The first driver mistook turners next to them as their green light, and the two drivers behind them blindly followed along.
Circle Pines-area driver and Redditor /u/Stevecaboose shared a curious case of the bandwagon effect playing out in real-time from earlier in April (Apr 8, 2026) to the /r/IdiotsInCars subreddit, showing three cars, all running a red light, one after another, with all of them avoiding getting t-boned by turners with the right of way
Check out the case of the blind leading the blind below with the original Reddit thread linked here.
The incident happened at the intersection of Lexington Ave N and Ball Rd in Circle Pines (Exact location on Google Maps linked here.)
As the dashcam shows, OP is headed southbound down Lexington Ave, slipping into the right turn lane towards Ball.
As he approaches the intersection, he notices three vehicles, one after another, run a red light.
It appears a driver in a blue Ford Taurus first took off past the limit line against a red after seeing drivers turning left next to them who had just gotten a green arrow.
Then, drivers following the Taurus blindly follow, not once using their eyes to confirm if they have a green light themselves.
Thankfully, they all avoid the sole turner in a Silver Toyota Avalon turning in front of them because, at least, that driver was paying attention.
There were only a handful of comments on the post; however, this one below, showing people acting like lemmings, is worth re-posting below.
In Minnesota, running a red light is typically a petty misdemeanor traffic violation, with a base fine usually around $50–$100, but total cost often ends up $120–$200+ after fees and surcharges. Minnesota generally does not use a traditional driver’s license point system, so you usually won’t get points like in many other states. However, it can still affect your record and insurance rates if it’s reported.
