Compensation claim news
25/08/2011

Teenagers the worst offenders for driving through lights

Figures from a new survey have revealed that 15% of motorists have admitted to causing, or nearly causing, a road traffic accident by driving through an amber light at a traffic-light-controlled junction.

The poll was carried out on over 3,000 UK motorists and found that 17-year-old drivers are the worst offenders for taking risks at traffic signals, with 88% confessing to driving through amber lights.

However, figures for the rest of the population are just as shocking with 85% of all respondents admitting to forcing their way through amber lights while16% treat an amber light in the same way as a green light.

Disturbingly, one in three drivers who took part in the poll were not aware that it was a criminal offence to go through an amber light at a junction if it is safe to stop. If a driver is convicted of this offence they will receive a £60 penalty as well as points on their license.

It was also revealed in the survey that drivers in Chelmsford, Essex were the worst amber light offenders, followed by drivers in Leeds, Coventry and Liverpool.

If a road traffic accident should occur because a motorist has driven through an amber light then the driver could face having a car accident compensation claim made against them.