NCSR: In 2013, July 4th Ranked as Second Riskiest Summer Holiday Period for Red-Light Running in the United States

WASHINGTON, July 2, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- This Independence Day, thousands of cars will hit the road as Americans celebrate summer with family and friends. According to the Safer Roads Report: Trends in Red-Light Running from the National Coalition for Safer Roads (NCSR), July 4th ranked as the second riskiest summer holiday for drivers across the country when it comes to red-light running – with more than 38,690 violations issued over the holiday travel period in 2013. Of the summer holidays, Independence Day came in a close second behind Memorial Day and ranked higher than Labor Day.

In nine states – California, Delaware, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, New York, Tennessee and Virginia – the 4^th of July travel period ranked as the riskiest red-light running holiday of 2013. In addition to the traditional summer holidays, NCSR looked at red-light running during the Super Bowl, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Eve.

"NCSR encourages all drivers to stay safe on the roads as they travel to their destinations this Independence Day," said NCSR President Melissa Wandall. "The summer driving months are always dangerous, especially near intersections. Please take extra care to stop at red-lights and make sure the road is safe for all who use it."

The second biannual Safer Roads Report 2014: Trends in Red-Light Running, released in May, examines red-light running trends using data collected from 2,216 red-light safety cameras across 202 areas in 20 states. The report is designed to help raise driver awareness of the dangers of red-light running. Overall, the report found that more than 3.5 million drivers in 20 states ran a red-light last year.

It is clear that red-light running remains an issue on roadways year round, beyond the peak of violations during holiday travel periods. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, intersection-related vehicle accidents caused more than 8,500 fatalities in 2011. NCSR urges all drivers who are hitting the road this 4^th of July to take extra precautions while driving, especially in and around intersections.

For more information, visit NCSRSafety.org.

The National Coalition for Safer Roads helps save lives and protect communities by demonstrating how red-light safety cameras can improve driver behavior. NCSR brings together policymakers, community leaders and concerned citizens in support of red-light safety cameras, advocating for their use in cities and communities across the country. The National Coalition for Safer Roads is a 501 (c)(6) industry trade association. To learn more, please visit www.NCSRsafety.org, follow @SaferRoadsUSA on Twitter and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/SaferRoadsUSA

SOURCE National Coalition for Safer Roads