One in five drivers have run a red light - but you're more likely to be caught by a dash cam than a roadside camera

A fifth of UK motorists have received penalty points for running a traffic light, new research seen exclusively by Daily Mail shows.

Last year, 19,734 drivers were issued penalty points for failing to comply with traffic light signals, according to information provided by the DVLA and analysed by Churchill motor insurance.

According to an additional study by the insurer, an estimated 6.9million drivers have received penalty points for driving through a red light at some time during their motoring lifetime.

Camera-detected incidents have nearly doubled since 2021, with London the most common place to be caught going through a red light. Greater London accounts for a fifth of all convictions in 2024, the figures show.

Transport for London operates 248 of these red light cameras across its road network.

Red light cameras use sensors that detect vehicles crossing the stop line after the light turns red, taking a photo to log the offence.

Churchill's survey of 2,000 adults looked into the thought processes of drivers who run traffic lights.

The study found that two in five admit to not following the Highway Code when approaching amber signals.

An amber light means 'stop' at the white stop line and drivers may only go on if the amber appears after they cross the stop line or are so close to it that pulling up might cause an accident.

While 61 per cent said they stop when it is safe to do so, a quarter said they will deliberately drive through the amber light.

Another 15 per cent said they carry on through at the same speed in order to get through the light, and a further 11 per cent even admitted to accelerating to ensure they get across.

And 12 per cent said they always slow down and stop, even if it means breaking hard, which in itself can be dangerous.

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The reasons for running through lights vary, but a large number of people go through amber lights because they don't know any better; 37 per cent believe amber is just a warning to stop.

Another 35 per cent of people keep going because they are scared that the car behind will slam into them if they stop suddenly, and 19 per cent are avoiding a road rage incident from the driver behind.

Some drivers just stick with what they've always done, 22 per cent in fact, while 39 per cent selfishly run amber lights because they dread being stuck waiting.

Lateness makes drivers more likely to break the Highway Code, with 23 per cent of motorists putting pedal to the metal to get through changing lights.

Other situations exacerbate the likelihood of light-running behaviour, with 20 per cent going through amber lights of there are no cars around, 17 per cent doing the same if there are no pedestrians around, 15 per cent if the light is too slow, and 11 per cent jumping amber lights if they're avoiding junction boxes.

If there are no red light cameras at the relevant junction nine per cent of people will go through an amber light.

Churchill also looked into the emotional responses of people who ran through red or amber lights with 32 per cent profession guilt for doing so, 29 per cent expressed anxiousness and 22 per cent nervousness.

Concerningly six per cent feel happy and another six per cent experience a thrill or rush.

Nicholas Mantel, head of Churchill Motor Insurance, added: 'Every driver can relate to the split-second dilemma faced when a green light turns to amber; sometimes it is not entirely clear whether to step on the brake or keep going.

'However, running a red light is not only dangerous, but also illegal. Traffic lights play a vital role in coordinating vehicle flows, preventing accidents and ensuring the safety of all road users.'

Despite the notion that there are more traffic enforcement cameras than ever, and incidents almost doubling since 2021, Sky News found this year that fewer than 1.5 per cent of traffic lights in the UK have red light cameras monitoring them.

It asked all councils in Britain how many of their traffic lights had a red light camera, and the 157 responses showed there are very few.

Scotland has only five in total, while West Northamptonshire has had its turned off for 15 years.

Even in London it's fewer than four per cent, and it's the same in Greater Manchester.

Sky News therefore found that you're more likely to be caught by another driver's dash cam than an official red light camera, as the number of people using dash cams has risen rapidly in recent years.

Dash cam provider Nextbase found that 70 per cent of drivers believe all cars should be fitted with a dash cam, with the first half of 2024 seeing over 24,000 dash cam reports via video to the police.

Over 135,000 motoring offences have been submitted between 2019 and 2024.

Mantel warned against trying your luck at a red light, saying: 'Those looking to disobey the rules of the road are increasingly at risk of receiving fines and points on their licences.'