Stop on Red Week: A National Campaign for Intersection Safety

Stop on Red Week happens every first full week of August. The Federal Highway Administration started this back in 1995 when red-light deaths were climbing fast. They figured public awareness might help.

And it has helped, somewhat. Traffic signal violations still kill over 1,200 people yearly, but communities now have tools to fight back. This relates to how we approach intersection safety today.

Quick Links: Stop on Red Week

The Numbers Tell a Harsh Story

In 2022, red-light running kills 1,272 people at signalized intersections each year, according to the Federal Highway Administration. Most of those deaths involve innocent people. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found 7,080 pedestrian deaths in 2024, increasing by 72% since reaching their lowest point in 2009.

Research shows drivers run red lights once every 20 minutes at major city intersections{5}. Every 20 minutes. That's not an accident—that's choice.

The economic impact hits $14 billion annually, per FHWA estimates. Emergency response, medical costs, property damage, lost productivity. Can communities keep absorbing this preventable damage?

How Stop on Red Week Evolved

The FHWA launched this observance in 1995 when intersection deaths were spiking. By 2002, they added an engineering emphasis with "Engineering Safer Intersections" themes.

Today, the campaign runs the first week of August; some communities extend the message year-round, though.

Community Champions Make the Difference

Different groups tackle intersection safety in their own ways:

• Law enforcement steps up patrols during August awareness week. They target high-violation spots and work with local media on messaging. Some departments see 30-40 percent drops in violations during these campaigns—these campaigns really work when done right.
• Schools build traffic safety into driver education, though many programs still treat intersection behavior as an afterthought rather than a life-or-death skill. The best programs use real crash data from their own communities.
• Transportation departments review signal timing and install countermeasures based on FHWA guidance. They analyze crash patterns to find priority locations.
• Community groups host awareness events and distribute materials through local networks. These grassroots efforts often outlast official campaigns.

What Actually Changes Driver Behavior

Stop on Red Week addresses the psychology behind risky intersection choices.

Traffic signal compliance protects everyone using roadways. Driver responsibility extends past personal safety to community protection. ATS Executive Director Harry Teter notes that "red light running is right behind drunk driving and lack of seat belt use in lives lost needlessly".

Institute of Transportation Engineers Executive Director Thomas Brahms points out that "the use of engineering countermeasures can help reduce the extent of the red light running problem". This suggests awareness needs engineering backup.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found red light safety cameras cut fatal red light running crashes in large cities by 21 percent. Yet many communities resist camera programs despite proven results.

Why do drivers still gamble with yellow lights and roll through reds? Engineering solutions help, but they can't fix poor decision-making entirely.

Making Safety Stick Beyond August

Intersection safety can't survive on one week of attention annually. Communities maintain progress through ongoing driver education and partnerships between police and community groups.

Transportation departments continue signal optimization and intersection improvements year-round. Individual drivers must practice defensive approaches and complete stops.

Since 1995, Stop on Red Week has evolved from simple awareness to a comprehensive intersection safety strategy.

Keep roads safer by also joining the International Traffic Light Day and National Impaired Driving Prevention Month.

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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)