A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to permit left turns on red at certain intersections in raleigh.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 20‑158(b) reads as rewritten:
"(b)	Control of Vehicles at Intersections. – 
(1)	When a stop sign has been erected or installed at an intersection, it shall be unlawful for the driver of any vehicle to fail to stop in obedience thereto and yield the right‑of‑way to vehicles operating on the designated main‑traveled or through highway. When stop signs have been erected at three or more entrances to an intersection, the driver, after stopping in obedience thereto, may proceed with caution.
(2)	 When a steady or strobe beam stoplight is emitting a red light controlling traffic passing through an intersection, an approaching vehicle facing the red light shall come to a stop and shall not enter the intersection. After coming to a complete stop and unless prohibited by an appropriate sign, that approaching vehicle may turn under one of the following conditions:
a.	That vehicle may make a right turn. The turning vehicle shall yield the right‑of‑way to pedestrians and to other traffic using the intersection.
b.	If that vehicle is in the leftmost lane of travel on a one‑way street that intersects with another one‑way street with traffic traveling from the turning driver's right to the turning driver's left, then that vehicle may enter the intersection and make a left turn into the extreme left‑hand lane lawfully available to traffic. The turning vehicle shall yield the right‑of‑way to pedestrians and to other traffic using the intersection.
(2a)	When a stoplight is emitting a steady yellow circular light on a traffic signal controlling traffic passing straight through an intersection or a steady yellow arrow light on a traffic signal controlling traffic turning at an intersection, vehicles facing the yellow light are warned that the related green light is being terminated or a red light will be immediately forthcoming. When the stoplight is emitting a steady green light, vehicles may proceed with due care through the intersection subject to the rights of pedestrians and other vehicles as may otherwise be provided by law.
(3)	When a flashing red light has been erected or installed at an intersection, approaching vehicles facing the red light shall stop and yield the right‑of‑way to vehicles in or approaching the intersection. The right to proceed shall be subject to the rules applicable to making a stop at a stop sign.
(4)	When a flashing yellow light has been erected or installed at an intersection, approaching vehicles facing the yellow flashing light may proceed through the intersection with caution, yielding the right‑of‑way to vehicles in or approaching the intersection.
(5)	When a stop sign, stoplight, flashing light, or other traffic‑control device authorized by subsection (a) of this section requires a vehicle to stop at an intersection, the driver shall stop at (i) an appropriately marked stop line, or if none, (ii) before entering a marked crosswalk, or if none, (iii) before entering the intersection at the point nearest the intersecting street where the driver has a view of approaching traffic on the intersecting street."
SECTION 2.  The Department of Transportation shall collect data regarding pedestrians who are involved in accidents at intersections because of a driver's failure to yield the right‑of‑way while turning right at a red light.  The data shall include information regarding the number of disabled pedestrians, including individuals with visual or mobility‑related disabilities, who are involved in right turn on red accidents. The Department shall report the data to the Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee beginning January 1, 2006.  The Transportation Oversight Committee shall make recommendations to the 2008 Regular Session of the 2007 General Assembly regarding the appropriate number of drivers license points that should be assessed against a driver who fails to yield to a pedestrian while turning right at a red light.
The Transportation Oversight Committee may study whether to allow vehicles to make a left turn on a red light. If the Committee studies the issue of left turn on red, it shall consult with representatives of disabled individuals and shall take into consideration any increased risk to pedestrians that allowing left turn on red may create.
SECTION 3.  The Department of Transportation, as part of any regularly scheduled updates, shall revise the written portion of the drivers license examination and any publications related to obtaining a drivers license to reflect the changes in Sections 1 and 2 of this act.
SECTION 4.  The Department of Transportation, counties, and municipalities are encouraged to provide public service announcements on television and radio informing the public of the provisions of this act.  The public service announcements should be scheduled to occur during times most likely to reach a broad audience.
SECTION 5.  This act shall apply only to the following intersections in the City of Raleigh:
	Salisbury and Jones Streets
	Salisbury and Lane Streets
	Wilmington and Jones Streets
	Wilmington and Lane Streets.
SECTION 6.  This act becomes effective December 1, 2005, and expires on July 1, 2008.