Banning right turns at many red lights to be debated at Vancouver City Hall

A city councillor is arguing that allowing right turns at red lights is too dangerous, and wants to make it illegal at many intersections.

A city councillor is pushing to restrict right turns on red lights at many intersections throughout Vancouver, arguing it’s putting pedestrians and cyclists at risk.

Right turns on reds are legal in B.C. providing drivers stop first and yield, but Coun. Lucy Maloney told CTV News that intersections have become increasingly complex.

“It’s really hard for drivers in the city, they have so much information to take in—they have pedestrian crossings, they have cycling paths, they have too much signage,” she said.

Maloney will bring a motion to council asking staff to examine where right turns on red should be banned.

Pedestrians that CTV News spoke to Friday like the idea, with caveats.

“I think that’s a great idea. But I think, too, that pedestrians also need to take some responsibility,” said Mike Stefureak.

Genesis Miller and Tanner Rogers, who are visiting Vancouver from Quesnel, agree. They noticed very few people looking left and right before crossing streets in downtown Vancouver.

“Nobody really is looking. Nobody is paying attention to really anybody,” said Miller.

“They’re just blindly trusting the lights,” added Rogers.

Maloney says the goal isn’t a city-wide ban, but targeted restrictions in busy areas, particularly where pedestrians get priority.

“It doesn’t make any sense for pedestrians to have a head start and then have motorists cutting across them,” she said.

Council will consider the motion on Dec. 10.