Uptick in Montreal pedestrian fatalities means no right turns on red lights anytime soon
Anyone who's visited Montreal knows that it has its own unique charm and character. From the vibrant Plateau neighbourhood to the elegant Old Port to the grand Mont Royal, it's a city that flaunts its individualism.
What tourists don't always clue in to, however, is that Montreal is the only major city in Canada where it is illegal for drivers to turn right on a red light. Even within its own province this is a unique phenomenon, as Montreal is the only place in Quebec that has such restrictions.
There has been an internal push to change this. Just last December, a group of mayors from demerged municipalities in the Montreal area spoke up about trying to change the laws preventing the 'right on a red' manoeuvre. They argued that doing so could vastly improve the city's traffic flow, and that concerns about safety were not quite as founded as they were made out to be.
But now it's become clear that any change to the regulation won't be coming for the forseeable future. During Tuesday's municipal council meeting, Montreal mayor Denis Coderre formally dismissed the idea, citing the dangers it could pose to pedestrians as his chief reason for shutting it down.
Coderre's decision was largely informed by a joint report that was released recently between the Quebec Transport Ministry and the province's automobile insurance board (the SAAQ). It provided the sobering statistic that Montreal pedestrian fatalities went up 40 per cent in 2016, totalling 63 deaths.
"There has been a decrease in the number of car accidents, but there are still worries concerning pedestrians," said Coderre. "In this context ... it's clear there won't be rights on red in Montreal."