Res. No. 1844-A Title Resolution calling upon the appropriate committee of the City Council to hold hearings on a pilot program to allow motor vehicles to legally make right turns at red signals in Richmond County and calling upon the Legislature of the State of New York to pass S.1763 and A.6819, which would legalize right turns by motor vehicles at red signals in Richmond County. Body By Council Member O'Donovan Whereas, State Vehicle and Traffic Law section 1111(d)(2) permits motor vehicles in New York State, except in New York City, to make a right turn at a red signal after coming to a complete stop and ensuring that such turn may safely be made so long as there is no sign specifically prohibiting such turn; and Whereas, One of the goals in allowing motor vehicles to legally make right turns at red signals is to improve the flow of vehicular traffic where such turning can be safely accommodated; and Whereas, The prohibition against making right turns at red signals in New York City contained in the Vehicle and Traffic Law should be reexamined with regard to its application to Richmond County, due to the fact that vehicular and pedestrian traffic patterns in Richmond County are substantially lighter than is the norm in New York City; and Whereas, Such lighter traffic volume in Richmond County is unique to New York City in that it allows more opportunities for a safe "right turn on red" than virtually anywhere else in New York City; and Whereas, Although not directly comparable to New York City, statistics for 1999 obtained from the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles relating to vehicular accidents involving vehicles making right turns at red signals at urban locations in New York State, other than New York City, indicate that making right turns at red signals accounted for only a very small portion of total vehicular accidents, as demonstrated by the fact that in 1999 there were only 320 such accidents out of a total of 160,933; and Whereas, Continued application of the prohibition against making right turns at red signals in Richmond County which has particularly light pedestrian and vehicular traffic is inconsistent with the spirit of the state Vehicle and Traffic Law which specifically provides for such turning to be legal in jurisdictions throughout New York State with comparable traffic patterns; and Whereas, The existence of such traffic patterns in Richmond County makes the timing ripe for a "Right on Red" pilot program in Richmond County; and Whereas, the legislature of the State of New York is currently considering two bills, S.1763, introduced by Senator John Marchi, and A.6819, introduced by Assemblyman Eric Vitaliano, which would legalize right turns at red signals in Richmond County; now, therefore, be it Resolved, that the appropriate committee of the City Council hold hearings on a pilot program to allow motor vehicles to legally make right turns at red signals in Richmond County and calling upon the Legislature of the State of New York to pass S.1763 and A.6819, which would legalize right turns by motor vehicles at red signals in Richmond County. |10
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