Thursday, 18 August 2011

Or to put it another way, 5.2 million drivers have passed through a red traffic signal in the last month

Or even: Amber gamblers – almost one in ten drivers doesn’t slow down for amber lights

Motorists are driving through 12 million red lights each month on British roads – the equivalent of running 278 red lights every minute, according to new research from Direct Line Car Insurance

Over 5.2 million motorists (14%) admit that they drive through an average of two red traffic lights each month. Over 760,000 motorists (2%) habitually drive through red lights if they feel the road is clear and there is no traffic.

This means that drivers risk clocking up over 36 million penalty points (three for each offence) and fines from fixed penalty notices totalling £721 million every month.

A surprisingly high number of motorists, dubbed ‘amber gamblers’, are putting their lives and other road-users at risk by failing to slow down for traffic lights about to turn red. Almost one in ten motorists (9%) don’t reduce their speed when approaching amber lights, with four per cent admitting to putting the accelerator to the floor to race through the lights.

Over 1.5 million motorists (4%) admit to getting a thrill when driving through amber traffic lights that they know will have turned red before they have passed through the crossing or junction. Over 500,000 drivers risk being rear ended as they stamp on their brakes as an automatic response whenever they see amber traffic lights.

Andy Goldby, director of motor underwriting at Direct Line commented: “Motorists who play Russian roulette at the traffic lights are putting their own and other road-users lives at risk. Motorists involved in an accident if they pass through a red light will automatically be deemed at fault for a collision. They could also face higher car insurance premiums at renewal if they have points on their licence.

“Vehicles approaching traffic lights and roundabouts are favourite targets for ‘crash for cash’ scams, where fraudsters fake accidents by making unnecessary emergency stops which force the following motorists to crash into them. Drivers should be aware that the car in front may brake very late if the light changes to amber, and should always proceed with caution. Brake steadily when approaching amber or red traffic signals to avoid the risk of hitting the car in front if the lights change, as well ensuring the driver behind doesn’t crash into your vehicle.”

One in twenty motorists (5%) also risk head-on collisions by driving through temporary traffic lights, as they assume the lights are broken if they take more than a couple of minutes to change.

Regional findings

Drivers in the West Midlands are the biggest risk takers when it comes to driving through red traffic signals. One in seven motorists (14%) in the region has driven through a red signal in the last month. Drivers in the East of England are the least likely (9%) to drive through red traffic signals.

Drivers passing through red signals in the last month

Region                    Percentage of drivers passing through
red lights in the last month
West Midlands       19%
Scotland                 16%
London                   16%
South east              15%
East Midlands        14%
North West             13%
South West            12%
Wales                     12%
Yorks & Humber     12%
North East              11%
East of England      9%