Seattle has added 73 intersections where right turns are banned at red lights, increasing its number of no-right-on-red signals by almost 75% since last year.
Why it matters: Drivers turning right on red are more likely to fail to yield to pedestrians and crash than drivers who turn when lights are green, some studies have found .
Yes, but: Many Seattle drivers seem unclear about the recent changes, judging by the level of honking at some of these intersections.
By the numbers: At the start of 2023, Seattle had about 100 intersections with "No Turn on Red" signs, according to the city Department of Transportation.
- Now, there are 173 such intersections citywide.
- The new no-right-on-red signals are located mostly downtown and along Aurora Avenue North.
- Many intersections were updated between June and December, although others had signs posted earlier in the year.
The big picture: City officials are making "No Turn on Red" the default for new or upgraded traffic signals going forward.
- It's part of the city's plan to reach its " Vision Zero " goal of ending traffic deaths and serious injuries on city streets by 2030.
What they're saying: "Let's not trade people's safety so people in cars can save a few seconds of waiting for their turn to go," SDOT director Greg Spotts said in a recent blog post .
Of note: In Seattle, right-turn-on-red crashes made up about 9% of all crashes with people walking at signal intersections from 2016 to 2020, according to the city .
Meanwhile, other cities, such as Denver and San Francisco , have been considering citywide bans on right turns on red.
- Last year, Washington, D.C. passed a ban that will take effect in 2025, while Atlanta's City Council approved a ban Monday that will apply to some city neighborhoods.
What's next: SDOT plans to add more no-right-turn on red signs at Seattle intersections later this year, but hasn't decided exactly where.
The bottom line: Stop honking and look up. You just might see a sign.
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