In Cambridge, Massachusetts, all intersections now prohibit drivers from making right turns on red lights.
According to Massachusetts law, drivers are usually allowed to make right turns on red lights unless there is a specific “No Turn on Red” sign at the intersection. However, in Cambridge, all traffic lights are now equipped with such prohibition signs.
Two years ago, the Cambridge City Council passed this ban and recently installed the signs at all intersections.
“When drivers make right turns at red lights, they usually only focus on the traffic gap ahead and may not carefully check for pedestrians or cyclists,” said Brooke McKenna, a member of the Cambridge City Council’s Transportation Committee.
In 2022, she and the majority of council members decided to prohibit right turns on red lights for safety reasons. She mentioned that even though 80% of the city’s intersections already comply with the requirement, approximately 225 more prohibition signs still need to be installed.
“This regulation is not statewide. Many people only pass through Cambridge, so clear ‘No Turn on Red’ signs must be implemented,” McKenna stated.
Since 2019, Cambridge has averaged 157 serious traffic accidents requiring emergency response each year. The city government stated that banning right turns on red lights is part of its “zero accident vision,” aimed at saving lives.
“We will not increase enforcement efforts against such violations, but once violations are observed or feedback is received from the community, the Cambridge Police Department (CPD) will enforce penalties,” said the Cambridge Police Department in a statement.
The department also mentioned that it is unable to provide specific statistics on the number of tickets issued for violating the right turn on red light rule since it falls under a broader category of traffic violations.