Houston leads the nation in red-light wreck fatalities

Houston is the nation's most dangerous city for red-light runners, with 181 fatalities between 2004 and 2013. Source: National Coalition for Safer Roads Houston is the nation's most dangerous city for red-light runners, with 181 fatalities between 2004 and 2013. Source: National Coalition for Safer Roads Image 1 of / 29 Caption Close Houston leads the nation in red-light wreck fatalities 1 / 29 Back to Gallery

If you've ever come within 6 inches of being T-boned by someone intent on running a red light, here's some news to further raise the hair on your neck: Houston leads the nation in red-light fatalities.

It's not surprising in a city where police are known to complain that a red light means, "Three more cars."

Nationwide between 2004 and 2013, drivers running red lights caused wrecks that resulted in 7,799 fatalities, according to the National Coalition for Safer Roads.

Houston accounted for 181 of those traffic deaths, the highest total among the country's 10 largest cities. Dallas ranked No. 7, with 71 fatalities.

The coalition last week posted an interactive map that lets users pinpoint where the crashes occurred as part of Stop on Red Week, Aug. 2-8, 2015.

"These dots represent a life cut too short, family and friends left to soon, and the harsh reality that red-light running can affect anyone on the roadways if more action isn't taken to prevent reckless driving," Melissa Wandall, coalition president, said in a prepared statement.

A red-light runner killed Wandall's husband near the couple's home in Bradenton, Fla., two weeks before their only daughter was born in October, 2003.

The coalition also posted these facts about red-light fatalities:

- About half of the deaths in red-light crashes are pedestrians, bicyclists and occupants in other vehicles that are hit by red-light runners.

- In 2013, red-light accidents resulted in 697 people killed and an estimated 127,000 who were injured.

- Motorists in urban areas are more likely to be injured in crashes involving red-light running than in any other type of crash.