Riders of e-bikes most likely to run red lights and put 'lives at risk'
Red lights are regularly ignored by rental e-bikes putting "lives at risk", a new study has revealed.
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A fifth of e-bike riders, e-scooter riders and cyclists routinely disregard red lights.
Researchers looked into more than 7,500 cyclists, 11,000 pedestrians and 26,000 cars along busy streets in London, Manchester and Glasgow.
Rental e-bikes were the worst for breaking traffic laws, with 25 per cent observed ignoring traffic lights.
A staggering 50 per cent of bike and scooter riders did not stop at Oxford Circus, London.
Riders can be fined £50 for ignoring red lights. If they are convicted of dangerous cycling in court, they can be fined up to £2,500.
Eight per cent of drivers were reported as distracted at red lights.
They were seen using their phones, eating, drinking, smoking and vaping.
Bryn Brooker, head of road safety at Nextbase, the camera company that commissioned the study, told The Times: "It’s clear too many of us are treating simple traffic laws as optional, with a total lack of respect for the rules that are there to make the roads safer for everyone.
"People may say it’s a victimless crime, one that shaves a few seconds off your commute, but it puts pedestrians’, cyclists’ and other road users’ lives at risk every day."
Rod Dennis, the RAC road safety spokesman, said: "Given red traffic lights are one of, if not the most important of all signals, it’s disturbing to see so many road users ignoring them.
"By running a red light, you’re putting yourself and others into huge danger and the potential consequences mean it’s never worth it. They’re there to keep everyone safe, so all road users should obey them at all times."
The Deansgate and John Dalton Street junction in Manchester was the worst location for jumping lights in Manchester as 42 per cent of riders were observed doing it.
The Holloway Road and Drayton Park junction in London followed Oxford Circus at 46 per cent skipping signals.
Red lights were disregarded by 45 per cent of riders at Duke Street and Bellgrove Street in Glasgow.
Lime, the e-bike rental company, launched an advertising campaign in August warning riders that it is illegal to skip red lights. They placed the adverts on popular commuter routes and intersections.