Ann Arbor Delays Right Turn on Red Ban, Citing Equity Concerns

A proposal to ban right turns on red in Ann Arbor, Michigan is facing criticism from city officials who say the law could disproportionately impact low-income workers at hourly jobs. Ryan Stanton reports on the developments for M Live.

The proposal, which excepts buses, “calls for a prohibition on red-light turns in the downtown and near-downtown area bound by First Street to the west, State Street to the east, Kingsley Street to the north and Hoover Avenue to the south.” Eliminating right turns on red has been recognized as one way to improve road safety and is a low-cost way for cities to reduce fatal crashes. According to the article, “half of traffic crashes where people walking or cycling have been killed or seriously injured involved a driver failing to yield.”

The city council is postponing the proposal to address equity concerns, questions about increased congestion, as well as the issue of how to enforce the legislation on state-controlled roads. Council Member Kathy Griswold, who expressed concern about the proposal, said “It also would be helpful to have an education and enforcement component, along with a statement from the police department about how the ban would be enforced, when the proposal comes back to council.” The plan was already approved unanimously by the city’s Transportation Commission.