The Montgomery County Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to ban “right turns on red” at some intersections as part of an overhaul of the county’s traffic safety laws.

The “Safe Streets Act of 2023” prohibits drivers from making right turns on a red traffic light at busy intersections in downtown and town center areas of the county. These designated intersections would be marked with “No Right Turn on Red” signs. The bill also lengthens walk times for pedestrians at crosswalks.

Downtown areas in Montgomery County are defined as those areas with the highest intensity of development and include Bethesda, Friendship Heights, Silver Spring and Wheaton.