Red-light runners are very dangerous. According to some research, 1,086 people lost their lives in red-light accidents in 2013, while tens of thousands of others suffered injuries. These accidents are just one of the reasons why intersections are a very dangerous place to drive, often leading to serious collisions.
The problem is that you can do everything correctly and still be injured by a red-light runner. After all, you have the right of way once the light turns green. But that light does not stop someone else from making a critical mistake, such as trying to rush through the light or simply not seeing the light at all because they are distracted or impaired. That is when defensive driving comes into the picture.
Anticipating mistakes
Defensive driving means thinking about more than just the right of way or the technical traffic laws. It is an understanding that the drivers around you are going to break those laws or make crucial mistakes. If you can anticipate those mistakes, you can often avoid a crash by becoming a defensive driver.
For instance, say that you are waiting at a light when it turns green. This does give you the right of way, and you could simply drive through the intersection as soon as possible. But if you want to be a safe, defensive driver, you may still take a second to look both ways. If you see a vehicle approaching at such a speed that it is clearly going to run the light, delaying when you enter the intersection helps you avoid the crash.
That said, defensive driving cannot prevent all accidents, and you could certainly suffer injuries because of someone else’s negligent driving. If you do, you may deserve compensation for lost wages, medical bills and much more.