Right Turn On Red (RTOR) movements are generally unsafe for pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers while only “marginally beneficial” in lowering emissions and only under certain contexts, according to a new study.

Right Turn on Red: Energy-Saving Measure or Unsafe Maneuver?, published in December by the Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI) at San Jose University, reviewed data from California right-turn collisions at signalized intersections between 2011 and 2022.

The highest numbers of right-turn collisions for pedestrians and cyclists were located near transit stops and in commercial zones with large parking lots and relatively heavy cross-traffic, according to a case study analysis of Los Angeles intersections. Several had “irregular” designs that could add to driver distraction or confusion. MIT recommended that California allow cities to elect to ban RTOR as the default and then indicate intersections where it would be permitted.

Marginal emission reduction benefits associated with RTOR have declined over the years with improved fuel economy and will likely further decline with increasing adoption of electric vehicles, according to the study. The Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 required states to permit right turns on red lights as an energy-saving measure to receive federal assistance for mandated conservation programs. New York City has long banned right turn on red unless explicitly noted in signage and in recent years, other cities have considered a ban, including Washington, D.C.

The complete 49-page report and research brief are both available via the Mineta Transportation Institute.