The Ocala/Marion Transportation Planning Organization is reminding residents of the dangers of running red lights.
The organization published a “top 10 reasons” to stop on red recently to warn of the dangers and potentially fatal consequences of not stopping at red lights.
According to the list, in 2019, 846 people died and 143,000 were injured in the United States as a result of red-light running incidents.
The list also indicates that over half of the deaths in red-light running-related crashes are pedestrians, bicyclists, and occupants in other vehicles.
Between 2008 and 2019, an estimated 9,227 people were killed in red-light running related crashes.
According to the organization, although the overall number of crashes in the county is down over the past five years, fatal crashes have increased over 50% in that same span.
In 2016, there were 70 fatal crashes throughout Marion County. In 2020, there were 108.
For more information about the agency, its reports, or transportation in the area, visit the Ocala Marion Transportation Planning Organization website.