It’s probably this bad everywhere in the United States but it’s important they caught it on camera.
If you live in or near Omaha, Nebraska and are fed up with how bad your fellow drivers are, specifically nonchalantly entering intersections well after their lights turned red, you’re not alone.
One Nextdoor user in Papillion, NE ( a suburb of Omaha) got so fed up with people running red lights he shared video of how bad it is at the intersection of S. Washington St. and Highway 370.
The video was subsequently re-shared on Reddit’s /r/idiotsincars subreddit by /u/Intervia.
To further drive his point home he took off right when his lights turned green illustrating how, even after several seconds, cars where still turning against a red arrow.
While most disagreed with his form of vigilante justice at that particular moment, it’s still worth sharing.
Check out his video below.
And, here’s a screenshot of the intersection on Google Maps. As you can see, drivers turning left not only have two dedicated turn lanes, their signal makes it clear that their lanes will turn red soon.
Reading through the comments and from my experience too, this is a problem endemic all over the United States, not just Omaha, NE.
Although, it’s worth noting, drivers in Omaha are exceptionally bad, according to a Quote Wizard study ranking 25th worst out of 70 of the United States’ largest cities.
The general consensus is that American drivers become increasingly entitled over time and, when faced with an impending red light, opt to “follow the leader” and take their turn anyway despite their light turning red.
They know there’s still a bit of a gap between them and the cars who now have a green (the actual right of way,) and count on drivers not going for the hole shot like this NextDoor user.
With wide and clear intersections, like in Omaha, they also can easily scan for police, accounting for that in their on-the-fly risk assessment if they should keep going or actually stop.
On top of that , according to Article III, Div 1, Section 36-51 of Omaha’s ordinance,
“…vehicular traffic, including vehicles turning right or left, shall yield the right-of-way to other vehicles and to pedestrians lawfully within the intersection or an adjacent crosswalk at the time such signal is exhibited.”
Even if you have a green, you can’t enter the intersection until your lane is clear.
In other words, red light runners, while entering the intersection unlawfully, have the right of way because they’re already in the intersection, further emboldening them.
There are no red light cameras at this particular intersection but, if the problem is as bad as this video shows, here’s yet another data point in favor of the city putting them up.
It’s worth mentioning what the dash cam owner did is probably not a good idea and is arguably foolish. Most in the comments, including OP, share that sentiment.
“I think both are idiots to be honest,” OP comments. “The people running the light moreso, but purposely flooring it and almost causing an accident is pretty stupid too.”
Are red light runners like this as bad as this where you live?
Let me know in the comments below.
