National Stop on Red week

National Stop on Red Week is a week-long campaign to bring awareness to road safety. This year, National Stop on Red Week is August 3-9. Running red lights is one of the leading causes of significantly dangerous intersection crashes. This week is dedicated to promoting safe driving, so that everyone on the road can return home safe and unharmed at the end of the day.

The National Coalition for Safer Roads started this campaign to educate drivers on the importance of stopping at red and the serious consequences if they don’t. Across the country from August 3rd – 9th, law enforcement agencies, schools, communities, and advocates are spreading the message: ALWAYS STOP at a RED.

In 2023, 84 people were killed and 681 seriously injured because of red-light running accidents. Many times, the person killed or seriously injured is not the driver who ran the red light, but a passenger, pedestrian, or person in another vehicle. When you run a red light, it isn’t just your life you are risking; it is everyone using the roads.

Main causes of red-light running include:

Speeding
Distracted driving (texting and driving)
Driving under the influence
Impatience
Inattentive driving (drowsy driving)

One decision to run a red light can have lifelong consequences for you and other people. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, 1 in 3 Americans knows someone who has been injured or killed in a red-light running incident.

Red Light Safety tips for drivers:

Always obey traffic lights: yellow means slow down, do not try and beat the light
Watch for pedestrians and cyclists
Check both ways before going into an intersection: left, right, left
Be patient when waiting at a light; just because yours just turned green, it doesn’t mean others have stopped. Waiting a few seconds could save your life.

How to get involved during National Stop on Red Week:

Share it on social media: spread the word about road safety through posts
Attend local events held by schools, community centers, and law enforcement agencies
Encourage younger drivers to practice safe driving habits

Next time the light turns yellow or red, think before you decide to run it. Getting to where you need to be a minute early is not worth your life or someone else’s. Practice safe driving and make sure everyone gets home safe by ALWAYS STOPPING on RED.