More and more people disobeying traffic lights

Every fourth time when lights change, drivers run red light

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Drivers in Finland seem to be obeying the traffic lights less than before. According to observations by Liikenneturva, an expert organisation in traffic safety, someone runs a red light every fourth time when the lights change.
      In 2005 this happened every fifth time, and in 2004 every sixth time when the lights turned to red.
     
Running the red light is a problem in the larger cities in particular. The most disobedient drivers are found in the cities of Oulu, Turku, and Tampere.
      The driving speed, the amount of traffic on the junction, and the number of pedestrians all have an effect on the frequency of running red lights.
      A slow driving speed protects pedestrians. As the speed with which a car approaches an intersection increases, so does the likelihood of running the red light. The most destructive are the last-second accelerations.
      A pedestrian's chances are clearly reduced when a car hits them at a speed higher than 40 km/hour.
      According to Liikenneturva observations, one pedestrian in five also walks against the red light.
     
In most cases, running a red light is a quite deliberate action. Even if the driver would have had a chance to slow down and stop, he chooses to accelerate instead, and crosses the intersection after the light has already changed.
      The drivers' most common argument for running a red is haste. Furthermore, the conduct is justified by the alleged harmlessness of the situation.
      Sometimes the red light is also run because of other reasons, such as temporary loss of concentration, or glare that prevents the driver from seeing the lights properly. Sometimes the amber light also changes too quickly relative to the prevailing speed limit.
      "Unfortunately we do not have enough resources for monitoring all light-controlled pedestrian crossings", the police admit.
      A typical person to disobey the traffic lights is a young or middle-aged man, and more and more often a young woman who drives a lot.
      A person who runs red lights often speeds and behaves aggressively towards other road users.
      Liikenneturva monitored a few key intersections in 12 different cities during the morning and afternoon rush hours.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  More and more young drivers have to renew their driving licences (30.8.2005)
  Schoolchildren at risk even at traffic light-controlled crossings (17.8.2005)
  Police report dramatic surge in drink-driving cases this year (11.5.2004)

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