Right Turn on Red Could Be Coming to an End in Texas

There has been an increase across Texas, and the country, in the number of people getting injured or even killed crossing an intersection.

A majority of that is due to both pedestrians and motorists simply not paying attention to their surroundings. It doesn't matter how many times we warn someone or reemphasize the dangers of being on a phone while driving, people still do it and the results are deadly.

A practice that is used across the country is being able to make a right turn while a traffic light is red. Some believe this practice could go away because of the increasing number of accidents it's causing.

The Numbers to Back it Up

In 2022, a report by the Governors Highway Safety Association found that more than 7,500 people were either injured or killed by vehicles. In another study, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that the odds of a person being struck by someone driving a pickup truck were 89% higher.

The odds of someone being struck by an SUV were 63% higher. Why? Each vehicle has a larger blind spot (KLTV). People driving those vehicles are not looking at their surroundings and are causing accidents.

Many cities including Washington, D.C., Chicago, and Ann Arbor, have banned the practice in all or certain parts of their city. New York City banned the practice many years ago.

Other cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Denver have looked into similar bans.

While it's not something that is being talked about now in Austin, if accident numbers continue to rise and more studies show it is a problem, the practice could very well come to an end.

In the meantime, put your phone down when behind the wheel, and stop driving like you're the only person on the road.