Red means, STOP.

A church in Mexico has installed a ‘traffic signal’ inside the place of worship in an attempt to keep parishioners safe from the constant violence outside its walls.

Monterrey’s St. Teresa of Avila Church has installed a three-light signal inside the church so worshipers can safely exit the church, as shootouts and armed robberies have been on the rise.

Though Monterrey is Nuevo Leon’s wealthiest and third largest city, it has not been saved from the violence and crime that plagues many Mexican towns.

The lights:

Green – there is no danger presently outside the church
Yellow – use caution when leaving the church
Red – danger is present, it is not safe to leave

Worshippers are also protected from gun fire while inside the church by concrete blocks stacked half way up the windows.

In recent years, the cartel war between Los Zetas and the Gulf cartel has caused the violence in Monterrey to spike.

Since 2006, Mexico has seen at least 70,000 drug-related deaths.