Councillor asking staff to look into banning right-hand turns at red lights
Posted Aug 11, 2025 06:52:09 AM.
Last Updated Aug 11, 2025 11:12:40 AM.
Should drivers be banned from turning right on red lights in the region?
One regional councillor is floating that idea at the regional horseshoe this week.
Regional Councillor Colleen James will be asking staff to look into the ban during the Sustainability, Infrastructure, and Development Committee meeting on Tuesday.
The motion asks staff to look into the financial impacts, feasibility and implementation of banning right-hand turns at red lights, as well as looking at advanced pedestrian crossing signals. James made clear that the ban would not be across the board, but rather at intersections that have a history of collisions with vehicles and pedestrians.
She said that the goal would be to help improve safety, especially in areas that have seen more collisions between cars and pedestrians.
“I know there have been a few members of the community who have reached out around some intersections,” said James. “The reality is that as we grow, we’re preparing for that growth. It’s not just in the core, but also in the intersections that are outside of our downtown cores.”
She did not mention any specific problem intersections but echoed stories she has heard from the community, including a youth that raised concerns about an intersection in their neighbourhood that is on a regional road.
“Another resident spoke to me about carrying a camera and recording every time they cross the road because they were in fear of cars not looking and incidents where they have had near misses,” said James.
According to the region, 89 per cent of pedestrian collisions happen at signalized intersections, 56 per cent of pedestrians struck by vehicles had the right of way and one in three pedestrian collisions were caused by a turning vehicle.
Collisions involving vehicles and cyclists across the region have also been prevalent this year; last month, two crashes involving cyclists were reported within hours of each other in Kitchener and Waterloo. Earlier this month, a 67-year-old male cyclist was sent to an out-of-region hospital after a collision in Cambridge. Data from the region shows 74 per cent of collisions involving cyclists occur at intersections.
Tuesday’s committee meeting will begin at 9:30 a.m.
