When "right on red" isn't right

• Source: Global Times
• [10:23 May 11 2010]
• Comments

Illustrations: Peter C. Espina

By Tim Gingrich

Let's get one thing clear: This is not an angry rant by a bitter expat. This is not a critique of a sensitive political issue or a particular social ill, nor is it an issue that only affects foreigners - it affects everyone who has ever crossed the street in Beijing on foot.

I am talking about the practice of turning right when the traffic light is red. In traffic terms, it is known as right on red; in real-life terms, it is ridiculous.

Long ago, people realized that when driving on the right side of the road, the car in the right lane can turn right without interfering with cross traffic even when the light is red. The practice is reversed in countries that drive on the left, but the logic remains the same: Why stop and wait at the light when there are no oncoming cars?

Right on red fails to take into account one important factor: pedestrians. In sparsely populated rural areas, the policy makes perfect sense. But in Beijing, it's an accident waiting to happen, literally.

I spoke to a Beijing police officer about this very issue.

"When should I cross the street?" I asked. "When the light turns green, cars are still coming."

"You have to pay attention to the light and also watch for cars," answered the officer.

"So when is the safest time for me to walk across the street?"

"There isn't a 100 percent safe time to cross the street," he replied.

Then the officer politely explained to me that, in fact, right on red does have a little-known, seldom-observed provision for pedestrians: Cars in the right lane may turn right at a red light unless there are pedestrians.

I thanked the officer and, carefully, crossed the street. But then I started thinking, when in Beijing are there ever not pedestrians?

Unfortunately too many of Beijing's spacious sidewalks have been Shanghaied into makeshift parking places for the growing automobile population. Where - and more importantly - when is it safe to walk?

First, we must all recognize that right on red is not suited to a city as crowded as Beijing. That means that drivers need to resist the urge to turn right at red lights - I'm talking about you too motorcycles!

Second, pedestrians must observe the traffic signals and stay within the designated crossings. That means not charging across an intersection just because there are no cars at the moment.

This may seem like a small problem compared to more serious social ills. But with the Shanghai Expo now promoting the concept of "Better City, Better Life," I can think of few problems that are as simple to fix and which promise such immediate returns in quality of life than everyone deciding that right on red is wrong.