Got a minute to talk about one of the dumbest things about #traffic in North America?

That's right, I'm talking about how we think it's a good idea to let drivers turn right even if the traffic light is red.

#RTOR is a wrongheaded idea that doesn't serve its intended purpose (saving gas) and demonstrably makes streets more dangerous for everyone.

#SafeStreets #VisionZero #BanRTOR #WalkTooter #BikeTooter

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In the rest of the world, red means 'stop.' But in most of the US and Canada, red can also mean 'stop, then go,' and the 'stop' part is optional*

This is confusing.

*it's not actually optional, but most drivers think it is.
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We build a lot of other really confusing features into our transportation infrastructure, and for some reason believe it's ok because we know how drivers are just SO SMART AND CAREFUL AND ATTENTIVE that everything will work out. The assumption of perfect humans is baked into our manuals and highway codes.

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For example, we'll have "walk" signals illuminated for pedestrians at the same time we give green lights to drivers who want to cross the paths of those very same pedestrians. It's one of the most common causes of pedestrians getting run over at signalized intersections.

But our unique and absurd practice of telling drivers they can *also* cross pedestrians' paths if they have a red light is next level dangerous.

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There are a couple of things that can go wrong when we just let drivers decide if it's safe to go on red.

One is when a driver approaching a red light forgets--as they do--about stopping, and is so preoccupied with looking left for a safe gap to dart into into that they fail to look right to check for crosswalk users who are traveling facing traffic. This can obviously be deadly.

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Another, more insidious but by no means less frustrating, is when would-be right-turners do stop, but they stop *in the crosswalk* so they can get a better view of the traffic they're hoping to turn into. And then they just...sit...and...sit...blocking the whole ass crosswalk.

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And of course the drivers that do both: fly up to the intersection with no intention of stopping or looking for humans before turning, but then realizing there's too much traffic so they have to <gasp> wait their turn even though they're already halfway in the intersection.

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What does all this look like in real time?

I'm glad you asked! Here's one minute, as promised, on why our truly harebrained practice of letting drivers turn right on red needs to effing end.

(CW mild but warranted adult language)

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https://urbanists.video/w/iM2tp6GQFbWica9EsLML2H