State Highway Administration - Urban Core and Urban Center Traffic Control Devices - No Turn on Red
HB0381 would require the State Highway Administration to install “no turn on red” traffic control devices at intersections on State highways located in urban cores and urban centers, as defined by the Administration’s Context Driven Guide, where traffic signals are in use. The mandate would apply on or before July 1, 2029, and would cover intersections where drivers would otherwise be allowed to make a right turn on red after stopping.
The bill also amends the Maryland Vehicle Law to clarify that a right turn on red is permitted only when no traffic control device prohibiting the turn is in place. It preserves the existing rule allowing right turns on red, but creates a specific statewide requirement for the Highway Administration to post prohibitory signage in the designated urban areas, with an exception where the Administration determines that installation would significantly impair public safety.
If enacted, the bill would add a new section to the Transportation Article requiring the State Highway Administration to identify and sign intersections in urban cores and urban centers with no-turn-on-red restrictions. It would also update the general right-on-red statute to reflect that a posted traffic control device can prohibit the maneuver. The practical effect would be to expand traffic regulation and signage obligations on state highways in dense urban areas, while affecting drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, and local traffic patterns at those intersections.
The bill’s available history shows no recorded committee testimony or votes, and it was ultimately withdrawn by the sponsor in the House. Based on the bill text, the measure appears aimed at improving safety and traffic management in dense urban settings, suggesting a policy rationale likely centered on pedestrian and intersection safety. Because there is no recorded debate in the provided materials, the overall sentiment cannot be measured from votes or testimony, but the sponsor’s withdrawal indicates the proposal did not advance.
The main point of contention is likely the balance between safety and traffic flow. Supporters would favor restricting right turns on red in urban cores and urban centers to reduce conflicts with pedestrians, cyclists, and cross traffic, while opponents may view the mandate as overly broad, burdensome, or disruptive to vehicle movement and local commerce. The bill itself builds in a safety-based exception allowing the Administration to skip installation at specific intersections if it would significantly impair public safety, which suggests concern about site-specific conditions and implementation discretion.