning in time. I am so afraid that one day someone is just going to plow into me from behind. I have had people go around me to go through the light I just stopped for! My DH was rear ended at a stop light many, many years ago, and has neck problems ever since.

As for U-turns, we are the U-Turn capital of the U.S. People always seem to be going in the wrong direction here, and need to do a U-turn. It doesn't matter where. I always thought it was illegal to do a U-turn in a traffic light intersection, but they do it all the time here.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

The people who run red lights are the same people who go more than 10 MPH over the speed limit, who text while they are driving, who drink and drive, who weave in and out of traffic dangerously.... they have no respect for authority or other people and their lives...

Absolute scum, in my book. Flame all you want, but they are.

Not true. I will admit that I sometimes go 10 mph over the speed limit, (only on the expressway, and usually on my way to WDW) but do none of the other things. I guess that makes me partial scum? Or am I still 100% scum in your book?

 

[LoraJ]

Not true. I will admit that I sometimes go 10 mph over the speed limit, (only on the expressway, and usually on my way to WDW) but do none of the other things. I guess that makes me partial scum? Or am I still 100% scum in your book?

I actually got yelled at by my driving instructor because I was going 25mph in a 25mph zone. Everyone else was going 35mph, he said I need to go the speed of the traffic. It's actually more of a hazard to have been going 10pmh slower than everyone else.

I do not run red lights. I have gone through yellows when it is safer to do that than to stop.

 

[VickiVM]

I actually got yelled at by my driving instructor because I was going 25mph in a 25mph zone. Everyone else was going 35mph, he said I need to go the speed of the traffic. It's actually more of a hazard to have been going 10pmh slower than everyone else.

I do not run red lights. I have gone through yellows when it is safer to do that than to stop.

I think most of us do that. HOWEVER, if a cop wants to slow down the general speed of the traffic and pulls you over...that advice goes out the window. I don't think I've gotten a ticket for speeding, but I have been given a warning or two in my day.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

There are times that if you don't keep up with the flow of traffic, you are endangering yourself and others.

 

[BeachGirlFLA]

I can't say I've ever seen a PO on the phone while in the car. I have seen them driving their family around in the car though, which I thought wasn't allowed.

I have seen it and I have been the person that was on the other end of the phone. As soon as I found out my friend was on duty (he called me), I told him I needed to go.

 

[Muushka]

There are times that if you don't keep up with the flow of traffic, you are endangering yourself and others.

I respectfully disagree with this. If everyone is speeding, I must also?

 

[torinsmom]

It seems around here that there are a few seconds between one light turning red and the opposite light turning green. I think that should be the norm, because people will always try to push the limit.

I have been guilty of running a just turned red light. Sometimes by the time it turns yellow, you are just too close to stop safely.

Marsha

 

[Callie]

I happened to run one once but it was by accident. I was going through downtime, and the lights are usually times correctly. Well I entered the intersection as soon as it turned red as I was afraid to slam on my breaks with a big semi behind me, but as soon as I got to the next light, a cop was telling me to role down my window, and said to never do it again.

I just didn't want to get rear ended by the huge semi which also ran the light, and I'd just started driving so I was scared all around. Now I'm extra cautious.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

I respectfully disagree with this. If everyone is speeding, I must also?

Of course not. But you may get run over if you don't. I'm not saying it is right, just saying..

I have been doing the speed limit of 70 before and come up on someone who was driving 50. It's very hard to tell how much slower someone is going than you are until you are driving right behind them.

 

[VickiVM]

Of course not. But you may get run over if you don't. I'm not saying it is right, just saying..

I have been doing the speed limit of 70 before and come up on someone who was driving 50. It's very hard to tell how much slower someone is going than you are until you are driving right behind them.

Speed limit is exactly that...the limit the law allows, but the person going 50 in a 70 limit s/b in right lane, though. I thought that there was a range that is legal - not sure what it is, maybe up to less than 15 mph of the limit, or something like that.