Distractions have long been proven to create safety issues on the road, and a new study from the National Coalition for Safer Roads and FocusDriven revealed that distracting behavior can lead to red light violations. Distractions can come from a number of unsafe behaviors behind the wheel, such as texting, talking on the phone, eating or drinking, fiddling with the radio, or even talking to passengers in the car.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that, in 2008, more than 2.3 million crashes occurred in intersections, and approximately 165,000 people are injured each year due to red-light running incidents. The recent study found that a number of these incidents are directly caused by distracted driving. Researchers analyzed 118 red light cameras in 19 different communities and found that 12 percent of red-light running occurrences could be attributed to distractions, which equates to an estimated 7.3 million red-light violations in 2012. 

The researchers are working on a campaign, Stop Distraction on Red, to promote awareness of the problem and help prevent accidental injury and death. Traffic cameras have helped reduce the rate of violations at intersections, but more efforts need to be made on the part of the community, law enforcement and individual drivers to keep the roadways safer for pedestrians, cyclists and those traveling by car.

One way drivers can improve their safety on the road can be to find a reliable ride that has modern safety features, such as brake assist, lane departure warnings and, of course, air bags.

New Jersey State Auto Auction carries a wide selection of makes and models, so it is easy for drivers in the New York/New Jersey area to find used cars, trucks and SUVs that offer the latest features. Plus, every vehicle on the lot is CARFAX certified, providing car shoppers with added assurance that they'll be driving off the lot in a safe ride.