US Cities Contemplate Banning Right Turn on Red

Several U.S. cities, including Washington, D.C., Chicago, Ann Arbor, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Denver, are considering or have already implemented bans on right turns on red lights due to a rise in accidents involving pedestrians and bicyclists. Advocates argue that drivers should not have the option to decide when it is safe to turn, while opponents claim that such bans would make driving more difficult and are part of an agenda to discourage driving. The United States is one of the few major countries that generally allow right turns on red, and the practice was initially encouraged in the 1970s to address an energy crisis. Safety advocates argue that official crash reports often underestimate the dangers, and studies have shown that larger vehicles like SUVs and pickup trucks pose a higher risk to pedestrians. Critics of the bans raise concerns about inconveniencing motorists, slowing down traffic, and disproportionately penalizing lower-income drivers.