The Atlanta City Council is at the crossroads of a decision that could see the prohibition of right turns on red in key parts of the city. The discussion, which has roused a mix of support and concern from council members and the public alike, zeroes in on the bustling areas of Downtown Atlanta, Midtown, and the Castleberry Hill neighborhood. The legalese has been checked, the city’s lawyers have given the thumbs up, stating the proposed ban is legally sound, as reported by Fox 5 Atlanta.
Driving a hard bargain for the initiative, council members like Jason Dozier argue that safety trumps convenience. Dozier was recently quoted by 11Alive saying, "It is the heart of our city and we want to make sure that people feel safe crossing the street." The striving for safeguarding pedestrians comes off the back of alarming statistics: pedestrian accidents have jumped 23%, and Atlanta united with 38 pedestrian deaths in the previous year alone.
Supporters from outside the council chambers, like Propel ATL, have voiced their agreement. The group's Executive Director, Rebecca Serna, highlighted the urgency by stating to Fox 5 Atlanta, "Turning right on red poses significant risks to the most vulnerable...people in wheelchairs, seniors, and people on bikes and scooters." Such endorsement of the proposal is clear; the mission is to reclaim streets for those not ensconced in the steel shells of motor vehicles.
Yet, not all council members are on board. Antonio Lewis heeded a warning, insisting that the enactment of such a ban could be a catalyst for more traffic stops and racial profiling. In a statement to Fox 5 Atlanta, he soberly reminded, "We know that traffic stops have led to Black folks dying, particularly in this city right here." Swirling around the debate are also practical concerns of massive traffic jams, delineated by Council member Keisha Waites to Fox 5 Atlanta, "like the Hyatt and the Hilton, we would be sitting there forever trying to make a right turn" on streets such as Baker.
In the wings are other cities that have dabbled in similar traffic reforms. Raleigh, North Carolina, and Washington, D.C., serve as predecessors, having already limited right turns at red in their respective downtowns. The Atlanta City Council, after much deliberation, has opted to put the pedal to the metal on further discussions, not yet ready to give the measure the green light.
