I Accidently Ran A Red Light and I'm FREAKING OUT! Respond please
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
United States
July 22, 2007 6:47pm CST
I was on my way to my sisters house to spend time and take care of her cats while she is out of state. I took a differnt route than I always take, big mistake! I accidently ran a red light. I don't know how! I was paying attention, I don't know why I didn't notice it was red. But just before the light I realized it was red and I hit the brakes, but I knew I couldn't make it so I kept going. I stopped on the street right after the light and waited for it to turn green, to kind of show the other drivers I wasn't a jerk, and it was an accident.
That was about 4 hours ago, I just got home. I serisouly was expecting to see a cop car in front of my house! I'm so paranoid and I'm freaking out. They have cameras at lights right? They probably got a picture of my license plate...or am I totally wrong about the cameras?
Nothing like this has ever happened to me before, I am a good driver...i know this story doesn't prove that but I really am; I don't speed, I ober traffic signs, and i dont run lights! It was a freak accident.
Thankfully the intersection I ran it at is never busy so no one was coming and no one else was affected by me, but I am still freaking out!
11 people like this
17 responses
@Kythe42 (1412)
• United States
22 Jul 07
Not all lights have cameras in them. They only have cameras in them if you can actually see them flashing when the light is red. I've accidentally run red lights before. I think most people have done this at some time in their life, so don't feel too bad about it.
3 people like this
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
22 Jul 07
I really hope this one didn't have a camera. the intersection is just going into store parking lots so it wasn't full at all! But oh I felt so guilty and sick when I ran it.
I know a lot of people have done it, and if the police aren't busting my door down by tomorrow I'll be a little better! lol.
@Booffy (364)
• Australia
23 Jul 07
i don't know what happens there ... but here in australia if you run a red or get "done" on camera for speeding... expect a nice note in the post about 2 weeks later... which when you look at it, it is no deterrent at all... except for the fine
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
24 Jul 07
I won't be at home in two weeks! LOL. If i'm gone and a ticket comes I'm going to get an earfull from my parents when I get back! =P Maybe i'll just play dumb and act like I don't remember it! hehe.
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
23 Jul 07
First of all calm down and relax lily. I know the first time something like this happens is very unnerving. This happens to the best of us at least once and if the truth be known us older drivers have probably done it more than once. Here where I live it is seen as regular occurrence. The light turn yellow to give the drivers a chance to clear the intersection but there are always 1 or 2 drivers that have to hurry on through. I have even come up to a green light and stopped because it is usually red when I get there. We all make mistakes. We just don't want to make that one fatal one. This can make us more aware of our surroundings.
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
24 Jul 07
Yeah, but this light wasn't just turning red, it had actually been red for a while, that's why I'm so upset over it! But it's good to know that I'm not alone, it seems from everyone who has responded to my discussion that everyone's done it! hehe.
I was actually there when my dad did it once. But I still don't want to have to tell him unless a ticket comes! It'll just be another thing my family can make jokes at when I drive.
1 person likes this
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
25 Jul 07
Yes! My family teases me a lot about previous...incidents...lol. Nothing really bad at all, they just like to bring it up a lot ;P lol.
1 person likes this
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
24 Jul 07
LOL! Oh my gosh. Your response made me laugh. I like how you point fingers at the people you describe! =P
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
24 Jul 07
Oh no! How terrible! I hope no one was hurt! I am so happy that I didn't effect anyone else on the street at all!
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
25 Jul 07
And they didn't fine you for the property damage? Nice, lucky you!
@wackeytiger (424)
• United States
23 Jul 07
I wouldn't worry about it. It kind of depends where you live because in some places, having a camera placed on the light is illegal because it actually has been proven to cause more accidents (people slamming on breaks and flipping cars all to avoid a ticket at the light). Most of the time, if you see a camera looking thing on the light, it's most likely just a sensor for ambulances and firetrucks to turn the light so they can quickly get through. Really, don't sweat it. I'm sure you'll be fine : )
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
24 Jul 07
Well, I drove by the same light today to look. And there was a white looking camera thing on the side pull, towards the ground. It looked like it was pointing at the crosswalk of the street adjacent from me. I'm not sure what kind of viewing it has, but I sure hope it isn't a camera that could see me!
@redyellowblackdog (10629)
• United States
22 Jul 07
I know exactly how you feel. I did this exact same thing almost,(Oh,my God!) , forty years ago. What I did was say to myself, " OOPS! DON'T EVER DO THAT AGAIN." So, I didn't.
That's all you have to do to, unless they do have the cameras at the intersection. Then you'll also have to pay a ticket. No, big deal. When you make a mistake. Learn from it.
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
22 Jul 07
Yeah I hope i never do it again! Worst thing ever! And thats not the only bad thing that happened to me while driving! One person cut me off when we both turned left and I had to brake, and someone almost rear ended me at another red light, they had to brake! Not a good day for me to be driving I guess! I'm not leaving my house again today! lol
That's what I'm worried about, getting a ticket! Oh, I hope there was no camera, my dad will kill me if I get a ticket! lol.
