Who stops at red lights? ADAC investigates traffic violations

Whether on two wheels, four wheels, or on foot: Red lights are a clear stop signal – but who takes them seriously? For an ADAC survey, the behavior of over 66,000 road users was anonymously observed at four busy intersections each in Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne, Leipzig, and Munich. The result: The red light was ignored 2,833 times – about four percent did not comply with the regulation.

Particularly noticeable was the numerically smallest group (338) of e-scooter drivers. More than 14 percent of e-scooter users ran red lights. 8.5 percent of pedestrians (16,827) broke the rule, closely followed by around 8 percent of cyclists (9,520). Car drivers (39,473) complied with the stop signal most frequently, with only 1.6 percent committing violations. 

According to an ADAC spokeswoman, e-scooters were recorded separately – even though they legally belong to motor vehicles. However, when it comes to fines, e-scooters are equated with bicycles.

ADAC calls for consistent traffic light checks

According to ADAC calculations, if all the offenses were sanctioned, approximately 158,000 euros in fines and 164 one-month driving bans would have been imposed.

“The number of red light violations is far too high. One of the simplest traffic rules, stopping at a red light, seems to be losing its importance,” explained Roman Suthold, traffic expert at ADAC North Rhine.

The ADAC pointed out in its statement figures from the Federal Motor Transport Authority from 2023: Across Germany, 327,230 red light violations had been registered at that time, in which around 10,000 people were injured or killed. Against this backdrop, the mobility club called for consistent traffic light checks:

“Because only then is a change in behavior to be expected.”