The decision by City Council to prohibit right turns on a red light at the intersection of McRae Drive and Millwood Rd. will no doubt give some comfort to local residents. The deep wound caused by the death of Georgia Walsh at this intersection in July remains painful. The motion was sponsored by John Parker (Ward 26) and found wide support. It is of interest that the right turn on red has had growing acceptance throughout North America in the last 40 years because of the cost of fuel. Cars that sit at intersections for a shorter time burn less fuel. Still, the logic of the right hand turn is open to serious discussion. Drivers making such turns must account for traffic on the left. It is a difficult job when there are pedestrians lingering on the curb at the right. The right turn on red is as old as driving in Ontario and dates from a time when gasoline was 25 cents a gallon. In the U.S. all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico have allowed right turns on red since 1978 in response to the shortages of the early 1970s. In Canada right turns on red are permitted in all provinces although the Island of Montreal continues a ban against them. No right turn on red at McRae and Millwood
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The decision by City Council to prohibit right turns on a red light at the intersection of McRae Drive and Millwood Rd. will no doubt give some comfort to local residents. The deep wound caused by the death of Georgia Walsh at this intersection in July remains painful. The motion was sponsored by John Parker (Ward 26) and found wide support. It is of interest that the right turn on red has had growing acceptance throughout North America in the last 40 years because of the cost of fuel. Cars that sit at intersections for a shorter time burn less fuel. Still, the logic of the right hand turn is open to serious discussion. Drivers making such turns must account for traffic on the left. It is a difficult job when there are pedestrians lingering on the curb at the right. The right turn on red is as old as driving in Ontario and dates from a time when gasoline was 25 cents a gallon. In the U.S. all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico have allowed right turns on red since 1978 in response to the shortages of the early 1970s. In Canada right turns on red are permitted in all provinces although the Island of Montreal continues a ban against them. 