Allowing cars to turn right on a red light was not originally adopted for traffic efficiency, but as a desperate fuel conservation measure during the 1970s oil crisis.

A closer look

Allowing cars to turn right on a red light was not originally adopted for traffic efficiency, but as a desperate fuel conservation measure during the 1970s oil crisis. Congress mandated the policy nationwide under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to prevent cars from idling at intersections and burning precious gasoline while doing absolutely nothing. The law worked well enough for fuel economy, but immediately caused a spike in pedestrian accidents because drivers spend more time looking left for oncoming cars than checking right for people in the crosswalk. It remains a hallmark of American road design, prioritizing the uninterrupted flow of metal and combustion over the safety of anyone foolish enough to use their own legs