SDOT to expand No Turn on Red restrictions throughout Seattle

Seattle will continue to expand No Turn on Red restrictions at intersections across the city in an effort to enhance safety for pedestrians, drivers and cyclists.

The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) said it has developed a new policy and has started expanding No Turn on Red restrictions at more than 40 downtown intersections as part of its Vision Zero initiative to end traffic-related deaths and serious injuries on city streets.

Limiting turns during red lights reduces collisions between drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists. In Seattle, these types of crashes account for 9% of all collisions with people using crosswalks, SDOT said. A recent study by the Institute of Transportation Engineers Journal found that making right turns on red lights illegal reduced the number of pedestrians being hit by cars by 92% and reduced crashes between vehicles by 97% at intersections with stop lights. The study also found that making it illegal to turn right during a red light resulted in a "minimal increase in waiting for vehicle traffic at intersections."

“Let’s not trade people's safety so people in cars can save a few seconds of waiting for their turn to go. Adding over 40 No Turn on Red intersections downtown is the first step in our plan to expand this proven safety measure to pedestrian-dense neighborhoods,” said SDOT Director Greg Spotts.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/sdot-to-expand-no-turn-on-red-restrictions-throughout-seattle/ar-AA1aKEph