Have You Driven Through a Red Light?

Jimi Hendrix, in “Crosstown Traffic,” confesses to the life of a hit and run driver.

He sings about driving 90 miles an hour to make the green light.

All you do is slow me down and I’m tryin’ to get on the other side of town.

There is an American epidemic to drive through red lights. There is a larger influx of persons accelerating while approaching a red light. Maybe you are one of those drivers. Maybe you know one.

When I drive down a road with a red light shining in the distance, I decelerate and yield to anyone wanting to walk across the road or turn into the traffic. I know I will eventually brake, so I brake earlier, attentively showing respect to those in the wings.

My frustration climaxes when I slow to a stop at the end of a road, turn on my blinker light, and wait for a safe moment to turn into the traffic. The caravan of cars seems to never end as they pass my blinking light in single file.

I glance to the traffic light in front of them and notice it is red, so what gives? Why not let me turn? I can’t help but wonder if these drivers have damaged neurons or faulty thought processes.

On speed: How many people have uttered, “Awesome!” when experiencing a floored accelerator on an open highway?

Teenagers (and adults) visit amusement parks and drive bumper cars, bumper boats, and go-karts.

Arcade arenas feature simultaneous car racing and virtual joyrides.

Nintendo and Xbox accessories include steering wheels and joystick yokes.

Talk about sensation overload.

But in all the driving simulations and games, there is a penalty for too much speed and it is usually coupled with destruction.

When the Pole Position arcade driver curbs the corner too fast and bangs the car into the fire hydrant, points are deducted, causing the driver to rev higher and higher to reach the next checkpoint prior to the end of the game.

Imagine the arcade driver circumnavigating a real NASCAR track; he’d flip the wheels or crash into the wall in an instant.

On yielding: Drivers sometimes yield. This behavior is best witnessed when a police cruiser, fire truck, or ambulance needs to turn into traffic. People respect authorities.

But when the motorist behind the wheel of the turning vehicle is not a law enforcer, firefighter, or paramedic, the other drivers return to their policy of staring straight ahead and fail to focus on everyone else trying to squeeze in to the traffic line.

There is no law prohibiting drivers’ inaction to yield to turning cars.

Whether driving during rush hour or on a lazy weekend, drivers have right of way.

When the driver is destined to reach the traffic light, whether green or red, he will reach it, with or without interruption. And in his quest, cars, bicycles, wheelchairs, and pedestrians are diversions to his destination.

And when one car is finally allowed to turn, have you noticed the second car forces his way into the traffic too? Talk about road rage!

Federal programs: In 1995, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) created a national campaign to prevent red light running as a means of raising community awareness to the dangers and fatalities associated with such incidents.

The 2008 National Stop on Red Week occurs the first week of August.

This is a step in the right direction, and one I urge all world drivers, not just Americans, to try to follow.

And, is it too much to ask the policy be amended to not just focus on drivers braking at the red light, but slowing down before the red, too, so others can safely and quickly turn?

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