Raleigh police have yet to cite anyone for illegally making a right turn at red lights in downtown Raleigh

Raleigh police have yet to cite any drivers since the decision in March to disallow drivers to legally make right turns on red lights on downtown streets.

Crews installed the "no turn on red" signs at every signaled downtown intersection by late April.

City leaders also voted in September 2022 to drop the city’s downtown speed limit from 35 mph to 25 mph.

"The no right on red will have an impact on drivers," said John Niffenegger, the city of Raleigh federal programs and strategic planning manager. "It will decrease efficiency, although it will be minor.

"The whole fatal crash that started this whole process, it involves a vehicle turning right on red."

In October 2022, Susan Woodson, the wife of N.C. State University Chancellor, Randy Woodson, was hit on Hargett Street and South Salisbury Street.

“It broke my leg in three different places,” Susan Woodson said.

A few years ago, Gov. Roy Cooper directed the NCDOT to review crashes and pedestrian safety after a 2019 crash killed a state employee.

The new rules have only been in place a couple months.

“It does not surprise me, and here’s why, generally, we try to take a soft approach, whenever we make a change such as this,” Niffenegger said.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation said it is too early to know if the traffic change is making it safer for pedestrians.

Will we see more of these traffic calming programs in other areas of the city? City leaders said they would consider areas with lots of pedestrians like around the N.C. State campus and the Village District.