Ottawa Prohibit Right Turns on Red?

A growing call to improve road safety in Ottawa has reignited debate over whether drivers should be allowed to turn right at red lights.

Cycling advocates are urging the City of Ottawa to outlaw right-on-red turns across the city, while one councillor is formally exploring a targeted ban at busy downtown intersections.

Cycling advocates are urging the City of Ottawa to outlaw right-on-red turns across the city,

Councillor Ariel Troster recently filed an inquiry with the city’s Public Works and Transportation Committee asking staff to examine the idea of “strategically banning” right turns on red within municipal limits. Troster wants to know how many intersections already prohibit the maneuver, what criteria determine those restrictions, and how often right-on-red turns contribute to collisions.

“What concerns me is the inconsistency — some intersections ban it, others don’t,” Troster said in a social media video explaining the request.

Safety Concerns from Cycling Advocates

Florence Lehmann, president of Bike Ottawa, told CTV’s Your Morning Ottawa that right turns on red prioritize vehicle convenience over the safety of people walking and cycling.

“When drivers are turning right on red, they’re usually watching for cars from the left, not for the cyclists or pedestrians coming up on their right,” Lehmann explained.

She said the safest approach would be a city-wide ban, rather than a patchwork of rules that change from one intersection to the next. “Make it simple — do it everywhere. It’s a no-brainer.”

Lehmann also urged the city to lower speed limits and fully commit to the Vision Zero road safety framework, which aims to eliminate deaths and serious injuries on streets. Slower traffic, she said, means fewer severe outcomes when crashes happen.

A Triggering Incident

Troster’s request follows a July collision in which a cyclist was struck by a driver turning right at the intersection of Elgin and Lisgar Streets.

While the province’s Highway Traffic Act allows drivers to turn right after stopping at a red light (unless a sign says otherwise), municipalities can choose to restrict the maneuver in certain locations. Troster wants Ottawa to review its approach before deciding whether to expand those bans.

“Some people worry this could slow down traffic,” Troster said. “But we need facts before we decide how to move forward.”