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BREVARD COUNTY, FL –The Space Coast Transportation Planning Organization (SCTPO), City of Melbourne, Melbourne Police Department, Melbourne Fire Department, and various local community partners and law enforcement agencies are taking a stand against red-light running by promoting safe driving habits during National Stop on Red Week, from August 2 - 8, 2026.
Created by the Federal Highway Administration and spearheaded by the National Coalition for Safer Roads, National Stop on Red Week aims to educate drivers about the dangers of red-light running and to help reduce the number and severity of traffic crashes.
To raise public awareness, regional partners are hosting a sign-waving pop-up event on Thursday, August 6, 2026, targeting morning commute traffic from8:30 – 10:00 AM at the intersection of N. Wickham Rd. & Eau Gallie Blvd. in Melbourne. Timed just before the start of the school year, the event serves as a critical reminder of the importance of stopping on red when traffic volumes increase.
This initiative aligns with the region’s commitment to Vision Zero: a strategic goal to eliminate all traffic fatalities and serious injuries through smarter road engineering, proactive law enforcement, and personal driver responsibility. Transportation leaders emphasize that changing driver habits starts with addressing key high-injury corridors.
“Running red lights is an entirely preventable crisis. This intersection at Wickham and Eau Gallie is part of our High Injury Network, where a disproportionate number of severe crashes occur,” said Georganna Gillette, Executive Director of the SCTPO. “While the SCTPO plans and designs safer roads, ultimate success relies on driver behavior. We need our community to partner with us and choose to Always Stop on Red.”
Enforcement plays a key role alongside infrastructure design, and local law enforcement officers see the devastating results of risky driving decisions every day.
"Our officers see firsthand how trying to ‘beat the light’ can permanently change lives in a matter of seconds,” said David Gillespie, Chief of Police of the Melbourne Police Department. “Traffic enforcement isn't about writing tickets; it’s about preventing crashes before they happen. Put distractions away, slow down, and remember that every safe decision behind the wheel saves lives.”
When driver decisions lead to tragic outcomes, emergency responders are the first on the scene to manage the aftermath. “Fire Rescue sees the consequences of red-light running at their absolute worst. Saving a few seconds is never worth a lifetime of impact on victims, families, and first responders,” stated Shane Leech, Fire Chief of the Melbourne Fire Department.
City leaders stress that achieving zero traffic fatalities requires a comprehensive commitment across every level of government and community engagement. “From modernizing intersections to expanding public education, creating safer streets takes an all-hands-on-deck effort. This week is about our community coming together to take action and save lives,” said Marcus Smith, City of Melbourne Council Member.
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