I've had zero issue with crashes when I've run stoplights with no traffic for blocks around. One of my worst crashes (multiple broken ribs, collarbone) happened when I was riding through my green light and was hit by a car running the red. I am willing to tell a judge that my experience has been that entering an intersection illegally with no traffic near has been consistently safer than stopping and waiting for it to show up. (I've had issues with right turning cars, oncoming left turning cars and close passes, non of which have ever happened when I've run empty intersections with no traffic around.

Ben