Is Running Red Lights Becoming The Norm In Owensboro?

Did you know that running a red light in Kentucky is a misdemeanor and you can get fined hundreds of dollars for it? In other words, stop doing it! I have been witnessing people do this a lot lately and it seems to happen frequently- at least on my watch- at one particular intersection in Owensboro.

My office and studio are located at 3301 Frederica Street, which is adjacent to Steele Square (formerly Fountain Square) in Owensboro.

That 'square' is home to a variety of businesses- including Domino's Pizza, Creative Image Salon, Complete Dentistry & Implants, and more.

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I'll admit it. The traffic light that sits at the intersection of Steele Square's entrance and Frederica Street is the WORST light in the entire city. It can take FOREVER to change. On more than one occasion, I have climbed out my vehicle and marched over to the right hand side to push the button that triggers the signal.

I realize that looks like something from the game show Press Your Luck, which is appropriate because I always feel that's precisely what I doing by abandoning my car to push that stupid button.

However, the only thing more infuriating than that light is the amount of people who just barrel along Frederica Street even after it turns green for the folks exiting the square. Multiple times in the last few days, I have watched people run their red light, while I have been sitting there with my light FINALLY green. And, look! I get it. If you're driving north or south on Frederica Street, you rarely run into a red light at that intersection. But, when it's red, YOU MUST STOP!

There's a reason that, when you're first taught to drive and pass through intersections, you are instructed to "look both ways." Though I sit there in Steele Square impatiently awaiting that green light, I now find myself sitting there for a few more seconds after it changes. I first look to my left to make sure everyone has stopped. I then look to the right to ensure the same. Just yesterday, I looked to my left to find a random white car plowing through a ruby red light like it was storming out of the pits at Talladega. If I had proceeded as planned when my light turned green, I would have been royally t-boned.