Right on Red (Boston, Cambridge, Brookline: cost, law, dangerous)

[G-fused]

Guessing a lot have heard that Cambridge is banning right turns on red lights. It's a busy place so I personally agree but it does bring up the many other areas that are busy (e.g. Parts of Brookline, Boston Proper, etc.). I know, some corners already dissalow it with signs and such. Just might be something worth considering overall for some other busy towns/cities. I mean there are plenty of corners in Cambridge that are not so busy but it is an overall ban.

https://www.boston.com/news/local-ne...red-cambridge/

[bostongymjunkie]

Cambridge actively enforces its traffic laws. Boston generally does not. And, given their manpower problem, likely won't be doing a lot of traffic enforcement over the near future.

[matrix5k]

Originally Posted by bostongymjunkie

Cambridge actively enforces its traffic laws. Boston generally does not. And, given their manpower problem, likely won't be doing a lot of traffic enforcement over the near future.

Traffic rules are optional in Boston. People run so many red lights, drive the opposite way on one way streets, do illegal U-turns. I never see them get pulled over.

[porterhouse]

Originally Posted by bostongymjunkie

Cambridge actively enforces its traffic laws.

Ummm, Cambridge absolutely does NOT actively enforce traffic laws. I have been part of city meetings (accessible to all vie the open meeting portal), where this has been acknowledged and discussed. CPD feels that however they enforce traffic laws, they will be accused of bias. Therefore traffic laws are rarely enforced in the city.

[bostongymjunkie]

Originally Posted by porterhouse

Ummm, Cambridge absolutely does NOT actively enforce traffic laws. I have been part of city meetings (accessible to all vie the open meeting portal), where this has been acknowledged and discussed. CPD feels that however they enforce traffic laws, they will be accused of bias. Therefore traffic laws are rarely enforced in the city.

I could see how that would now be a recent trend. Historically, though, you're much more likely to have been stopped for a traffic violation in Cambridge than in Boston.

[Amontillado]

What are the state laws that govern what a city is allowed to do, as far as local variations from overall laws are concerned? I mean, if the state traffic regulations say "Right turn on red is legal except where a sign specifically forbids it" then can Cambridge say "We don't need 'No turn on red' signs, except when you enter our city"? Or maybe Cambridge will just put up the signs on every traffic light anyway, so they'd be conforming to the law. That'll cost some money, but if they can afford the traffic lights, I suppose they can spend a few bucks more to put up the signs.

[htfdcolt]

Originally Posted by G-fused

Guessing a lot have heard that Cambridge is banning right turns on red lights. It's a busy place so I personally agree but it does bring up the many other areas that are busy (e.g. Parts of Brookline, Boston Proper, etc.). I know, some corners already dissalow it with signs and such. Just might be something worth considering overall for some other busy towns/cities. I mean there are plenty of corners in Cambridge that are not so busy but it is an overall ban.

https://www.boston.com/news/local-ne...red-cambridge/

I bet this has to do with the concurrent push for bike lanes throughout Cambridge. Right turns are already dangerous to bicyclists, right turns on red, even more so.

[bostongymjunkie]

Originally Posted by Amontillado

What are the state laws that govern what a city is allowed to do, as far as local variations from overall laws are concerned? I mean, if the state traffic regulations say "Right turn on red is legal except where a sign specifically forbids it" then can Cambridge say "We don't need 'No turn on red' signs, except when you enter our city"? Or maybe Cambridge will just put up the signs on every traffic light anyway, so they'd be conforming to the law. That'll cost some money, but if they can afford the traffic lights, I suppose they can spend a few bucks more to put up the signs.

The state law says you may turn right on red except where otherwise directed by a police officer, device or sign. I don't think a state court will uphold a ticket issued under that law if it's not posted. I suppose they could issue city ordinance violations, but that would be ridiculous. NYC and DC also ban right on red. This proposal is the result of too many drivers of cars, and bikes, who do not pay close attention to their driving. At some point we need to get at the roots of problems rather than legislate ourselves out of them.

[jtolpin]

Put no turn on red signs at all lights in cambridge. Enforce the rules.

[porterhouse]

Originally Posted by jtolpin

Put no turn on red signs at all lights in cambridge.

They will

Originally Posted by jtolpin

Enforce the rules.

They won't


Cambridge is all about optics and PR. The right on red ordinance will be enforced about as much as the city wide speed limit instituted several years ago has been (not at all).