Few things will stop you faster than a crash because you ran a red light or were hit by a red light runner.
Red-light running is a serious intersection safety issue across the nation. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) says that more than 900 people a year die and nearly 2,000 are injured as a result of vehicles running red lights. About half of those deaths are pedestrians and occupants of other vehicles who are hit by red light runners.
In 2014, there were 417 citations issued in Bismarck for failure to yield the right of way, which includes red light violations. There have been 351 issued in 2015 so far.
If you are approaching a red light, make sure you have enough space to stop. The faster you are going, the more space you need to stop. Also be aware of road condition changes that increase stopping distance. So prepare accordingly.
Traffic signals can do their job only if everyone follows the rules.
A red indication means STOP. As with the stop sign, you must stop at a marked stop line or before a crosswalk. Remain stopped until the light changes and the intersection is clear of pedestrians and vehicles.
A yellow indication means WARNING or CAUTION. The light is changing from green to red.
Green means GO—but only if the intersection is clear. A green arrow means you may enter the intersection to make the movement indicated by the arrow. If the green arrow comes on at a red light, you may turn in the direction of the arrow. You must yield the right of way to all pedestrians and vehicles already in the intersection.
You may turn right on a red light after stopping when the intersection is clear of both pedestrians and vehicles, unless there is a sign prohibiting a right turn on a red light. You may turn left on a red light from a one-way street onto a one-way street, unless there is a sign prohibiting this. If the traffic signals are dark, for example in the event of a power outage, the driver of a vehicle shall stop and yield the right of way to any vehicle in the intersection.
IF YOU RUN A RED LIGHT YOU ARE RISKING:
• A $20 ticket and 2 points on your record (NDCC 39-10-05; Bismarck City Ordinance 12-04-03).
• Damage to your vehicle.
• Higher insurance costs.
• A lengthy, expensive hospital stay and recovery from injury.
• Irreversible consequences if you injure or kill someone else.