Nerd Pride Radio

How often do you (or have you) run red lights?

I can think of only two occasions in my life that I've run a red light on purpose. Once in 1990 and once in 1994. And I can think of maybe 4 occasions where I've run a light by accident... so the real total is probably closer to 10 or so. And then I've got a plethora of incidents in my life where I've (for whatever reason) cut a yellow light really close, so that I'm pretty sure I was through in time, but I should have been more aware and not even tried to make it.

I'm a guilty fellow. So I haven't done it on purpose.
Definitely run it by mistake a few times, usually in cities.
And definitely cut it way too close on yellow lights, so that I see the red light as I pass under it. Stuck in intersection a few times feeling guilty but mostly blaming those in front of me who won't move

I blame Mrs. Darcs for all my j-walking

I've only ever just blown through a red light once, when I didn't realize there was even a street light (I was unfamiliar with the area). The road was abandoned, so it was no biggie.

I know that several times I've gone through the yellow and hit the red before I was through the intersection. I've probably done that about a hundred times.

I'm careful about this because it's a good way to have an accident. I'm a pretty creative driver who believes in moving efficiently from point A to B, but safety is #1, so I don't tailgate or do crazy lane changes and stuff like that.

I flew through a red light once, driving into the morning sun and never even saw it. Luckily, a kind Grand Rapids police officer was there to point out the light. I didn't get a ticket because even he said the light is hard to see at that particular time of day at that time of year because of the angle of the sun but, ever since then, I am very cautious when driving, especially if I'm facing the sun.

The one I ran in 1990 was broken. I sat there for over five minutes at 2 in the morning with no visible traffic anywhere in any direction. I crept forward and backed up, thinking I just wasn't triggering the sensor. Finally gave up and just ran it.

In 1994, my wife was pregnant and bleeding, and again it was in the middle of the night with no traffic, so I ran lights (cautiously) on the way to the hospital. The bleeding was normal and nothing to worry about, but we didn't know that at the time.

The four I remember running accidentally: 2 of them were because I just didn't see them until it was too late. One in high school and one early in my marriage. The other 2 were because I did not decelerate early enough to compensate for ice, so I wound up sliding into the intersection, and when I thankfully realized it was clear, I just continued on.

2 times intentionally. because I was the only car there and I was convince that the lights were stuck (it was 4 AM coming home from work...and then one in the afternoon in an open area...no one around ..just me and the light having a battle of wills.

One time on the war to work, this time about 5:00 AM on a different shift...I was tired and acted like the light was a stop sign...stopped looked both ways and proceeded. I realized it about 10 seconds later.

one accidentally because I was behind a semi trailer that obscured the light...he had not slowed down so neither did I, assuming it was green. I barely missed the Grim Reaper.