Op-Ed: Prohibit Right Turns on Red Lights

A writer suggests an end for one of the many conveniences available to drivers: the right turn on a red light.

1 minute read

March 23, 2016, 8:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


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Copenhagenize Design Co. / Copenhagenize

According to Josh Cohen, "if cities truly cared about pedestrians, they would outright ban [right turns on red]." Cohen writes from experience in Seattle, where the Seattle Department of Transportation banned right turns on red (RTOR) at ten downtown intersections last fall as part of its Vision Zero plan.

To back up his argument against RTOR, Cohen cites the safety concerns for all pedestrians as well as access concerns for people with extra mobility needs. Cohen notes, however, that there is a lack of reliable to data to back up his argument. 

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