TAMPA, Fla. — We all know Tampa Bay can be a dangerous place to drive, but now a new study shows it’s among the worst when it comes people running red lights.
In fact, two Tampa Bay intersections ranked among the nation’s 10 worst.
Just ask Carlos Hernandez, who said five days ago he was riding his bicycle at the corner of US 19 and Trouble Creek Road when someone ran a red light and hit him.
“The green light, for me,” Hernandez said. “I’m passing on, riding my bicycle with the green. The guy came over here and hit me in the leg.”
In a nationwide study of 2,000 red light camera intersections, Tampa Bay had not one, but two of the most dangerous. The intersection of 22nd Street and Hillsborough in Tampa, and US 19 at Trouble Creek Road in New Port Richey.
“More than two people are killed every single day on US roadways by Red Light runners, it’s a major issue,” said Mark Jenkins, a spokesman for AAA. “You really just don’t know what happens in other people’s cars. They could be distracted. They could be looking at their phone. That could be an emergency and they’re trying to get somewhere. And they’re not paying attention. Or they’re just not going to stop at that red light.”
We visited both intersections, and in less than five minutes you could see why they rank so poorly.
“You hear every day about people getting hit,” Kathryn Cooke, who walks int eh area of the New Port Richey intersection just about every day said.
Despite the grim figures, AAA said it still considers the red-light cameras effective.
“Nationwide statistics show that red light cameras are effective. AAA does support the use of red-light cameras because ultimately, I think it’s a deterrent,” said Jenkins.
Those who support red-light cameras could argue that without them the figures might be even worse.
But, another AAA study found the number of people killed by someone plowing through a red light had recently risen to a 10-year high.
A troubling statistic which literally, despite the warning signals, shows no sign of stopping.
“They could be better. People could definitely try to observe the law a little more,” Stephanie Thiessen, who crosses the same dangerous intersection daily said.
The advice from AAA? Drive defensively, watching out – not just for yourself-- but those around you.
“Make sure everyone else is slowing down and stopping before you drive forward. Because not everybody else is paying attention,” Jenkins said. “Not everybody else may be willing to stop at that red light.”