Banning Right Turns on Red: Lessons From Atlanta

How road safety activists passed a law that could make roads much safer.

2 minute read

October 24, 2024, 6:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Red Light

Helen89 / Shutterstock

In a piece for the Vision Zero Cities Journal republished in Streetsblog USA, Rebecca Serna and Jason Dozier outline how Atlanta, Georgia passed a ban on right turns on red this February in an effort to make streets in three central neighborhoods safer for pedestrians.

As the authors explain, “Research shows that turning right on red poses significant risks to people who are most vulnerable in crashes: people getting around by foot, wheelchair, and bicycle. As drivers make right turns on red lights, their attention is focused on oncoming traffic from their left — not on people walking across the street or waiting in the bike lane on their right. With their attention elsewhere, drivers are more likely to turn into people outside of cars who have the pedestrian signal to cross.”

Planetizen has covered right turns on red in previous pieces, noting that allowing right turns on red lights was largely a result of the 1970s energy crisis. However, transportation planners and policymakers are now recognizing its negative impact on road safety and working to reverse the laws that allows these turns.

In Atlanta, 65 fatalities and serious injuries occurred at intersections with legal right turns on red in the last nine years, with close to half of them happening while drivers were turning right at red lights. The effort to ban them was led by city council member Jason S. Dozier, who urged fellow council members — some of whom have experienced close calls as pedestrians themselves — to support the ban. “In an unexpected turn, we also found allies in councilmembers who drove some of the largest vehicles, who supported the effort due to near-misses they’d experienced with pedestrians.”

According to the authors, “Atlanta’s new no-right-on-red policy is a step towards real, measurable change in pedestrian safety. It’s also a chance to live out our declared values as a city that is both pedestrian-friendly and supportive of sustainable and safe ways of getting around.”

Tuesday, October 22, 2024 in Streetsblog USA

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Interior of Place Versailles mall in Montreal, Canada.

Montreal Mall to Become 6,000 Housing Units

Place Versailles will be transformed into a mixed-use complex over the next 25 years.

May 22, 2025 - CBC

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

3 hours ago - Diana Ionescu

White and yellow DART light rail train in Dallas, Texas with brick building in background.

DARTSpace Platform Streamlines Dallas TOD Application Process

The Dallas transit agency hopes a shorter permitting timeline will boost transit-oriented development around rail stations.

May 28, 2025 - Mass Transit

Line of multi-colored big rig trucks drivign down highway with other traffic including a yellow school bus.

Study: 4% of Truckers Lack a Valid Commercial License

Over 56% of inspected trucks had other violations.

4 hours ago - FreightWaves

Pedestrian holding visual impairment cane pressing crosswalk button.

Chicago Judge Orders Thousands of Accessible Ped Signals

Only 3% of the city's crossing signals are currently accessible to blind pedestrians.

5 hours ago - DRA Legal

People on bike wearing helmets stopped at intersection waiting for passing cars in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Philadelphia Swaps Car Lanes for Bikeways in Unanimous Vote

The project will transform one of the handful of streets responsible for 80% of the city’s major crashes.

6 hours ago - Philly Voice

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.