@ladysurvivor (4746)
• Malaysia
23 Jul 07
The incident shows that you are a very good person. A person who is good at heart would feel very guilty when she made a wrongdoing, even though it's not planned. I understand it was an accident, and I hope you would be able to forget about it soon. It was just a small matter, and many people did it on purpose. You are not wrong, you did it accidentally. So even if cops do came at your house, just tell them what actually happened and I am sure you will feel relieved after that. If you have to pay for fine, that's alright. Go ahead and pay for it because after that the incident would not longer haunt you for the rest of your life. I hope my views on this helps you to reduce your worry. Have a nice day, and keep on posting!
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
23 Jul 07
Thank you for your nice words. I've actualyl seen someone run a red light and almost hit someone, they didn't even try to slow down for it! I did but was too late at it X.X
I really hope no cops come to my house! That would just be awful! hehe, I hope there aren't any cameras at that light, maybe i'll go that way again tomorrow when I go to my sisters and see..this time I won't run the light! hehe.
I think I figured out why I ran it! I usually take another route to my sisters, but it was FULL of traffic because it was a Sunday and a lot of people were getting out of church. But on the route I usualyy take I don't think there is a light where there was one on the new route, so I'm never used to stopping there...that's all I can come up with.
@beyonce03 (2331)
• Canada
23 Jul 07
I've been driving for only 4 months. The other day it was the first time I was working at 6am a sunday morning. I think my head wasnt all there because i ran a red light. There was no one on the road, but I really felt bad about it. I thought about what I did until I got to my job and finally I stop thinking about it. Now, I'M more carefull when I drive when I'm a little bit tired.
@twils2 (1812)
• United States
23 Jul 07
Hi Lilyofthethorns, first off, I think you need to calm down. We all make mistakes and hopefully this light didnt have a traffic camara. If they were going to give you a ticket, they would just send it to you in the mail. They are not going to take you to jail or anything like that. For traffic infractions, it really isnt worth their time to send a cop out to peoples houses. The most that will happen is you will get fined but even that is unlikely. Not all lights have camaras at them. Good luck to you, Terry
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
23 Jul 07
Thanks! I really hope there is no camera there. And you telling me they'll just email me a ticket made me feel A LOT better! I was worried they would come to my house, and i would HATE that! But I really hope I don't get a ticket at all.
@pillusch (1147)
• Mexico
23 Jul 07
It just shows that you are human. It could happen to any of us, it just sounds so out of place, and that's maybe why you got scared. I NEVER leave my house without my keys being in my pocket, and guess what? I was calling the locksmith the other day, because I had locked myself out.... And for me that was so out of place that I started to think that maybe I'm getting Alzheimer or something. But no! I had just forgotten my keys, no more, no less, and there is nothing more to it. I joined the human race...
@kevsgirlalways (5883)
• Malaysia
23 Jul 07
hehe..don't feel bad about it. i've gone thru a red light many times :P ..mostly it's because i don't have time to hit the brakes lol. usually if it's when i'm in a hurry. well just try to be careful and be alert next time, don't worry too much about it. although it's an offence but it was an accident. take care and cheer up :)
@liana_pescarus (1168)
•
23 Jul 07
First of all, you have to calm down. I don't think they have cameras at every light... and you should not expect a cop at your door. They usually send fines through mail but it takes like forever. But I am sure it's nothing. And hey, everyone is allowed to 1 mistake ;)
All the best
http://shtrumph-lianna.blogspot.com
@Ejobsuccess (895)
• United States
23 Jul 07
I am sure you will be fine. If they do end up sending youa ticket in the mail, then i guess the worst part is that you have to pay it! That just goes to show ya, that sometimes people run lights and its totally a mistake. It happens! Lots of people get away with it all the time, i am sure you will be fine!
@DavidReedy (2378)
• United States
23 Jul 07
Well, some traffic lights have the cameras and some don't--most don't as of yet, but that's rapidly changing. In all things, I suppose it's best just to be glad things weren't worse, to hope for the best and be ready for the worst (a ticket) if it should come to pass.
@callarse1 (4783)
• United States
23 Jul 07
Sometimes we just make mistakes, and don't worry about it right now. I believe you truly are sorry so even if you do get a ticket you are feeling much regret right now. Well, now you have to be more careful next time. Have a nice day.
Pablo
@mari_skye (1637)
• Philippines
23 Jul 07
In my country, it’s a common sight to see drivers run a red light. This impudence is bourn by the thought that they will not be apprehended. Or that they think they can always wiggle their way out of it. But it’s good to know that there are still a larger number of good drivers who follow the rules.
As for you, I don’t think running a red light is a grave misconduct. If it was, the police would have called your attention already. So loosen up, it’s not that bad.
