House Republicans are advancing efforts to roll back several of Washington, D.C.’s traffic safety policies, targeting the city’s use of traffic enforcement cameras and its recent ban on right turns at red lights.
Longtime Opposition to Cameras
Traffic cameras have been a point of contention for years. As Streetsblog USA reporter David Meyer explained, House GOP members have repeatedly fought against speed, red-light, stop-sign, school bus stop-arm, and bus priority enforcement cameras. A similar proposal surfaced in 2023 but failed to pass into law.
Despite the opposition, research shows that automated enforcement reduces accidents. A 2014 joint report from the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) and the Metropolitan Police Department found that crashes and injuries dropped in the three years following the installation of new cameras. Advocates say that evidence highlights the effectiveness of cameras in slowing drivers and improving safety in high-risk corridors.
Reversing the Right-on-Red Ban
Republicans are also moving to undo D.C.’s ban on right turns at red lights, a policy enacted to protect pedestrians and cyclists. Safety experts argue that prohibiting such turns decreases the likelihood of collisions between turning vehicles and people crossing intersections.
According to transportation advocates, the measure is particularly important in urban areas with heavy foot traffic, where driver impatience at red lights can quickly turn into dangerous encounters for vulnerable road users.
Federal Takeover of Local Decisions
The renewed push comes as Republicans use the Trump administration’s federal control over D.C. to override local decision-making. Critics note that while Congress has authority over the district, such moves disregard local residents’ priorities and safety concerns.
Advocates warn that removing safety protections could lead to higher risks for pedestrians, cyclists, and even drivers themselves. D.C. has seen traffic deaths climb in recent years, reflecting national trends of worsening roadway safety.
Advocates Respond
Local transportation and pedestrian safety groups strongly oppose the proposals. Jeremiah Lowery, who leads the Bike, Walk and Bus PAC in D.C., criticized the Republican plan as political theater disconnected from evidence.
“These proposals are all about feeling,” Lowery said. “None of it’s based on research, none of it’s based on data.”
He and other advocates stress that automated enforcement and right-on-red bans are evidence-based measures proven to reduce harm. Rolling them back, they argue, would reverse progress made toward creating safer streets.
Broader Debate on Safety vs. Freedom
Republican lawmakers often frame traffic cameras as intrusive or unfair revenue generators, while Democrats and safety advocates counter that the devices save lives. The clash reflects a broader national debate over balancing individual driving freedoms with the collective goal of reducing roadway injuries and fatalities.
For D.C. residents, however, the fight cuts deeper — raising questions about local self-governance and whether Congress should dictate traffic rules in the nation’s capital.
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