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It’s been an extremely long day at work and all you want to do is put on your pajamas and crawl into bed—before you have to get up and do it all over again. Unfortunately, you seem to be hitting every single red light on Kemp Mill. After about 25 minutes, you finally make it to your last intersection, and can see the light at the end of the tunnel, or rather the lights of your house on Randolph. However, your elation is squandered as you notice that the light just turned red.
You know there is a “No Turn on Red” sign posted, but come on, no one is coming...what could really happen if you just went?
Ramifications of Ignoring a Traffic Sign
Every traffic sign is posted for a specific reason; they’re either there to warn you of a potential hazard, to keep you from being a potential hazard, or to protect you from what you can’t see. When you disobey a sign, you’re basically increasing your own risks for any one of these common accidents, not to mention police citations and possible jail time.
- Turning on a “No Turn on Red” – A car you may not have seen can suddenly appear, and since they have the right of way, they could potentially barrel straight into you without even knowing you were there. Additionally, “No Turn” signs are indicative of high pedestrian traffic areas, so although you may not see any cars, you could potentially smash into a crossing pedestrian.
- Refusing to “Yield” – This can not only lead you to collide into oncoming traffic, but it could also result in a multi-car pileup, and increased road rage.
- Walking against a “No Walking” sign – This can have disastrous effects—including broken bones, brain and spinal injuries, lacerations, and even death—if struck by an unseen vehicle.
- Passing in a “No Passing Zone” – No passing zones generally indicate areas such as curves or hills where it may be hard to see oncoming traffic; therefore, if you disobey and veer into the left lane to pass, you could wind up in a head-on collision with another vehicle.
No matter what reason you may have, ignoring a traffic sign isn’t worth ruining or ending your life, or the life of another. A few seconds in the name of safety isn’t going to matter in the long run, as long as you make it to your destination in one piece. So always remember to pay attention and obey traffic signs and warnings to help prevent a tragic accident.
Are you a victim of a careless driving accident? We know how frustrating and complicated car accident claims can be to understand, file, and pursue. So, let us ease your mind—our experience, knowledge, and diligence can fight to make sure you get the results you need for the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation.