Right Turn on Red - Maybe Not (Page 6): It all has to do with the bad attitudes of the drivers here. I have vacationed in Canada and Iceland over the past few years. One thing that has...

SteveFranz Loc: Durham, NC

It all has to do with the bad attitudes of the drivers here. I have vacationed in Canada and Iceland over the past few years. One thing that has REALLY impressed me - drivers there will stop if you even look like you want to cross the street. Doesn't matter if it's a corner crosswalk, or a crosswalk in the middle of the block. Drivers WILL stop for you.

druthven

jerryc41 wrote:

What's frustrating is sitting behind a driver who does not turn right, even though there is no traffic. I don't honk my horn. I just wait.

We have some intersections in town where there are hours posted for when you can and cannot turn right on red. That tends to confuse people.

I commend you for just waiting. There can be other reasons for not turning besides inattention.

Tommg

Probably a lot of cherry-picking in the numbers stated in the article. However, the article did indicate 7624 deaths in 11 years which turns out to be an average of 693 deaths per year which is 1.9 deaths a day. Probably not too bad considering how many drivers are on the roads every day, all day/night long. We would like it if there were zero deaths, but then we would just be fooling ourselves.

Eric2018 Loc: Los Angeles, CA, USA

jerryc41 wrote:

Someone from a drivers' organization is in favor of keeping the law because he said that those deaths amount to only 1% of traffic deaths.

[i/]From 2010 to 2021, pedestrian deaths increased from 4,302 to 7,624, a 77 percent rise, according to the federal data. Jun 27, 2023[/i] 1% of 7,624 = 76 dead people. That's not so bad, right?

It might be bad if you or a loved one were one of the 76.
And it may depend on the denominator - if it's 1% of all traffic fatalities, it'll be closer to 5,000 per year.
And what's in the numerator? If we look only at pedestrian deaths at "right turn allowed on red light" intersections who were crossing on a green (or "walk") light, how many deaths? Half of the 7,624? 10%?
And have deaths at "right turn allowed on red light" intersections risen faster or slower that all pedestrian deaths?
I wonder if those responsible for pedestrian fatalities at "right turn allowed on red light" intersections would drive more safely if the law were changed? Or if pedestrians would be less careful if they were more confident a driver would not blow through the red light and run them down?

-Eric

druthven

SteveFranz wrote:

It all has to do with the bad attitudes of the drivers here. I have vacationed in Canada and Iceland over the past few years. One thing that has REALLY impressed me - drivers there will stop if you even look like you want to cross the street. Doesn't matter if it's a corner crosswalk, or a crosswalk in the middle of the block. Drivers WILL stop for you.

Just spent 2 weeks in Paris and the same behavior applies. Also the traffic in the expressways was very polite. This last Saturday I witnessed some of the most reckless driving I have ever seen while driving interstate 45 between Houston and Galveston. Cars weaving back and forth across three lanes while at at least 15 mph above the limit and motorcyclists standing on their seats at 70 mph.

druthven

Eric2018 wrote:

It might be bad if you or a loved one were one of ... (show quote)

If we could ticket those offenders it sure help the city budget. Stop signs also, even a rolling stop has become a rarity.

Finn Man Loc: wisconsin

To deal with people talking and not looking just blow your horn...K.A.N.

kb6kgx Loc: Simi Valley, CA

bob7fred wrote:

Check the state driving manual. It most likely is stop and procede.

add: "… when safe to do so."

kb6kgx Loc: Simi Valley, CA

jerryc41 wrote:

Yes! It's rare to see someone walking without looking at a phone. I saw a man walking alongside a busy highway yesterday. He was walking with his head down, looking at his phone. What I find annoying is people walking slowly through parking lots and looking at their phones.

I have had cell phones for 20 years. A "smart phone" for, maybe ten years. I have NEVER, not even once, walked anywhere while staring at my phone. I don't understand people who walk around staring at their phones like zombies. I don't get that at all. What is so $#$!!@# important that it can't wait until they sit down somewhere?

WILLARD98407 Loc: TACOMA, WA.

in Washington the law says that we are able to make a right turn at a red LIGHT after stopping and verifying that the intersection is clear of traffic and peds.

the law also states that if you are stopped by a red ARROW there is no free turn allowed. The red arrow specifically controls the right turn. People who are ignorant of the law just cruise on through the red arrow as if it weren't even there.

Some like to exercise their electrical noise-making safety device because they are annoyed at someone actually waiting for the red arrow to turn green.

first a toot. then two toots. then a blast. (some skip the first two stages of protest and go directly to the blast)

uneducated dolts..

it's on the driving test.

(maybe not the KMart version)

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

druthven wrote:

Just spent 2 weeks in Paris and the same behavior applies. Also the traffic in the expressways was very polite. This last Saturday I witnessed some of the most reckless driving I have ever seen while driving interstate 45 between Houston and Galveston. Cars weaving back and forth across three lanes while at at least 15 mph above the limit and motorcyclists standing on their seats at 70 mph.

Competitors for the Darwin Award.

Eyes Loc: Buffalo, NY

pbearperry wrote:

Pedestrians crossing while looking at their phones are also part of the problem.

Oh Man!! SO True!! Of course that's not the only time, but one of the very Worst!

kb6kgx Loc: Simi Valley, CA

jerryc41 wrote:

Competitors for the Darwin Award.

I’ve seen the motorcycle riders you mention. We call those idiots “organ donors”.

stanikon Loc: Deep in the Heart of Texas

alberio wrote:

Much better than a left turn on red.

Left turn on red is legal under some circumstances. For example, when turning left onto a one-way street. Stopping first is still mandatory, of course.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

stanikon wrote:

Left turn on red is legal under some circumstances. For example, when turning left onto a one-way street. Stopping first is still mandatory, of course.

Right! Those situations are few and far between, though.