Right On Red Turns 45 This Month In Mass, What Took So Long?

Taking a legal right turn on red turns 45 years old this month in Massachusetts. It was in January 1979 that we were first able to make the right hand turn at a red light.
We were the last state in the country to make it legal. Why was that?

According to a Harvard Crimson report back in 1979.
They said, Massachusetts is the last state to implement the law. The federal government pushed the law through to make a uniform motor vehicle code, and the government threatened to withhold the state's national energy funds if the state did not pass the bill.

Governor Edward J. King signed the bill on August 8. 1979

That is a very good question. We do know that Massachusetts has always been very reluctant to follow what every other state wants to do. Perhaps it is the stubborn nature or we do have a tendency to over regulate in the state. The thinking was, it would be very dangerous for pedestrians in the major cities, Boston, especially for drivers to suddenly start taking right hand turns while the light was still red.

It is amazing to think that although Massachusetts was the last state to allow legal right on red turns. We were the first state in the country to ban happy hour at bars in December 1984.

The governor at the time in Massachusetts was Mike Dukakis. He was never one to shy away from enacting laws that would be wide sweeping. In 1984 there was a rash of drunk, driving incidents that killed innocent drivers and pedestrians. One in particular resulted from the driver over, indulging in a happy hour at a tavern that was offering 2 to 1 drinks

There have been recent attempts in Massachusetts to once again, make happy hour legal. However, these attempts have fallen short, you can still get happy hour, priced food and appetizers but not alcohol. And for some maybe that’s a good idea

So, what do the right on red law and no happy hour have in common? Think about it, Massachusetts was reluctant to allow ride on Reds because of safety issues for pedestrians, primarily, and other drivers. It all stems from a public safety standpoint and we know that Massachusetts is always at the forefront of keeping  it’s citizens safe.

Last weekend's massive snow storm that dumped up to 18 inches of the white stuff in a few Massachusetts towns was a good reminder that you should be prepared for the big one. That's why we have put together the 5 Essential Things You Should Have In Your Car To Survive A Nor'Easter.

We were lucky that the storm took place on Saturday and Sunday as opposed to a weekday event that would have potentially caught people commuting in their cars. If you are old enough to remember the Blizzard of 1978, then you know how huge it was and it caught a lot of people by surprise.

Sure back in '78 the meteorological world was not as advanced as today. There was only one local weatherman back then that had a good read on what was going to happen. His name? Harvey Leonard, the living legend. He was certain that it would be a snow event like no other and was spot on.

Vehicles were stuck and stranded on Routes 128, 93, 95 and dozens of other highways and byways. People were trapped in their cars, some for days and sadly there were those that lost their lives.

Of course weather forecasting has come a long way since then. There was no such thing as Doppler Radar Weather that all of our local television station use and there's been so much help from computer models. The chances of being caught by surprise are a lot less now.

If in the unlikely event that you do get caught in a major snow storm and are unable to move your car you have to be prepared for what could be a very scary situation. Experts have told us what we should always have in our car (or trunk) to be able to handle being stranded. They are all common sense items but, we have a tendency to either forget or take it too lightly.

We should have a mini first aid kit in our vehicles regardless of the season. It's smart and a very non expensive item to keep handy. You can grab one in most big stores or places like CVS and Walmart. You can also find good kits online. Leave it in your trunk and you will be ready if needed.

These tools are small and easy to keep around. I personally keep one in my glove compartment at all times. I can't say how many times I have used it over the years for things you wouldn't imagine. They are reasonably priced and you don't need a brand name or something too fancy. You want one with a knife, scissors, file and even a corkscew.

If you're stuck in your car in a blizzard you will not be able to continue running it because you want to preserve as much fuel as you can. A nice thick blanket will help do the trick. Get a qood quality blanket that you can wrap around yourself and keep that precious heat in. You can store in the backseat or the trunk.

Every vehicle needs a good flashlight, don't rely on your phone's you want a strong halogen type that can light up the night in case you're trapped after dark. Plus you will want to preserve your phone's battery for communication reasons.

Number one is the good old fashioned snow shovel. You can pick up a small handle snow shovel in most automotive stores that can be placed in the trunk and left there. A good shovel might be just what you need to dig yourself out of trouble.