Cities Across the Country Consider Banning Right Turn on Red to Address Rising Pedestrian Deaths

As pedestrian and bicyclist deaths and injuries continue to rise, cities across the United States are considering banning right turns on red lights. Concerns over safety have prompted cities like Washington, D.C., Chicago, Ann Arbor, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Denver to explore or implement such bans. Advocates argue that drivers should not have the option to decide when it is safe to turn, while critics claim that blanket bans would not necessarily make streets safer. The U.S. is one of the few major countries that generally allow right turns on red, a policy that originated during the 1970s energy crisis. However, safety advocates argue that banning right turns on red would help reduce accidents and improve pedestrian safety.