Watch for Red-Light Runners This 4th of July Holiday Season

Here's something you may not know, as noted by our sister Patch in Palm Harbor: Florida is one of the worst states in the country when it comes to dangerous intersections during the Fourth of July holiday.

The Fourth of July came in a close second overall behind Memorial Day as the worst holiday for road safety with more than 25,000 red-light running violations during the Fourth of July travel period in 2011.

Running red lights is never a good thing for safety — and can be quite costly for for your pocketbook as well, especially with the installation of red-light cameras at major intersections throughout Hillsborough County.

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Related Brandon Patch stories drive that point home:

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The National Coalition for Safer Roads (NCSR) has released its Safer Roads Report 2012: Trends in Red-Light Running, a study that ranks the most dangerous holiday travel periods for intersection safety.  

The Fourth of July is the top-ranked holiday travel period for red-light running in Florida, California, Maryland and Texas.

• Florida – 39% more red-light violations occur during the Fourth of July travel period than the lowest-ranked holiday travel period in the state (Christmas).

• California – 42.6% more red-light violations occur during the Fourth of July travel period than the lowest ranked holiday travel period in the state (Super Bowl).

• Maryland – 38% more red-light violations occur during the Fourth of July travel period than the lowest ranked holiday travel period in the state (Super Bowl).

• Texas – 37.8% more red-light violations occur during the Fourth of July travel period than the lowest ranked holiday travel period in the state (Super Bowl).

“Drivers should be extra cautious on the roads during all highly trafficked holiday travel periods,” said David Kelly, President and Executive Director, NCSR, and former Acting Administrator of NHTSA. “Statistics about red-light running and overall intersection safety make this fact more tangible and heighten awareness about the risks that dangerous drivers create for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.”

The Fourth of July came in a close second overall behind Memorial Day as the worst holiday for road safety with more than 25,000 red-light running violations during the Fourth of July travel period in 2011.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), intersection-related vehicle accidents caused more than 8,500 casualties in 2011. 

Thanks to the National Coalition for Safer Roads (NCSR) for sharing this information with us.