New "No Turn on Red" signs arrive in Midtown, Downtown Atlanta. Here's why.

Atlanta is installing new "No Turn on Red" signs in Midtown and Downtown as part of a pedestrian safety initiative aimed at reducing crashes involving people walking, biking and riding scooters in some of the city's busiest corridors.

The signs, approved through a city ordinance championed by Atlanta City Councilman Jason Dozier, are being placed in high-foot-traffic areas where transportation officials say drivers making right turns on red have contributed to serious and sometimes fatal crashes. 

City data shows 27 crashes between 2013 and 2022 that resulted in death or severe injury were linked to drivers turning right at red lights, prompting city leaders to prioritize measures designed to make intersections safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

It's only an hour drive from Canton, Georgia, to Georgia Tech's campus in Midtown Atlanta, but freshman Owen Prisock has noticed quite a difference in getting around the city versus his hometown.

"It's definitely been an adjustment. You have to be very vigilant, especially if you're going across the crosswalk and a car's trying to turn right, especially when they're not supposed to," said Owen Prisock.

He's only had close encounters, but his friend was hit.

"One of my friends got hit by a car a couple of days ago, actually, while he was skateboarding," Prisock said.

He's laughing because his friend is fine, but traffic incidents are no laughing matter to Atlanta's City Council.  That's why they implemented an ordinance to stop right turns at right lights.

"I got really frustrated by the fact that a lot of vehicles were encroaching on crosswalks, so even if I had the pedestrian right of way, with the lights saying hey, you're good to cross, you had a big ole' SUV blocking the way," Dozier said.

Dozier said was hit by a car while he was riding his bike. He pushed for the signs to go up to keep that from happening to others.

"Other cities across the country have been doing it. Washington D.C., Raleigh, NC... cities we consider peer cities have recognized it's important to carve out as much space for pedestrians to keep them safe, and I thought Atlanta should do that as well," Dozier said.

"Unfortunately, and we see that in our city data, folks get that right hook, and it can be catastrophic," Dozier added.

A citation for going right on red can cost you up to $265.