Safety Gets a Boost in Midtown with "No Turn on Red" Signs
06/04/2026
In a major step toward improving safety for all roadway users, especially for pedestrians and other non-motorized users, the Atlanta Department of Transportation is actively installing “No Turn on Red” signs throughout Midtown and Downtown. This is an important component of helping the City achieve its Vision Zero goal of eliminating all traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2040.
Atlanta City Council District 4 representative Jason Dozier said in a statement about the effort:
"As Atlanta continues to experience a rise in pedestrian injuries and fatalities, we must take meaningful steps to make our streets safer for everyone who walks, bikes, and drives in our city. Restricting right turns on red in our most pedestrian-heavy neighborhoods is a commonsense safety measure designed to reduce conflicts at intersections, protect crosswalks, and prioritize the safety of residents and visitors alike. This effort reflects our broader commitment to creating a city where people can move through their communities safely and with dignity."
What is Dangerous About Motorists Turning Right on Red?
Research shows that allowing right turns on red creates significant risks for the people most vulnerable in crashes—those getting around on foot, using wheelchairs, riding bicycles, and traveling by scooter. When drivers make a right on red, their attention is typically focused on oncoming traffic from the left, rather than on people crossing the street. With their focus pulled away from these users, drivers are more likely to turn into people who have the signal to cross, increasing the risk of serious collisions. Frequently, drivers attempting to turn on red will block the crosswalk as the creep out to look for gaps in oncoming traffic. This forces pedestrians to dangerously walk into traffic to get around the vehicle.
Midtown Alliance has already installed dozens of “No Turn on Red” signs as part of traffic signal and corridor projects recently completed along Juniper Street, 5th Street, and 13th Street. Upon completion of this initiative, nearly every right turn at a signalized intersection in the core of Midtown will have this safety feature in place.