ATLANTA — Big changes coming for drivers in parts of Atlanta, as city councilmembers voted to restrict right turns on red in several places in key parts of the city.
The goal: To make streets safer for pedestrians and potentially reduce accidents.
“This will have a remarkable positive impact for our pedestrian community,” said Atlanta City Councilmember Jason Dozier as he addressed fellow councilmembers about his legislation to restrict drivers from making a right run at a red traffic light.
During Monday's city council meeting, the group voted 10-3 to limit turns at intersections in Downtown Atlanta, Midtown, and the Castleberry Hill area.
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"It's just the amount of accidents that seem to happen in this specific downtown space around folks being struck by folks who are looking to turn (right on) red.” Atlanta City Councilmember Michael J. Bond said. "They're often looking left, and because they're making their turn, they either run into cyclists or pedestrians."
The ordinance states that since 2010, more than 3,000 Atlanta families have been impacted by right-turn-on red accidents. And that the number of pedestrian deaths rose 23% between 2021 and 2022 -- from 31 to 38. Still, the move is being met with mixed feelings as drivers worry about traffic impacts.
“I feel like it could be a problem. I can understand certain circumstances where it’s needed, but it should not be blanket,” said resident Samuel Huff, who worries about the sections of the city where no turn-on red will be implemented.
“Traffic in Atlanta is bad enough as is. It’s likely to increase noise pollution, it's going to lead to people honking more, people trying to rush to speed for the red," echoed Andre Smith, another Atlanta resident. "It's likely to also pick up. I don’t see that being added in either."
But despite the back and forth, Bond said as the city works to become more pedestrian-friendly, the change is necessary.
“There may be a slowdown of some of the traffic, but when you weigh that against someone’s life or injury, I think it’s worth it,” Bond concluded.
This ordinance does not go into effect immediately. The changes won’t take place until Dec. 31, 2025.