Police Departments on Delmarva urging drivers to stop at red lights.

Running Red Lights

DELMARVA – Green means go, yellow means slow, and red means stop. Most of us were taught this at a young age, but for some of us, it hasn’t translated into adulthood. Summer is here and that means an influx of people on the streets, including drivers on the road. With all the pedestrians, bikers, and heavy traffic, driving safely is a top priority here on Delmarva. Unfortunately, not everyone drives safely.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration conducted a survey that reported Maryland and Delaware were among the worst states for car accidents as a result of running red lights.
The states ranked in the top 10 with Maryland coming in at number 6 and Delaware at number 8.  Laurel, Georgetown, and Cambridge Police Departments all had comments on the safety of our streets.

Lt. Joel Diaz from the Georgetown Police Department says a lack of patience is the main reason drivers run red lights. “The yellow light doesn’t mean speed up, it means use caution… People tend to either cut themselves short on time or feel that, if they rush a little bit more, they’re going to get to their destination a little bit faster.

Cambridge Police Chief Justin Todd agrees and says that cell phones are one of the biggest distractions and can lead to accidental injury or even death. “We see it a lot of times, where the light’s turning yellow, or it’s about to turn red, and people taking that extra just to get through the light. We have several accidents throughout the year that I can recall, that are caused simply because someone ran a stop light or a stop sign.”

Deputy Chief Lt. Diaz reports that crashes increase during the holiday season. “When you’re looking at highly congested intersections and people, operators not paying attention, and running through a red light, you know, you pose a risk to other operators.” Corporal Devin Lieber agrees and says intersections pose the most danger. “At a traffic signal, people trust that everybody’s going to be doing what they’re supposed to be doing at a traffic light.”

In both Maryland and Delaware, drivers are impacted by running red lights, but not all accidents end up the same. Chief Todd says, “In the city of Cambridge we have not had any fatalities at this time. We have had injuries due to distracted driving.” “We’ve had several fatalities at the intersection of 113 & 18. Some have been driver inattention; we’ve had red lights,” reports Lt. Diaz.

Corporal Lieber, however, had a more tragic story. “November of 2023, we responded to the intersection of Sussex highway and county c highway. which is route 13 and route 9. Early one morning we got dispatched to a traffic collision. Upon arriving, we realized that a vehicle had run the red light on Route 9. The Sussex highway traffic had a green light. Traveling at highway speed, they weren’t expecting someone to come from the side of the road.”

The driver at fault was cited for a DUI, another reason many run red lights. Ultimately, running a red light is reckless and can put drivers on the road at risk, and Lt. Diaz says running a red light only puts others around you in danger. “Enjoy the holidays and you’re not on the road by yourself.” Police Chief Todd shared the same sentiment, “It’s so important to realize your surroundings, and not be distracted.”

The Georgetown Police department has ensured that drivers who run red lights will face the consequences. Fines can range from $75- $230 on your first offense, second offenses can cause you to spend over $500 and put point on your license. The state of Delaware has reciprocity, so your points can transfer if you change states. Third offense can cost your license or even up to 6 days jailtime.

All the departments encourage drivers to not use phones while driving, drive the speed limit, and to always stop for a red light.