The Evolution Of Right On Red Law

The right on red law, also known as the Right Turn on Red (RTOR) law, was introduced in the 1970s as a fuel-saving measure. California was the first state to pass this law in 1947, and by the end of 1972, 13 states allowed RTOR. The law permits vehicles at a red traffic light to turn into the direction of nearer oncoming traffic after a complete stop, without having to wait for a green signal. While this law has been effective in saving fuel, it has also had detrimental effects on pedestrian safety. As a result, some American localities have implemented bans on turning on red in recent years.

The first RTOR law was passed in California in 1947

The first Right Turn on Red (RTOR) law was passed in California in 1947. This law permitted vehicles at a red traffic light to turn into the direction of traffic nearer to them, provided they first come to a complete stop and yield to cross-street traffic and pedestrians.

The RTOR law was introduced as a fuel-saving measure in the 1970s, although it had detrimental effects on the safety of pedestrians. By the end of 1972, 13 states had adopted generally-permissive RTOR laws, allowing right turns at any intersection unless prohibited by a sign. Four more states passed similar laws in 1973, and another 26 states followed suit between 1974 and 1976 due to the Arab oil embargo and the resultant energy crisis.

In total, it took around 25 years for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico to allow right turns on red, except where prohibited by a sign or controlled by dedicated traffic lights. Notably, Massachusetts, the last state to adopt such a law, ended its ban on January 1, 1980.

By 1972, 13 states allowed RTOR

The right-turn-on-red (RTOR) law was introduced in the 1970s as a fuel-saving measure. By 1972, 13 states allowed RTOR at any intersection unless specifically prohibited by a sign. California was the first state to pass a RTOR law in 1947. By the end of 1972, 12 other states had followed suit: Utah, Oregon, Arizona, Nevada, Washington, Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Minnesota, New Mexico, Hawaii, and Nebraska.

RTOR was a well-known but not universal practice in the United States before 1973. However, it received a considerable boost across the country from 1973 to 1976 due to the Arab oil embargo and a heightened awareness of energy conservation. During these three years, another 26 states adopted generally permissive RTOR laws. By the end of the decade, nearly every state in the country had RTOR laws in place.

The Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 required that, for a state to receive federal assistance in developing conservation programs, they must permit right turns on red lights. This further accelerated the adoption of RTOR laws across the country.

While RTOR has been a longstanding rule of the road in America, it is now coming under scrutiny due to safety concerns. Cities like Atlanta, Denver, and Indianapolis have recently proposed or passed laws banning RTOR in busy downtown areas or citywide due to increasing pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities.

RTOR was introduced as a fuel-saving measure

The "Right Turn on Red" (RTOR) policy was introduced in the 1970s as a fuel-saving measure. Prior to the 1970s, some states already allowed turning right on a red light, but many others, particularly in the eastern US, did not. The oil crises of 1973 and 1979 brought sky-high fuel prices and gas rationing, which, coupled with a challenging economic climate, made citizens more conscious of their energy usage. RTOR was one of several policies that gained popularity across the country as a result.

The Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 required that, to receive federal assistance for developing conservation programs, states must permit right turns on red lights. This led to all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico allowing right turns on red since 1980, except where prohibited by a sign or dedicated traffic lights.

The RTOR policy has been proven to save fuel and reduce emissions by minimising idling time at traffic lights. A study by the Department of Energy found that RTOR saved between 1 and 4.6 seconds (or 9 and 30%) of drivers' time. This was supported by an episode of Discovery Channel's Myth Busters, which proved that eliminating idling time at a red light and permitting right turns increases fuel efficiency exponentially, especially for delivery trucks.

Major package delivery company UPS also found that turning right whenever possible and mapping their routes accordingly saves fuel and reduces emissions. A UPS spokesperson stated that this practice is also safer, as it does not require crossing traffic.

However, RTOR has been found to have detrimental effects on the safety of pedestrians. A 1981 study by the US Department of Transportation found that the frequency of collisions with bicyclists and pedestrians when a vehicle was turning right increased significantly after the adoption of "Western RTOR". The study estimated that pedestrian accidents increased by 43% to 107%, while bicyclist accidents increased by 72% to 123%. A 1984 study found that, where RTOR was allowed, all right-turning crashes increased by about 23%, pedestrian crashes by about 60%, and bicyclist crashes by about 100%.

Connecticut adopted a restrictive RTOR law in 1975

In 1975, Connecticut adopted a restrictive Right-Turn-on-Red (RTOR) law, which allowed a right turn only when a sign specifically authorised the turn. This was in contrast to a generally-permissive RTOR law, which automatically authorises a right turn unless a sign prohibits it.

The RTOR law was introduced as a fuel-saving measure in the 1970s, during a period of heightened awareness of energy conservation in the country. The Arab oil embargo and the resultant energy crisis stimulated considerable interest in RTOR throughout the US. California was the first state to pass a RTOR law in 1947, and by the end of 1972, 13 states allowed RTOR unless specifically prohibited by a sign. Four more states passed the law in 1973, and between 1974 and 1976, another 26 states followed suit. Connecticut was the second-to-last state to adopt a generally-permissive RTOR law in 1978.

The first bill proposing RTOR in Connecticut was introduced in 1973 (HB 5488) by Representative Fabrizio of the 140th District and co-sponsored by Reps. Apthorp of the 45th District and Genovesi of the 12th District. However, the Transportation Committee took no action on it during the 1973 session. In 1975, two RTOR bills were proposed: HB 6484, introduced by Reps. Dzialo and Collins and Sen. Cutillo; and SB 77, raised by the Transportation Committee. After a public hearing on March 24, 1975, the Senate passed SB 77 on May 13, 1975, and the House on May 19. It became PA 75-297.

The implementation of RTOR following the passage of the 1975 law was disappointing to many legislative supporters, as only a small number of intersections were posted with RTOR signs in the first year. This led to the submission of several bills requiring generally-permissive RTOR in the following years. Extensive public hearings were held on RTOR legislation in 1975, 1977, and 1978.

All 50 states have allowed RTOR since 1980

The "Right Turn on Red" (RTOR) law was introduced in the 1970s as a fuel-saving measure. California was the first state to pass a RTOR law in 1947. By the end of 1972, 13 states allowed RTOR at any intersection unless prohibited by a sign. The Arab oil embargo and the resultant energy crisis stimulated considerable interest in RTOR throughout the country from 1974 to 1976. During these three years, another 26 states adopted generally-permissive RTOR laws. By 1976, six states had sign-permissive RTOR laws.

RTOR was a well-known but not universal practice in the United States before 1973. However, it received a considerable boost across the country from 1973 to 1976, largely due to the Arab oil embargo and heightened awareness of energy conservation. While the law requires motorists to come to a full stop and yield to cross-street traffic and pedestrians before turning right on red, many motorists do not fully comply with the regulations.

By 1980, all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico had allowed RTOR, except where prohibited by a sign or where right turns are controlled by dedicated traffic lights. The last state with a right-on-red ban, Massachusetts, ended its ban on January 1, 1980, but about 90% of the traffic signals in the state were outfitted with "no turn on red" signs in preparation for the change.

Some American localities have implemented bans on turning on red in recent years amid a push to reduce pedestrian fatalities and make cities safer for pedestrians and bicyclists.

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