Staten Island Lawmaker Pushes for 'Right on Red' Exemption Amid Safety Concerns
A Staten Island council member has introduced legislation to study lifting the borough's right-on-red ban, a move that could give drivers more flexibility but raise concerns over pedestrian safety. Councilman Frank Morano, a Republican, argues that Staten Island is uniquely different from other parts of New York City and should be exempted from the rule.
Morano points out that while most of the country allows drivers to turn right at red lights as long as they make a complete stop and check for incoming traffic, Staten Island's traffic patterns are distinct. He believes that certain intersections in the borough, particularly those with high volumes of traffic or limited visibility, could be safe havens for right turns.
The proposed study would examine specific intersections where lifting the ban could pose no safety risks. Morano has identified several areas, including Annadale, as potential candidates for inclusion. However, some residents are opposed to the idea, citing concerns over the safety of pedestrians, especially children.
For example, Christine Devito expressed her opposition to allowing right turns on red lights at an intersection near Tottenville High School, where hundreds of kids cross the street every day. "The high school's right there and there's always kids crossing the street here," she said. "As much as I would love to be able to turn right on red, it's more important for the kids to be safe."
Meanwhile, some drivers believe that the ban actually makes areas more hazardous because they feel pressured to rush through intersections before the light changes. Tony Forna, a local motorist, pointed out that when he waits at lights and observes how other drivers behave, he realizes that the ban can create danger for pedestrians.
The city's transportation department has stated that right turns are allowed at red lights in 305 locations across the city, with 186 of those intersections located on Staten Island. The DOT argues that these areas have clear visibility and sufficient gaps in traffic to allow safe turning.
Morano disputes this view, saying that he is not pushing for an ideological stance but rather a practical solution based on engineering, safety data, and real-world traffic conditions on Staten Island, which differ from those of the rest of the city.
A Staten Island council member has introduced legislation to study lifting the borough's right-on-red ban, a move that could give drivers more flexibility but raise concerns over pedestrian safety. Councilman Frank Morano, a Republican, argues that Staten Island is uniquely different from other parts of New York City and should be exempted from the rule.
Morano points out that while most of the country allows drivers to turn right at red lights as long as they make a complete stop and check for incoming traffic, Staten Island's traffic patterns are distinct. He believes that certain intersections in the borough, particularly those with high volumes of traffic or limited visibility, could be safe havens for right turns.
The proposed study would examine specific intersections where lifting the ban could pose no safety risks. Morano has identified several areas, including Annadale, as potential candidates for inclusion. However, some residents are opposed to the idea, citing concerns over the safety of pedestrians, especially children.
For example, Christine Devito expressed her opposition to allowing right turns on red lights at an intersection near Tottenville High School, where hundreds of kids cross the street every day. "The high school's right there and there's always kids crossing the street here," she said. "As much as I would love to be able to turn right on red, it's more important for the kids to be safe."
Meanwhile, some drivers believe that the ban actually makes areas more hazardous because they feel pressured to rush through intersections before the light changes. Tony Forna, a local motorist, pointed out that when he waits at lights and observes how other drivers behave, he realizes that the ban can create danger for pedestrians.
The city's transportation department has stated that right turns are allowed at red lights in 305 locations across the city, with 186 of those intersections located on Staten Island. The DOT argues that these areas have clear visibility and sufficient gaps in traffic to allow safe turning.
Morano disputes this view, saying that he is not pushing for an ideological stance but rather a practical solution based on engineering, safety data, and real-world traffic conditions on Staten Island, which differ from those of the rest of the city.
I'm like totally torn about this one! On one hand, I get it - some areas in Staten Island can be super crazy with traffic, and it's gotta be hard to navigate at times 
But on the other hand, right turns on red lights do sound like a game-changer for people who just wanna move around without stressing out about pedestrians 
I mean, Christine Devito makes some really valid points about keeping the kids safe, and Tony Forna's point about drivers feeling pressured to rush through intersections is so true 
then I'm all for giving Staten Island some flexibility 
What do u think tho? Should right turns on red lights be allowed in NYC?
But seriously, I think it's a bit too much to lift this ban altogether. I mean, Staten Island is a busy place and accidents can happen anywhere. That being said, some of these intersections do seem like they could be safe for drivers to make turns, especially if there are clear visibility issues. I just wish the city would consider more alternatives than just lifting the rule, like installing those fancy new pedestrian bridges or traffic calming measures... 
Those areas near Tottenville High School do seem like they'd be super busy with kids running to and fro.
. Like, how often are there actually cars coming from the opposite direction? How many pedestrians are we talking about here? The city's gotta show us that it's safe for both drivers and pedestrians before even considering making a change.
. Morano is trying to do what he thinks is best for Staten Island, but others are worried about the safety of pedestrians, especially kids. It makes me think that sometimes we gotta weigh our own needs against what's important for those around us 
! But at the same time, it's hard not to feel frustrated when someone is trying to impose their will on others. It's like finding that balance between being yourself and thinking about how your actions might affect others 
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. We gotta consider all the factors before making a decision, or we might end up causing more problems than we solve 
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. Those kids are always crossing the street and it feels like it could get messy if drivers start turning right on red 
. At the same time, I feel for drivers who have to rush through intersections because of the ban 
. Morano's idea has some merit but we need more data before making any changes 
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Staten Island's right-on-red ban is outdated. It's time to rethink the rule, especially if it's causing drivers to speed up in other areas 
cuz they're worried about pedestrian safety esp kids 
like Christine Devito she's literally saying that the high school is right there & kids are always crossin the street & it's more important 4 dem 2 b safe. 
also Tony Forna says dat waitin at red lights makes ppl feel pressured 2 rush thru intersections & it gets pretty hairy 
so idk man, Morano seems like he's tryna find a solution but its hard 2 say if it'll really make things safer or not 
it's not like staten islanders are reckless drivers or anything lol. but seriously, morano makes some valid points about our unique traffic patterns here. i mean, have you ever driven around annadale during rush hour? it's chaos! and yeah, maybe the ban is a bit too restrictive for areas with high pedestrian traffic... like, hello, tottenville high school 
. on the other hand, morano's not saying let's just throw caution to the wind here. he's proposing some serious studies and data-driven decisions. maybe it's time for us to rethink our approach to traffic management?
especially kids who have to cross the street every day? its just not worth the risk 
and im not sure i agree with morano that certain areas are unique to staten island 
. I mean, can't we find a middle ground? What if they implemented a pilot program to test lifting the ban in specific intersections, and then reassess the safety concerns? That way, we're not sacrificing one group's needs for another 
i mean if u can safely make ur turn without hitting any1 or any car then whats da big deal 
if ur worried bout pedestrian safety jus add some cameras or sumthin 
. Morano says it's all about "engineering" and "safety data", but I'm calling BS. This is just another case of a politician listening to special interest groups instead of doing what's actually best for the community 
I gotta correct you - it's actually "right-on-red" not just "right on red". Anyway, I think Morano's idea has some merit, but he needs to do more research on this one 
. Like, if drivers can't wait a sec before turning right, that's not the pedestrian's problem 
. It's kinda hard to imagine how that could be safe for anyone, you know? 