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No Right Turn On Red: BL2026-1497 An Ordinance to amend Chapter 12.12 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws relative to right turns on red within the Urban Services District and reporting requirements regarding roadway safety. I have filed legislation to prohibit right turns on red within the Urban Services District. This bill is currently on first reading. This proposal is based on years of research and data from Nashville and cities across the country. The reality is that pedestrians and cyclists are dying on our streets, and many of these deaths are preventable. So far this year, nearly 20 pedestrians and cyclists have lost their lives. We have a responsibility to take meaningful action when we know there are policies that can save lives. Prohibiting right turns on red is one of those policies. This is not a new idea. Cities across the country have already implemented this policy or are in the process of doing so. My legislation is also limited in scope. It would apply only within the Urban Services District, not throughout Davidson County. The bill will need to be deferred so it can be reviewed by the Traffic and Parking Commission. I know NDOT has been discussing this since 2024, and Councilmembers have been asked more than once to wait while the department considered implementing it administratively. I appreciate that work, but at some point we have to act. Government processes can move slowly, especially when multiple departments are involved. Unfortunately, every delay means we risk another preventable tragedy. This is also about more than pedestrian education. We constantly tell people to use crosswalks, obey traffic signals, and pay attention. The truth is that many people who are hit by vehicles were doing exactly what they were supposed to do. I know because it almost happened to me. I was leaving the Council office and walking to WeGo Central. I had the walk signal and was legally in the crosswalk when a driver made a right turn on red. The driver was focused on looking for a gap in traffic. He never looked in my direction and came within inches of hitting me. He drove away without ever realizing how close he came. That is exactly why this legislation matters. Right turns on red require drivers to focus on finding an opening in vehicle traffic, and too often pedestrians and cyclists become an afterthought. We should not wait until another family loses a loved one before taking action. We have the research, we have examples from other cities, and we have the opportunity to make our streets safer. It’s time to act.
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