Is a common traffic feature posing hidden dangers for drivers and pedestrians? A federal right-turns-on-red law introduced in the 1970s requires states to allow drivers to make right turns at red lights. New research on the impact of right-turns-on-red is changing minds on what is now one of the most common rules of the road. Right-turns-on-red laws were designed to save time, cut down on traffic, and reduce pollution from idling vehicles. However, the benefits come with some pretty serious risks. Here’s a look at the dangers of right-turns-on-red that are coming to light.
Dangers for Pedestrians: Were Right Turns on Red Ever Safe?
The dangers of right-turns-on-red have actually been known for a long time. One study on the effect of right-turns-on-red on pedestrian and bicyclist accidents that was published all the way back in 1982 found significant increases in pedestrian and bicyclist accidents involving right-turning vehicles at signalized locations. In New York, increases were 40% for pedestrians and 82% for bicycles. The truth is that the streets have only become more dangerous since then.
When right-turns-on-red laws were introduced 50 years ago, vehicles were generally much smaller and lighter compared to the vehicles of today. Drivers also didn’t have distractions from phones, in-vehicle entertainment systems, and complicated smart dashboards to contend with. According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, there was an overall 77% increase in road fatalities between 2010 and 2021. In 2022, U.S. pedestrian deaths reached their highest levels since 1981 after 7,508 people were killed while walking. Even some of the most pedestrian friendly cities experience significant dangers. The city of Oakland, California alone saw 52 pedestrian injuries and fatalities.
How Car Technology Has Changed the Conversation About Allowing Right Turns at Red Lights
It’s not just the rise of larger, heavier sport-utility vehicles (SUVs) that has made the right-turns-on-red dangerous. Electric vehicle (EV) technology has created whisper-quiet cars that pedestrians and cyclists may not be able to hear coming. In EVs, the internal combustion engines in gasoline-powered cars that were responsible for the noise of a running vehicle that we all know have been replaced by electric motors and batteries that are essentially silent. While EV car tires can make some amount of road noise, it may not be loud enough to make an impact in louder suburban and urban settings. This is why it’s not surprising that hybrid and electric cars are more likely to strike pedestrians than gas or diesel vehicles.
The Future of Turning Right on Red: Changes Will Likely Be Local
A federal ban on right-turns-on-red laws is unlikely. However, that hasn’t stopped several cities around the country from considering local bans. Currently, leaders in Chicago, Los Angeles, Denver, Seattle, and several other major cities are considering introducing legislation that would ban or limit right-turns-on-red. Currently, New York City is the only major city in the country with a blanket ban on taking right turns on red unless there is a special sign that permits them. The ban is standard in all five of New York’s boroughs.
