Turning right on red brings quite a few dangers.
There are several maneuvers drivers are allowed to make that some find questionable. One of the most notable is turning right on red. While many agree it allows for convenience, others see it as something that can lead to car wrecks. Recently, a new law went into effect in Washington, DC, that bans it, but there may be barriers to enforcing it.
Turning right on red is no longer allowed in DC…mostly
According to NBC Washington, the new DC law banning turning right at a red light came in with the new year. Of course, this is controversial to some, but there is no denying the number of car wrecks that happen when people do this. Additionally, turning right on red poses significant risks for pedestrians, who may be in crosswalks when drivers decide it’s okay for them to go.
However, there is a barrier to the law against going right on red. It requires the D.C. Department of Transportation to post no signs informing drivers of the change. Sadly, there may not be funding to do so. Plus, some members of Congress view the new law as being “anti-car.” The Department of Transportation Director Sharon Kershbaum released a statement about the law. She said, “The hardest one for us — and for every other city that’s dealing with this — is really on the behavior change.”
Of course, this is true anytime there is a change to what drivers can do on the road. The new right on red law brings with it a $100 fine for any driver who violates it. Of course, there must be signage present at the intersection. Notably, no states have outlawed the practice of going right on red. However, several cities, like DC, have.
