You should still look both ways at a green light

At a two-way stop, you know to pull up to the sign, look both ways, and then decide when it’s safe to pull out into the street or cross it on the same road. At a stoplight, though, you likely just watch to see when it turns green, and then you drive. There is no need to think about the decision or make a judgment call because the light handles it for you. 

As common as this mindset is, it’s still wise to look both ways at a green light. Don’t just trust that you’re being given the right of way. If someone else runs the red light, nothing is going to stop them from hitting your car. One of the easiest ways to lower your accident odds is simply to take a moment before driving into crossing traffic lanes. 

How many people run red lights?

To see just how important this is, consider that two people lose their lives in red-light accidents every day. That works out to hundreds of people per year. Each week, more than a dozen people are killed. Clearly, the risk is there. 

Additionally, you have to consider that a lot of people get hit at red lights and suffer serious brain injuries, skull fractures, spinal cord injuries and much more. These issues could change their lives forever. And that’s on top of the two people per day who lose their lives entirely. It’s no surprise that most experts consider intersections, even when controlled by traffic lights, to be some of the most dangerous places you can drive. 

If you do get injured in one of these crashes, you may be able to seek compensation for your medical bills and other losses.