YOUR VIEW: Stopping rather than running red lights can save lives

Reader opinion By Reader opinion The Birmingham News
on June 03, 2012 at 5:51 AM

Life can change to death in the blink of an eye. It seems this has been forgotten in the minds of red-light violators. I can say, without a doubt, the number of red-light runners in this state is out of control.

It seems running traffic lights has almost become an accepted traffic violation, ignored by law enforcement in most cases I've witnessed. Law enforcement should stake out intersections that have high volumes of red-light runners. The tickets given would save lives, reduce our auto insurance rates and generate revenue for that city, county or our state.

It's great to have "Click It or Ticket." What about having "Red Light Runners Roundup"?

Daily on my way to work, I see several red-light runners. Some are close to catching the yellow, but many are in complete disregard for an obvious red light. In some cases, they cause a near-accident or an actual crash. This is not just a roll through a stop sign or a lack of using turn signals. This is a violation that can easily kill, and does.

Do the red-light runners feel they have the right to put us all in danger? Do they care so little about others that it means nothing to them if they cause a child or entire family to lose their lives? What about if they die? Do they not care how their family will suffer from their loss of life?

Life is precious. Take a few extra moments and stop. If you don't, it might be the last moments of your life or someone else's. By stopping at red lights and not gassing on through, you could avoid tragedy.

Ellen Chisholm, Pinson