San Francisco to ban turns on red at hundreds of downtown intersections

San Francisco's transportation department last week approved a plan to implement turn-on-red bans at roughly 200 intersections throughout downtown San Francisco.

Why it matters: Turn-on-red crashes account for 20% of pedestrian- or bicycle-related injury crashes involving drivers turning at signal-based intersections, according to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency.

Context: Last week, San Francisco Mayor London Breed pointed to the expansion of turn-on-red bans as a strategy to improve pedestrian safety and prevent " dangerous conflict " in crosswalks.

What they're saying: Luke Bornheimer, who has advocated for right turn on red bans, called the expansion a "critical and overdue improvement." However, he wants these bans to be implemented throughout the city, he said in a written statement.

Yes, but: San Francisco does not have enough workers to implement these bans citywide, which would require the installation of thousands of metal signs, SFMTA director Jeffrey Tumlin told the San Francisco Standard .

• "So our strategy for no-turn-on-red is to now expand incrementally into the downtown and North Beach and South of Market and continue to evaluate," he said.

What to watch: Construction is set to begin this month and continue through August 2025, according to the SFMTA.

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