A group of Montreal island mayors plans to lobby the provincial government to allow right turns on red lights, but the mayor of Montreal isn't keen on the idea.

The widespread practice became legal in Quebec in 2003, but is not allowed on the island of Montreal.

Montreal East Mayor Robert Coutu said Tuesday morning that at the end of the day, speed matters.

"Every minute counts. Every 15 seconds burns fuel," said Coutu, saying that by forcing drivers to wait, the environment is being polluted.

Georges Bourelle, mayor of Beaconsfield, Philippe Roy, mayor of TMR, and Coutu said they believe intersections in downtown Montreal should remain off-limits for right on red, but in all believe more than half of the 2587 intersections on the island would be suitable.

"We need to keep in mind that the island of Montreal, along with New York City, is the only region in Canada and the United States where it is prohibited to make a right turn on red. RTOR has been allowed in all other parts of Quebec for 13 years and Ministry of Transport statistics prove that Quebecers behave in exactly the same way as motorists everywhere else in Canada and the United States when it comes to RTOR," said Bourelle.

The mayors of the demerged cities said public opinion is on their side, citing a CROP opinion poll that 74 per cent of residents in the city of Montreal support turning right on red, as do 71 per cent of residents of the demerged cities.

In January, Transport Minister Laurent Lessard will hold public consultations on the issue, and the suburban mayors plan to lobby both the government and Coderre.

“We are trying to extend a privilege to our residents which we think now they are ready for,” said Bourelle.

The CROP poll surveyed 1,000 people from Nov. 16 to 21 and adjusted their results based on sex, age, region and mother tongue.

Officials say the city of Montreal remains firmly opposed to the idea because it's just too dangerous, particularly for seniors and the blind.

In September the administration launched its "Vision Zero" campaign to eliminate deaths and injuries due to cars.

The international strategy recommends reducing speed limits, adding countdowns to pedestrian crossing lights, and awareness campaigns telling drivers to share the road.

"One death is one death too many. The road network must improve, and must also be designed to protect the most vulnerable users. This is why right on red is not desired in Montreal," reads the statement.

Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre has long opposed the idea of drivers turning right on red.

"I do not see the relevance of allowing it right now," Coderre told The Canadian Press, adding the government could order new studies and revisit the issue. "We always base policy on fact, but clearly for the next years, we won't be able to do it."

Two years ago Coderre pointed out that before the province allowed drivers to turn on red lights a safety conference identified many concerns.

Since 2002, Montreal has focused on making roads safer for pedestrians and cyclists, and allowing cars to turn right on red puts them at risk.

"I think we have to learn to live together before even thinking about doing that, because you know you have issues, relationships, coexistence between pedestrians, drivers, bikes, the trucks, and all that. And because of the way that we are changing the streets now, there is always that five-metre margin to protect the pedestrian," Coderre told CTV News in November 2014.

"It won't happen."

Transport Quebec has studied right turns on red, and determined that between 2003 and 2013, right turns on red were responsible for the deaths of six Quebecers; 33 were seriously injured and 712 suffered minor injuries.

The opposition at city hall agrees with the mayor.

“I know that people want to save time to get to and from work, but at the end of the day, people are getting hurt,” said Projet Montreal councillor Craig Sauve.