Chicago Accident Lawyer Blog
On January 27, 2025, Block Club Chicago reported that a woman was walking across an intersection at Chicago Avenue and Oakley Blvd. in Chicago when she was struck and killed 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse that fled the scene without stopping. According to a witness, the pedestrian women was walking westbound across Oakley Boulevard when the driver came to a stop for a red light and then proceeded to make a right on red when they struck the pedestrian.
The personal injury lawyers of Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. have observed from personal experience that drivers making a right on red is a leading cause of pedestrian injuries. Statistics also indicate right on red has lead to an increase of pedestrian injuries. A 1982 study by the U.S. Department of Transportation found that after the adoption of permissive right-turn-on-red laws, pedestrian accidents increased by 43% to 107%, and bicyclist accidents rose by 72% to 123%. Over half of these incidents involved vehicles turning right on a red signal. In general, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association, pedestrian deaths rose 77% from 2010 to 2022.
Many cities have been re-examining the utility of right on red laws in light of the push for safer intersections for pedestrians. Washington, D.C. has adopted a ban on right on red beginning in 2025. New York City has banned right on red for most of the city. Ann Arbor, Michigan, has prohibited right turns on red in its downtown area. San Francisco has also implemented restrictions in the downtown area and in most all cities in Europe, right on red is not allowed.
Chicago, it the last few years have embarked on an extensive upgrade of infrastructure to make the city safer for pedestrians. The city has constructed “bump-outs” on corners all down Western Ave. and all across the city, designed to give more room for pedestrians and make pedestrians more noticeable. The city has also installed flashing crosswalk signs, raised crosswalks and round a abouts, all designed to slow traffic and make the city safer for pedestrians. The investment runs into the millions of dollars. That is why it is surprising that the city of Chicago has not enacted a general ban on right on red in the city. Right on red has shown to be a major cause of pedestrian injuries and this cause could be easily eliminated by banning right on red in Chicago.
The dangers associated with right turns on red often stem from human behavior. Drivers tend to focus primarily on vehicular traffic from the left, and when left traffic is clear, they accelerate, forgetting to check for pedestrians or cyclists approaching from the right. The personal injury lawyers of Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. have had many clients who have been injured this way. Additionally, Chicago streets are congested and many drivers on Chicago streets are impatient and aggressive. If they are waiting behind someone waiting to make a right on red they may beep and pressure the other driver to be distracted and to proceed without due caution.