Worst Weekend for Red-Light Runners - Valley News Live - KVLY/KXJB - Fargo/Grand Forks

Worst Weekend for Red-Light Runners

For the lucky ones, the Memorial Day weekend is underway. But before you leave for town, there's a holiday driving danger you may never have thought of. New statistics out say you are more likely to run a stop light this weekend than any other time of the year.

"Some people that slow down and a lot of people go so fast," says Patrick Schrieber, the manager at the Cenex Store in Glyndon, MN.

Schrieber works the night-shift at the store along Highway 10. He's one of the first to see how rush-hour traffic can bring out some red-light runners.

"It's probably because our speed limit, it cuts to 30 miles per hour right away," he says. "People want to go and have fun, you know?"

We get it -- it's the first fun of the summer -- with school out, graduations, and a long weekend ahead. Before you get too anxious about getting to the lakes, a new report from the National Coalition for safer roads says more than 2.3 million drivers in 18 states ran a red light last year. On Memorial Day weekend, the number of violations were more than 27-percent higher than any average non-holiday weekend -- that's more than on Super Bowl Sunday or Halloween.

It doesn't matter which busy intersection you're on, experts say Friday afternoon on Memorial Day weekend is the prime time you'll see the most drivers running a red light.

"Even if there's a walk, we try to get across as fast as possible," says Cheryl Stetz who lives in Dilworth.

Those living along the major route to the lakes say they're more concerned for their kids. Experts say while waiting for the light to turn green may cut you some time in the sun, those few seconds may be worth your life.

"It's a big hazard actually," says Schrieber.

In North Dakota, you could be fined $20 for running a stop sign or red light. In Minnesota, it could cost you about $125.