Red Light Running

[Brad]

Anyone else notice a crazy uptick in intentional red light running lately. I'm not talking right turns either....

I'm seeing it more and more lately, but three different times this week, I have been stopped at a red light only to have a car pull up look both ways and go. Two went straight and one turned left. People charging a yellow or "It was orange" have been getting worse for years, but this has been a whole different level.

[Athomsfere]

It seems to be everywhere, and took off during Covid.

[TitosBuritoBarn]

It seems to be everywhere, and took off during Covid.

It was pretty bad here in St. Louis during Covid. It's gotten better as things have gone back to normal, but you still see people do it on occasion.

[Athomsfere]

It seems to be everywhere, and took off during Covid.

It was pretty bad here in St. Louis during Covid. It's gotten better as things have gone back to normal, but you still see people do it on occasion.

I just know during Covid I saw it spike here in Omaha. And since then I have seen it all over town, but also out and about. I don't remember STL being as bad as some other places though. KC, Dallas, SFO, Denver were all bad though. Like, cars have made it through a green when someone decides to run the red. Its scary out there. Make me want red light cameras and I hate red light cameras.

[ChadJK]

You can pretty much drive with impunity in Omaha these days. Seriously, there is essentially ZERO traffic law enforcement. I suppose there's a smidgen of traffic enforcement on I-80 and couple of the major highways and expressways (mostly the State Patrol and the rare Douglas County Sheriff). I think people are beginning to pick up on this. Once everyone realizes there's no consequences to breaking traffic laws (other than hitting someone or something, but that's never been much of a deterrent for crappy driving) then what's to stop them? Seriously, if I am driving 60 MPH in a 45 zone who is going to ticket me in Omaha? Nobody. If I pull up to a red light and see no cross traffic, then why not just go? Again, who is going to ticket me? I cannot think of the last time I saw OPD clocking speeders. OPD has made traffic enforcement such a low priority that it's essentially non-existent. I'm sure their response would be blame it on their budget.

[Brad]

I cannot think of the last time I saw OPD clocking speeders.

There's usually a multiple officer speed trap once a week in the 90th & Pacific vicinity. The kind where they park off to the side and walk out in to traffic to pull people over.

[ChadJK]

I cannot think of the last time I saw OPD clocking speeders.

There's usually a multiple officer speed trap once a week in the 90th & Pacific vicinity. The kind where they park off to the side and walk out in to traffic to pull people over.

I stand by my statement that there isn't any traffic enforcement. Picking one intersection to do it just makes it predictable not effective. Also, I'm not entirely sure speeding is the core of the problem anymore. In order to speed you'd need a length of road without other cars or stop signs or lights to get up to a decent speed. That doesn't happen much anymore. It's bumper to bumper or red light to red light all across town. So, I would say illegal U turns, illegal left turns (Dodge St), and running lights and stop signs is probably most of the problem. Perhaps some speeding out in West O where things open up a little. However, I think most drivers can shrug off the fear of being ticketed as the odds are definitely in their favor.

Some of this lack of enforcement is indicated by the ever-increasing number of vehicles with illegal window tint (notice how many tinted front windshields there are these days?), expired in-transits, expired plates, illegal accessories and lighting, and so forth. There used to be a time that almost monthly they were doing random checkpoints to check for suspended licenses, expired registrations, lack of insurance, seatbelts, child seats, and illegal tinting. They'd be all over the news with how they issue 100+ tickets in one afternoon. The off-ramp from I-680 onto Center was a popular place they'd do them. When I was a teen I always had a friend or acquaintance raging about getting busted at one for their illegal tint or some colorful lighted accessory.

I'm no angel on the road and do my fair share of speeding and rolling "stops." I don't even sweat it in Omaha. In Sarpy County, I am on the lookout for the dreaded Sarpy County Sheriffs, but in Omaha? Ha!

[skinzfan23]

I agree no traffic enforcement anywhere really in the metro. Hwy 75 has people going 85-90 all the time, used to see a sheriff between Cornhusker and 370. Haven’t seen any in at least 2-3 years. I say it all the time, but one would think if there if traffic enforcement it benefits everyone and even the city can reap benefits from citations being paid.

[jag42]

I think red light running has always been bad. But how about the "accident investigation sites" at nearly every I-80 exit in Omaha? The accident count on I-80 has skyrocketed in recent years that those had to be built. I get the occasional accident in inclement weather, but all the accidents in excellent driving conditions (dry roads and clear skies?) Wow.

[Busguy2010]

It happens all the time at 76th & Dodge. I'll be waiting to turn left with a flashing yellow, and naturally go out into the intersection to wait. Happens almost every single time, someone or two people going straight northbound after the red, so that leaves me hung out to dry as the last person to leave the intersection after the red. So technically that's three people running the red.

Another big pet peeve of that intersection is going northbound. People will always go straight from the second left turn lane, sometimes presumably by accident, and other times it's blatantly obvious, as someone in the left turn lane blatantly stops on a green arrow, in front of other people trying to turn left, waiting for an opening in the straight lane, and go straight from there.

