'Red light runners’ are gambling with lives at junctions

• Jumping red lights is a reckless gamble with other people’s right of way 
• Vulnerable road users face the greatest risk at junctions 
• GEM urges drivers to treat red signals as life-saving, not optional 

Road safety and breakdown organisation GEM Motoring Assist is urging drivers to think twice before trying to beat the lights, warning that jumping a red traffic signal is a reckless gamble with other people’s right of way that can put vulnerable road users in danger.

Recent figures* have highlighted the scale of red light running on UK roads, underlining that this is not a marginal problem but a persistent behaviour that increases risk at already hazardous locations.

GEM says the numbers are a stark reminder that junctions remain high-risk places, where pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and people crossing the road legally, can be placed directly in harm’s way.

GEM is encouraging all road users to approach junctions with patience, caution and respect for others. GEM says there is a need for better junction design and driver education, with a stronger public understanding of the consequences of jumping the lights – and enforcement of the rules where necessary. Drivers need to know that amber means prepare to stop - not accelerate up to and across the junction.

James Luckhurst, Head of Road Safety at GEM Motoring Assist, said: “Running a red light is not a harmless shortcut or a bit of cheeky driving. It is a deliberate decision that gambles with the safety of other people who have the right to expect protection from the signals. The ones who pay the highest price are often those least protected - people on foot, on bicycles or on motorcycles.

“We all have a duty to avoid causing harm to others on the road. We should assume that a red light is there because someone else, somewhere on that junction, may well be about to rely on it. If you choose to ignore it, you’re not just breaking the law - you’re gambling with their priority and potentially their life.”

Three top tips for making safe decisions:

When you’re approaching a green signal.

Decide your action before you reach the light. Choose an appropriate “go or no go” point in advance, so if the light changes to amber before this point, you stop. If the change happens after this point, continue if you feel it’s safe. You’ve planned the move and factored out the risk of any ‘last-second gamble’.

How to treat an amber signal.

Remind yourself that amber means “stop if you can do so safely,” not “accelerate before it turns red.” Easing off early and preparing to stop gives you time to check mirrors, assess following traffic and brake smoothly, which also reduces the risk of being rear‑ended by another impatient driver.

Be realistic about “lost time” at the lights. How often does the car in front that jumped the light end up next to you at the next junction? When it comes to reaching your destination in good time, the real gains come from journey planning and leaving earlier.

Red light, blue light.

If you are first at a red signal and an emergency vehicle arrives behind you on blue lights, do not drive through the red. Emergency drivers are trained to work around stationary traffic; your job is to stay predictable, avoid blocking the junction, and move off promptly when the light turns green.

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