The Top 5 Traffic Violations in the U.S.

Ladyblogger
March 15, 2013

Even though most drivers know better, we have all been guilty of committing traffic violations. In fact, a study that was conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety revealed that 40 percent of drivers will admit to exceeding the speed limit by 15 mph or more at least once per month. The study also indicated that 54 percent of drivers talk on their cell phone while their vehicle is in motion, and 57 percent will speed through a yellow light. Each of these actions could result in a traffic citation, and any driver who engages in the activities listed below is taking a risk.

1) Speeding – Most people feel comfortable going a few miles over the speed limit because a police over is not likely to pull you over for a minor variance. However, it is important to realize that there have been instances of people being pulled over for exceeding the speed limit by one mph. In addition to which, speeding is one of the top causes of traffic accidents. Therefore, you should keep your eye on the speedometer at all times.

2) DUIs – The AAA study only got 9 percent of the respondents to admit that they had driven while under the influence, but DUI’s are practically tied with speeding as the top cause of accidents. Unlike the other traffic violations on this list, a DUI could cause you to lose your license or even end up in prison.

3) Distracted Driving – Whether you are talking on the phone or sending a text message, distracted driving is an issue that could easily cause you to end up in a traffic accident. If you receive a ticket for this offense, you will want to contact some of your local traffic lawyers to determine who has the most experience working with this type of case. After all, each city has its own laws about cell phone usage behind the wheel, and you might be able to get your ticket rescinded if you are able to prove that your actions did not actually break the law.

4) Running a Red Light – The most common reason that a driver will run a red light is because they made the decision to enter the intersection after the light had already turned yellow. Even if you are in a hurry, however, you should never take the chance of racing against a traffic light. Not only could you get a ticket, but you could also cause a serious accident.

5) Failing to Use a Turn Signal – Everyone has been cut off by a driver who did not use their turn signal, and this is one of the most frustrating things to deal with because signaling is both easy and courteous. However, even if it was not considered to be rude, it would still be dangerous to change lanes without signaling intent. After all, two drivers might decide to switch lanes at the same time, and this can easily result in a collision.

As you can see, each of the items on this list are easily avoidable. By simply taking the proper and legally required steps while you are driving, you can steer clear of traffic citations and the possibility of causing a highly avoidable accident.

Freelance author Anthony Joseph writes about many different areas of law, and is contributing this article to raise safety awareness on our roadways. There are many dangers out on the streets today, and there are more violations occurring than we would like to see. The traffic lawyers at Powers McCartan are well experienced at representing individuals who made the bad decision to violate traffic laws.