The Collier County Sheriff’s Office wants to remind motorists that Florida law requires drivers to come to a complete stop before proceeding at a red light regardless of whether they intend to turn left, go straight through or turn right afterward.
While failing to stop before turning right may seem to be a benign offense, the consequences can be serious. It’s a maneuver that is particularly dangerous for pedestrians and bicyclists attempting to use the crosswalk. Improper right turn on red resulted in 26 bicycle and four pedestrian crashes in Collier County between Jan. 1, 2006, and Dec. 31, 2008. Nineteen individuals suffered injuries as a result of those crashes.
In addition, accidents that happen as a result of turning right at an intersection put the driver making the right turn at risk, as nearly any impact puts the driver’s side of the vehicle in the path of oncoming traffic.
CCSO wants drivers to be aware that the cameras are in place. Here are the intersections where red-light cameras are in place in Collier County:
- Eastbound Pine Ridge Road at Airport-Pulling Road
- Westbound Pine Ridge Road at Airport-Pulling Road
- Northbound Airport-Pulling Road at Davis Boulevard
- Eastbound Pine Ridge Road at Livingston Road
- Westbound Pine Ridge Road at Livingston Road
- Northbound Airport-Pulling Road at Immokalee Road
- Eastbound Immokalee Road at Airport-Pulling Road
- Northbound Collier Boulevard at Golden Gate Parkway
- Eastbound Golden Gate Parkway at Collier Boulevard
- Eastbound Immokalee Road at Livingston Road
- Westbound Pine Ridge Road at U.S. 41 North
- Westbound Vanderbilt Beach Road at U.S. 41 North
Red-light running is dangerous. In 2007 there were 132 red-light crashes in Collier County. Nationwide, more than 1,000 people are killed and more than 180,000 people are injured each year due to red-light running. These crashes cost motorists a collective $14 billion annually, according to the National Highway Safety Administration.
CCSO offers these tips for red-light safety:
- Don’t speed
- Be alert to your surroundings
- Be patient
- Avoid distractions like talking on the cell phone or eating while driving
- Don’t try to beat the red light
Click here to watch a red-light safety video