I agree that safety trumps other considerations - but for me that usually applies to riding on the sidewalk or on the wrong side of cones or barriers.
I do not make a habit of running red lights. I figure that they are there for a reason and I feel obliged to follow the law. I also figure this is safer and I am going to be in an accident, I don't want it to be from my lack of conscientiousness.
Certain situation are more OK. For example, at a "T" when no one is coming anyway and my path going straight across the top of the "T" cannot possibly conflict with anyone else's path.
I do frequently run yellows. I find that this often creates a gap that I can ride in for a block or so before cars start to catch up to me again.