Region of Waterloo to ban right turns on red lights at some intersections during pilot project

Drivers may need to adjust their plans as a new pilot program could change the way they get around the region. CTV’s Krista Simpson explains.

The Region of Waterloo could soon be launching a new pilot project at intersections known for collisions involving pedestrians.

On Tuesday, regional councillors on the Sustainability, Infrastructure and Development committee voted to move ahead with the initiative that will ban drivers from turning right during red lights at 12 intersections:

Cambridge

• Franklin Boulevard and Glamis Road/Robson Avenue
• Water Street at Park Hill Road
• Ainslie Street at Main Street
• Hespeler Road at Eagle Street / Pinebush Road

Kitchener

• Fairway Road at Wilson Avenue
• Fairway Road at Lackner Boulevard/Fairway Crescent
• Benton Street / Frederick Street at King Street
• Victoria Street at Lawrence Avenue

Waterloo

• Northfield Drive at Davenport Road
• Weber Street at University Avenue
• University Avenue at Albert Street
• University Avenue at Phillip Street/Commercial Access

Half of the intersections were specifically chosen because they had the highest number of crashes involving pedestrians and drivers who were turning right between 2021 and 2024.

The location with the highest number of collisions was Fairway Road at Wilson Avenue in Kitchener, with four crashes during that time period.

The other intersections were selected because they have a high number of vehicles making right turns and high pedestrian volume.

“It’s both an exciting and a cautious pilot because we understand the implications and the impacts on various road users,” Mathieu Goetzke, Waterloo Region’s commissioner of Transportation Services, said.

The pilot project will last for at least one year and will cost $21,600.

The intersections will be monitored using equipment from Miovision, a Kitchener-based company. The technology will track near misses and other issues between vehicles and pedestrians.

Council will also be keeping a close eye on how the changes impact the flow of traffic.

“I think it’s really important to say if things aren’t going well, we won’t wait for a year to review this,” Waterloo Region Chair Karen Redman said.

Currently, 19 intersections in Waterloo Region already have a ban on right turns during red lights.

Council still needs to green light the plan. After that, it could start by September 2026.

Safety advocate reacts

National safety organization Parachute advocates for no right hand turns on red lights in high density areas.

“There’s so many different distractions and it does really help when drivers just know they’re at a red light, they can’t turn right,” Valerie Smith, Parachute’s director of road safety programs, said.

Smith said right turns on red were allowed in Canada and the United States in the 1970s as a response to an oil crisis and the desire to keep cars moving.

“Roads are very, very different now than they were in the 1970s,” Smith said. “And we do have people using active transport and walking and cycling and e-scootering. And so I think we need to take a closer look at our roads again and our intersections, because we just want everyone to get home safely.”