I think a lot has to do with people being distracted by text messages, phone calls, and notifications. If I'm using GPS to navigate, a notification from an unrelated source appears on my screen. It's natural to want to read it. Sometimes it needs to be swiped away so I can see the directions. Annoying. Here in Lawton, Oklahoma, it seems to be acceptable to run red lights. People know the opposing light turns green a second or so after their light turns red, so they feel "safe" in running through it even though they have plenty of time to stop at yellow. We also have almost no "smart" signals that are responsive to actual traffic. They are timed, whether there is traffic at the intersection or not. Very frustrating. I think many people run lights so they don't get stuck in long waits. Your post reminded me to write to the city managers about this problem. Also, marijuana use is up due to legalizing it, and from interactions I've had with some stoned folks, I don't see how they can possibly drive safely since they can't even keep focused on a task. Defensive driving is more important than ever.
I peeked at data for both of my countries because so many things are so different between them. In the UK it's illegal to do anything with your mobile phone while driving. People sometimes do anyway, but it's getting clamped down on harder. Sat nav systems are more of a grey area, but we're supposed to pull over to fiddle with them. Running a red light is not "safe" here and may be caught on camera, so deliberately running a red light is not so common here. Cannabis is illegal here.
With all those differences, it's interesting to see both countries have a general pattern that when traffic accidents do happen, some outcomes are less likely than before but the ugliest outcomes are more likely--totaling the car or someone dying. So yeah... defensive driving in both places.
I think a lot has to do with people being distracted by text messages, phone calls, and notifications. If I'm using GPS to navigate, a notification from an unrelated source appears on my screen. It's natural to want to read it. Sometimes it needs to be swiped away so I can see the directions. Annoying. Here in Lawton, Oklahoma, it seems to be acceptable to run red lights. People know the opposing light turns green a second or so after their light turns red, so they feel "safe" in running through it even though they have plenty of time to stop at yellow. We also have almost no "smart" signals that are responsive to actual traffic. They are timed, whether there is traffic at the intersection or not. Very frustrating. I think many people run lights so they don't get stuck in long waits. Your post reminded me to write to the city managers about this problem. Also, marijuana use is up due to legalizing it, and from interactions I've had with some stoned folks, I don't see how they can possibly drive safely since they can't even keep focused on a task. Defensive driving is more important than ever.
I peeked at data for both of my countries because so many things are so different between them. In the UK it's illegal to do anything with your mobile phone while driving. People sometimes do anyway, but it's getting clamped down on harder. Sat nav systems are more of a grey area, but we're supposed to pull over to fiddle with them. Running a red light is not "safe" here and may be caught on camera, so deliberately running a red light is not so common here. Cannabis is illegal here.
With all those differences, it's interesting to see both countries have a general pattern that when traffic accidents do happen, some outcomes are less likely than before but the ugliest outcomes are more likely--totaling the car or someone dying. So yeah... defensive driving in both places.