US News Massachusetts: Drivers no longer have the right to turn right on red in Cambridge

tom_mai78101

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Drivers aren't legally allowed to turn right on red anymore in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

State law allows drivers to make right turns at red lights unless otherwise noted by "No turn on red" signs. Those signs now bar the maneuver at every traffic light in Cambridge.

Two years ago, city leaders approved the plan. The city recently finished installing signs at intersections.

"What happens when people are trying to turn right on red is that they are really focused on finding that gap in traffic in front of them, and then they frequently will not then double-check for pedestrians or bikes," said Cambridge Transportation Commissioner Brooke McKenna.

She and the majority of the Cambridge City Council passed a resolution in 2022 banning drivers and cyclists from turning right on red to prioritize safety. This already applied to 80% of the city's intersection, but she says about 225 more signs were needed to make it clear.

"We do have a lot of people in Cambridge who are passing through, and since it's not the standard across the state, it's really important to have the 'No turn on red' signs,'" McKenna said.


Honestly, it should have been nationwide.
 

Blackveiled

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I disagree. It really depends on where you live. Most of the U.S. you shouldn't have to wait for a red light just to make a right hand turn, some lights especially in non-urban areas take forever and have virtually no pedestrians. State/National law shouldn't be restricting, the cities have to be. So this is the correct way of handling it.
 

The Helper

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That is so stupid. I totally agree with Blackveiled here too on the scope of this.
 

Old Mountain Shadow

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Drivers aren't legally allowed to turn right on red anymore in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

State law allows drivers to make right turns at red lights unless otherwise noted by "No turn on red" signs. Those signs now bar the maneuver at every traffic light in Cambridge.

Two years ago, city leaders approved the plan. The city recently finished installing signs at intersections.

"What happens when people are trying to turn right on red is that they are really focused on finding that gap in traffic in front of them, and then they frequently will not then double-check for pedestrians or bikes," said Cambridge Transportation Commissioner Brooke McKenna.

She and the majority of the Cambridge City Council passed a resolution in 2022 banning drivers and cyclists from turning right on red to prioritize safety. This already applied to 80% of the city's intersection, but she says about 225 more signs were needed to make it clear.

"We do have a lot of people in Cambridge who are passing through, and since it's not the standard across the state, it's really important to have the 'No turn on red' signs,'" McKenna said.


Honestly, it should have been nationwide.
No way, maybe in densely packed urban areas
 

tom_mai78101

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To be fair, my whole life is from urban areas, so I probably don't feel why there is a need to right turn on red. Didn't consider rural areas and how it takes a long time to wait for green lights to turn when there are no pedestrians.
 

Old Mountain Shadow

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To be fair, my whole life is from urban areas, so I probably don't feel why there is a need to right turn on red. Didn't consider rural areas and how it takes a long time to wait for green lights to turn when there are no pedestrians.
Fair enough, the argument is probably even more nuanced than what we got into. It’s all good
 
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