And I too am no saint. I regularly catch myself going 45 or 50 on 72nd, though I'm far from the only one. And when going east from west Omaha on Dodge, I usually won't slow from 70 to 55 as long as other people are with me on it.

And when a light is getting ready to turn red, I'm more apt to speed up to make it than slam on the brakes. I rarely misjudge it a little and technically clip the beginning of the red light. I think in most cases it's just an honest misjudgement. But other times when it's blatant, they're either distracted or dgaf.

[ricko]

My suburban county(Fairfax) has red light cameras at almost every intersection. I guess they work. I still see people slipping by a second or two after they should have, but I’ve never seen someone blow through a solid red light. A suburban county across the river in Maryland (Montgomery)has unattended speed cameras that they move around every day. They take your picture, with time, place and recorded speed, and mail you the ticket.

[Brad]

I wonder if the red light cameras would even catch the type of red light running I am talking about. They aren't pushing the limits of a yellow, they are coming to a light that's been red for some time, stopping the car and then flooring it when its traffic clear.

[damonhynes]

There are occasions when the benevolent, all-seeing sensors and computers decide to skip a phase, leaving me waiting through two or more cycles before I get a green or green left arrow. If you pull up to the stop line, not the crosswalk--the correct location according to statute--you'll never get a green.

It's horrible at Southport, where they've crammed extra lanes into intersections without moving the underground sensors.

Damn right, I'm going to blow a red in those circumstances.

[ThreeGGG]

I have never seen such bad drivers as I have in Omaha. I have traveled in Chicago, Minneapolis, Nashville, and several other big cities. And Omaha is the worst, hands down. I am talking,... speeding, lane usage, tailgating, running red lights, parking, and more. I find it scary as can be, to be honest.

[Busguy2010]

I have never seen such bad drivers as I have in Omaha. I have traveled in Chicago, Minneapolis, Nashville, and several other big cities. And Omaha is the worst, hands down. I am talking,... speeding, lane usage, tailgating, running red lights, parking, and more. I find it scary as can be, to be honest.

My biggest pet peeve is people who drive like they're sleeping, or scared. We're all in this race together, lets keep it movin please. Sunday driving is extinct in this city. I had a lady nodding off in front of me on Dodge and she nearly caused an accident because 20 other people were itching to leave her in the dust.

#2 is people who want to get around me because they think I'm too slow when I'm going 10 over. Im not gonna fight for it just for the sake of it. Had a dude in a hummed up Challenger the other day riding my azz down 90th switching lanes left and right trying to get around me even though I was speeding considerably, as was the other person blocking their way. They ended up getting out from behind me and got backed up behind several other cars in the lane and missed the light.

They call it missing the forest for the trees. I've been guilty at times.

[gkudrna]

I have never seen such bad drivers as I have in Omaha. I have traveled in Chicago, Minneapolis, Nashville, and several other big cities. And Omaha is the worst, hands down. I am talking,... speeding, lane usage, tailgating, running red lights, parking, and more. I find it scary as can be, to be honest.

My biggest pet peeve is people who drive like they're sleeping, or scared. We're all in this race together, lets keep it movin please. Sunday driving is extinct in this city. I had a lady nodding off in front of me on Dodge and she nearly caused an accident because 20 other people were itching to leave her in the dust.

#2 is people who want to get around me because they think I'm too slow when I'm going 10 over. Im not gonna fight for it just for the sake of it. Had a dude in a hummed up Challenger the other day riding my azz down 90th switching lanes left and right trying to get around me even though I was speeding considerably, as was the other person blocking their way. They ended up getting out from behind me and got backed up behind several other cars in the lane and missed the light.

They call it missing the forest for the trees. I've been guilty at times.

Also, cellphone use while driving is a huge problem.

[ChadJK]

My biggest pet peeve is people who drive like they're sleeping, or scared. We're all in this race together, lets keep it movin please. Sunday driving is extinct in this city. I had a lady nodding off in front of me on Dodge and she nearly caused an accident because 20 other people were itching to leave her in the dust.

I can always tell the ones too freaked out to be driving. It's all in their posture. Sitting at attention in the driver's seat, both hands on the wheel, and they don't want to look anywhere but at the road in front of them. They're clearly terrified to even be out driving. You sort of expect it from new teenage drivers until they get some experience and confidence, but the number of adults white-knuckling it down the road is a bit spooky. I'm not advocating driving with casual indifference and not acknowledging that you're piloting 3,000 pounds of steel down the highway at high speeds surrounded by other 3,000 pound blocks of fast-moving steel, but if you're that terrified to be behind the wheel then you may be more dangerous than the a-hole that thinks he's driving in the Indy 500.

Also, there seems to definitely be an increase in cars that don't realize you can make a right turn on red after stopping. The number of times I've sat behind someone making a right turn at a red light and NO cars are coming and they just sit there...

#2 is people who want to get around me because they think I'm too slow when I'm going 10 over.

