NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Nashville could soon prohibit right turns on red at 59 intersections across the city’s busiest pedestrian areas under a proposal moving through Metro Council.

Council member Sandra Sepulveda is leading the push. Her original proposal covered more than 700 intersections across Nashville, but the updated version narrows that down to 59 locations.

“We have had so many pedestrian deaths in a few seconds, which is quite literally a few seconds of people being late, I think, is something that should not affect the possibility of saving a life, right?” Sepulveda said.

Metro Council member Rollin Horton said the targeted intersections were chosen with safety in mind.

“Primarily located in the downtown core, where we have the highest number of pedestrians, as well as in school zone districts, where we have children who we want to make sure are safe walking to school,” Horton said.

The Nashville Department of Transportation says it supports the scaled-back plan. City data shows right turns on red have led to at least 22 pedestrian injuries and one death since the start of 2025.

Horton said the ban aligns with existing city goals.

“This is a proven method, which has been called for both in Nashville’s Vision Zero strategy — which says we should have zero pedestrian deaths in Nashville — as well as our Connect Downtown study, which wants to make downtown a safer and more walkable environment for Nashvilleans,” Horton said.

A 2025 study in Minneapolis found more than 92% of drivers followed the rule at intersections with static “No Right on Red” signs. Cities including New York, Atlanta, Seattle and Jersey City have implemented similar restrictions in busy downtown areas.

Supporters say banning right turns on red gives drivers one less thing to focus on and pedestrians one more layer of protection.

“Well, I have a lot of days where I’m walking home, and somebody almost hits me because they don’t look both ways and they turn on red because they were only looking for oncoming traffic,” the pedestrian said.

Some residents expressed concern off camera that the change could cause traffic backups and confusion. Horton said the impact on drivers would be minimal.

“With the amended legislation, the typical delay any driver could expect is less than 40 seconds if they run into one of these affected intersections. The remainder of intersections in Nashville will remain the same,” Horton said.

The city could also study additional intersections in the months ahead.

The proposal still needs two more Metro Council votes before it can become law. A community meeting on the plan is scheduled for September 22.

Affected intersections:

Signal IDLocation10101st Avenue North/Church Street10201st Avenue South/Demonbreun Street10402nd Avenue South/Chestnut Street10602nd Avenue North/Church Street11202nd Avenue North/Union Street11503rd Avenue North/Church Street11553rd Avenue North/Commerce Street11703rd Avenue South/Demonbreun Street12203rd Avenue North/Union Street12604th Avenue North/Church Street12704th Avenue North/Commerce Street12904th Avenue South/Demonbreun Street12954th Avenue South/Korean Veterans Boulevard1370Rep John Lewis Way N/Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Blvd1380Rep John Lewis Way N/Church Street1390Rep John Lewis Way N/Commerce Street1395Rep John Lewis Way N/Deaderick Street1400Rep John Lewis Way S/Demonbreun Street1430Rep John Lewis Way S/Korean Veterans Boulevard1440Rep John Lewis Way N/Union Street14456th Avenue/Broadway14606th Avenue North/Church Street14906th Avenue South/Demonbreun Street14956th Avenue South/Korean Veterans Boulevard15206th Avenue North/Union Street15307th Avenue/Broadway15507th Avenue North/Church Street15607th Avenue North/Commerce Street15907th Avenue South/McGavock Street16208th Avenue/Broadway16508th Avenue North/Church Street16808th Avenue North/Commerce Street18008th Avenue South/McGavock Street18759th Avenue North/Buchanan Street18809th Avenue/Broadway19009th Avenue North/Commerce Street191010th Avenue/Broadway192010th Avenue North/Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Blvd193010th Avenue South/Demonbreun Street195011th Avenue North/Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Blvd196111th Avenue North/Grundy Street196511th Avenue South/Pine Street197012th Avenue/Broadway198012th Avenue South/Demonbreun Street199012th Avenue South/Division Street210014th Avenue South/Demonbreun Street220017th Avenue North/Jo Johnston Avenue224518th Avenue North/Jo Johnston Avenue230520th Avenue North/Charlotte Avenue247324th Avenue South/Blakemore Avenue247825th Avenue South/Blakemore Avenue249125th Avenue South/Children’s Way268049th Avenue North/Charlotte Avenue2805South 7th Street/Main Street2808South 10th Street/Main Street2820South 10th Street/Woodland Street3495Gallatin Pike/Broadmoor Drive4485Old Murfreesboro Road/Smith Springs Road4569Nolensville Pike/Casa Azafran

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