Red-light runners beware: law enforcement officers across Michigan will patrol high-crash intersections in their counties during Intersection Enforcement Week, July 22-28.

Intersection enforcement will take place in 27 counties with more than 100 agencies participating. Agencies also have the option to conduct additional intersection patrols throughout the summer.

The Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP) is administering federal traffic safety funds for the overtime intersection enforcement patrols. 

"In Michigan, crashes at intersections result in more fatalities and injuries than on any other area of the road," OHSP Director Michael L. Prince said. "Crashes at signalized intersections can be very serious, so enforcing these locations has the potential to save lives and reduce injuries."

Agencies determined the intersections to enforce and the best time of day to set up patrols by analyzing local crash data. In many areas, a spotter will alert other officers when a motorist runs a red light or commits another traffic violation in the intersection.

More than 29 percent of crashes in Michigan in 2006 occurred in intersections, according to the Michigan State Police, Criminal Justice Information Center. These intersection crashes resulted in 281 fatalities (26 percent of the total) and 2,860 incapacitating injuries (33 percent of the total).

From 2003 to 2006, Michigan has experienced a reduction of 25,363 intersection crashes, 81 fatalities and 1,058 serious injuries.

Participating agencies will patrol high-crash intersections in the following counties: Allegan, Barry, Bay, Berrien, Eaton, Grand Traverse, Ingham, Isabella, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Lapeer, Lenawee, Livingston, Macomb, Marquette, Mason, Menominee, Monroe, Muskegon, Ottawa, Saginaw, St. Joseph, Van Buren, Washtenaw, Wayne and Wexford.

A list of planned times, dates and locations of intersection patrols is posted on OHSP's Web site, www.michigan.gov/ohsp.