TEN THINGS...

CAR CRASHES RANK AMONG THE LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH IN 

THE UNITED STATES... AND ARE THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH 

FOR CHILDREN, TEENS, AND YOUNG ADULTS UP TO AGE 34.

THAN YOU CAN

AFFORD TO LOSE.

YOU ARE BETTING MORE

IF YOU RUN A

STOP ON RED — NOBODY DEAD:

• Decide now that you will always be prepared to 

Stop on Red as a driver, cyclist, or pedestrian.

• Obey speed limits so you have time and space 

to stop prior to entering the intersection.

PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR LOVED 

ONES FROM RED-LIGHT RUNNERS:

• Intersections can be dangerous — when 

the light turns green, look in all directions 

for red-light runners before proceeding

whether driving, cycling or walking.

TAKE IT TO HEART: 

• Share this brochure.

• Talk about the dangers of red light-running 

with friends, family, and co-workers. 

• Volunteer to support a Stop Red-Light Running 

campaign in your community.

DO YOUR PART TO STOP

RED-LIGHT RUNNING TRAGEDIES

...We Bet You Didn’t Know 

About Red-Light Running

1. You or your loved ones are more likely to be injured

due to a red-light running related crash than any 

other type of crash. 

2. Running a red light or other traffic control is the

most common cause of all urban crashes.

3. Someone runs a red light an average of every 20 

minutes at urban intersections.

4. In the last decade, red-light running crashes 

killed nearly 9,000 people.

5. An estimated 165,000 motorists, cyclists, and 

pedestrians are injured annually by red-light 

runners.

6. Half of the people killed by red-light runners are not 

the signal violators — they are passengers, 

other motorists, pedestrians, 

and cyclists.

7. Nearly 93% of drivers believe running a 

red light is unacceptable, yet 1 in 3 drivers 

reported doing so in the past 30 days.

8. There are an average of 7 fatal crashes and over 

1,000 injury crashes EVERY DAY at signalized 

intersections across the United States.

9. The cost to society of all crashes exceeds $230 

billion annually.

10. The tragedies and costs resulting from red-light 

running are preventable!

RED

LIGHT

FHWA-SA-11-016
 FEW THINGS WILL STOP YOU FASTER IN LIFE

THAN A CRASH BECAUSE YOU RAN A RED LIGHT ...OR WERE HIT BY A RED-LIGHT RUNNER 

“Red-light violators likely do not realize that even low speed (30 mph) side impact crashes can 

be deadly. Because of the relatively thin protection along the side of a vehicle, a large amount of 

force is transferred directly to the victim.” 

— John K. Cumming, M.D.

Trauma Surgeon 

Hennepin County Medical Center, Minnesota

• A ticket and moving violation on 

your record.

• Damage to your vehicle. 

• Higher insurance costs. 

• A lengthy, expensive hospital stay 

and recovery from injury.

• Irreversible consequences if you 

injure or kill someone else.

IF YOU RUN A 

RED LIGHT YOU 

ARE RISKING:

LEARN YOUR 

STATE LAWS! 

GET SMART!

Penalties for red-light 

running and signal 

violations can vary 

by State.

DON’T SQUEEZE 

THE LEMON!

(Don’t race through a yellow light!)

A yellow light at an intersection should last 

long enough that a vehicle traveling at the 

posted speed can either: 

Apply the brakes and comfortably and safely 

decelerate to a stop prior to reaching the 

front of the intersection 

OR

Maintain the same speed and safely clear 

the intersection.

“More than half of drivers say driving is less safe today than it was 5 years ago — 

a 17% increase from only one year ago. Nearly half cite driver distraction as the reason.”

Source: 2010 Traffic Safety Culture Index