If I am going 10 under the speed limit and look in my rear-view mirror and see an angry driver frustrated with my speed, then I get it. To some degree I am inciting road rage. However, don't let me be going 10-15 over the speed limit and look in my rear-view mirror and see that same angry frustration. I'm going 10+ over the speed limit. If I'm not breaking the law enough for you, then pass me or kindly f off.

Also, cellphone use while driving is a huge problem.

I've resigned myself to the fact that it's never going away and will likely get worse. It used to be the "kids" and now I see the over-40 crowd doing as much, if not more. The problem is growing. The best thing you can do is practice defensive driving and don't assume cars are paying attention or are going to stop at that light/sign, etc.

Sometimes, you just have to "embrace the suck." As I jokingly like to say, "That's what seat belts, air bags, and auto insurance are for."

[almighty_tuna]

Sometimes, you just have to "embrace the suck."

[Busguy2010]

Sometimes, you just have to "embrace the suck."

Much as we talk about weather round here, very appropriate.

[CBJason]

This conversation cracks me up. I invite any of you to Memphis and just drive around for a while. Everything you all describe is multiplied here. The cherry on top is the occasional random highway shooting or waiting at an intersection to see a car coming through with guns being shot in the air!

[Busguy2010]

This conversation cracks me up. I invite any of you to Memphis and just drive around for a while. Everything you all describe is multiplied here. The cherry on top is the occasional random highway shooting or waiting at an intersection to see a car coming through with guns being shot in the air!

I've been once. How do you feel about that sketchy bridge over the Mississippi?

[CBJason]

This conversation cracks me up. I invite any of you to Memphis and just drive around for a while. Everything you all describe is multiplied here. The cherry on top is the occasional random highway shooting or waiting at an intersection to see a car coming through with guns being shot in the air!

I've been once. How do you feel about that sketchy bridge over the Mississippi?

So which bridge are you referring to because there are 2. The newer one to the north (I40)actually had to be closed a couple years ago to repair cracks people were finding down below on the water! It’s all good now. The original one (I55) is the southern one. It seems fine, I believe they’ve done work to it over the years. Tennessee and Arkansas are now working on the possibility of a replacement of that one though.

[Busguy2010]

This conversation cracks me up. I invite any of you to Memphis and just drive around for a while. Everything you all describe is multiplied here. The cherry on top is the occasional random highway shooting or waiting at an intersection to see a car coming through with guns being shot in the air!

I've been once. How do you feel about that sketchy bridge over the Mississippi?

So which bridge are you referring to because there are 2. The newer one to the north (I40)actually had to be closed a couple years ago to repair cracks people were finding down below on the water! It’s all good now. The original one (I55) is the southern one. It seems fine, I believe they’ve done work to it over the years. Tennessee and Arkansas are now working on the possibility of a replacement of that one though.

It was I-55. It was actually terrifying being up like 100 feet in the air, driving, all kinds of heavy machinery, big chunks of concrete missing and exposed rebar. I definitely made a point not to use that bridge on my return trip. I've got some tough nerves, but that bridge got me.

[Uffda]

Hey just saw Forbes has Tampa as #10 in worst drivers. Someone mentioned Memphis #2

I swear done here I think some people learn how to drive on Mario Kart. The speeding and switching lanes constantly. Saw a new maneuver the other night when stopped in a line at a stop light, this car came flying down the left turn lane next to me and then swerved back into the reg lane as the light turned green. The driver did it again 2 lights later.

As to the white knuckles on some drivers, it isn’t that they don’t know how to drive it’s that they worry about the crazy drivers who don’t care about anyone but themselves when they are behind the wheel or on their motorcycle.


https://www.forbes.com/advisor/car-insu ... s-by-city/

[Busguy2010]

Saw a new maneuver the other night when stopped in a line at a stop light, this car came flying down the left turn lane next to me and then swerved back into the reg lane as the light turned green.

This exact thing happens almost every cycle at 76th & Dodge. I could never figure out if people just aren't paying attention, or are doing it on purpose. I've seen it happen so much that I myself took the opportunity once. One time, don't hate me. The turn lane turns yellow just as the straight lane turns green. If you're last in line and there's nobody coming from the opposite turn lane, no harm no foul. It was a very rare circumstance but I took it mostly by split second accident.

[CBJason]

It was I-55. It was actually terrifying being up like 100 feet in the air, driving, all kinds of heavy machinery, big chunks of concrete missing and exposed rebar. I definitely made a point not to use that bridge on my return trip. I've got some tough nerves, but that bridge got me.

I get it. It freaked many people out that that was going to be the only option to get across the river and all the extra load going on it while the other bridge was shut down a couple years ago. Hopefully this new bridge they want to build comes to fruition.

[CBJason]

Hey just saw Forbes has Tampa as #10 in worst drivers. Someone mentioned Memphis #2

Lol…yep! Should be #1! No doubt!

[CBJason]

I just got home a bit ago and what do you know?! Just down the street from my house someone ran a red light. They were in the lane that was supposed to turn right but I saw them keep creeping up into the intersection and I knew they were going to do it.