How a Light Cycle Could Change Your Life

Hind sight is always 20/20, so let’s take a closer look at how you can prevent this type of remorse each time you approach an intersection as a light is changing from green to yellow. All you need to do is spend a bit of time driving around New England to see that most drivers’ instincts are to speed up to beat the yellow light. In reality, a yellow light should tell us to react the opposite way – to slow down and stop.

Although we know this to be true, there are times when the kids need to get to school, or you are late for the office. When the temptation to run the light is too great, remind yourself of the risk that you are choosing to take, one that can be costly and without question, dangerous.

If you cause an accident by running a red light, the victim is entitled to financial compensation for injuries suffered from the accident. Generally these negotiations take place through your lawyer and the auto insurance company, but they can be quite costly. If you don’t have insurance, even more so since you and your personal assets are at stake. It is Rhode Island law for all drivers to carry liability and uninsured motorists’ coverage on their vehicles but liability doesn’t stop there. Insurance policies have a cap for how much they will cover based on the coverage policy that you purchase. The balance falls in your hands. A claim on your policy can be expense, for all of these reasons not to mention the increase in annual premiums following a claim.

In 2006, Providence installed red light cameras at intersections around the city, collecting paid citation revenue from the program of more than $1M each year. At the very least, running a red light can land you with an expensive ticket – $85 the last time I checked.

More than two million red light traffic accidents occur each year in the United States. Traffic tickets and accidents are time consuming, expensive and preventable. The next time you are faced with slowing down and waiting for an extra light cycle vs. running a yellow or red light, remember that the time used waiting for that light cycle will get you to your destination faster than having to deal with a car accident or injury!