Motor Vehicle Act - Upcoming Recommendations: No Right Turn on Red

No Right Turn on Red

Let’s make intersections safer for all road users.

By restricting drivers from turning Right on Red lights, we can improve safety for vulnerable road users like people walking, rolling, scooting and using wheelchairs. Without such protections, allowing right turn on red lights creates conflict between people driving, walking and cycling and increases the chances of collision.

Numerous studies* have demonstrated that banning right turns on red lights can significantly decrease the number of crashes, particularly those involving people walking, rolling and cycling. 

Prohibitions on right turns on red lights exist in many countries and have been proven to enhance safety at intersections for all road users by reducing conflicts between turning vehicles and vulnerable road users.  

The evidence is clear: prohibiting right turns on red lights saves lives.

We recommend municipalities adopt implementing no right turns on red lights at high-crash intersections and support HUB Cycling and BCCC in pushing for a provincial-wide ban as part of the BC Motor Vehicle Act reforms.

Evidence & Support

According to ICBC, approximately 60% of crashes occur at intersections - banning right turns on red is one more way alongside a host of other measures that can reduce injuries and fatalities and work towards Vision Zero.

In Washington State, the Department of Transportation found that 20% of collisions involving a driver hitting a pedestrian or cyclist occurred on a right turn.

Right turn on red appears clearly as the most dangerous motorist maneuver for pedestrians at intersections with a crash rate about three times higher than the level of exposure (see chart below with comparisons of relative risk) .

SAFETY EFFECTS OF RIGHT TURN ON RED: A META-ANALYSIS: ClaudeDussault

In 2018, Washington, D.C., banned right turns on red at 100 intersections. Data showed red-light conflicts between vehicles and pedestrians were all but eliminated.*

We ask that you support this recommendation and help increase road safety for all.

*States Consider Ending Right Turn on Red to Address Rising Pedestrian Deaths

Contacts

HUB Cycling, mva@bikehub.ca