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Right on a red arrow?
Lardalish
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
So, pretty simple question, can you turn right on a red arrow? I know that you can usually make a right on a red light unless a sign says otherwise, but Im just not sure if that applies to a red turn signal too. This is somethin thats just been botherin me for a while.
Lardalish on
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NC, USA.
Jordan of Elienor, Human Shaman
What? You basically just said "No, but yes."
Edit - I have lived in California or Montana all my life and have never seen a red right turn arrow. Perhaps there is a distinction here that needs to be made.
Red right turn arrows are found all over the place. We also have electric lighting, and indoor plumbing these days, too.
So in general, no, but it depends upon the state.
Ah, I took that as a minor harping on my post above it. I guess you obviously didn't mean it that way as you didn't quote me.
Carry on.
There is also the point that if they have to protect the turn, there's probably a good reason. It can't hurt to be safe and wait until the green arrow shows up.
Edit Add: Found this. Looks like we're right - the safe thing is to just not turn until it turns green.
http://www.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/2835226/2/istockphoto_2835226-red-traffic-light.jpg
is he asking if he can turn right at a sign which translates to "do not turn right"?
But yeah, I would think a red arrow instead of a solid red would imply no turning in whatever state it is in. I'm sure this information is google-able.
In any case, the North Carolina Driver's Handbook seems to state that no, you may not make an unprotected right turn on a red right arrow:
Further:
I mean, I know it'd suck to get a ticket or something, but it'd suck worse to be hit by a car and/or hit something that you couldn't see due to some obstruction or something.
Honest to god, we need more of those around here. There are intersections where the no turn signs are printed way too small to read (and have fine print indicating what times they apply).
http://blogsarchive.newsobserver.com/crosstown/index.php?title=turn_turn_turn&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1
Also, Thanatos, the law you cited says you need to stop when there's an arrow, that doesn't preclude moving after the stop (it's covered in the link above by the NC cop).
Ninja edit: Of course, if you don't feel comfortable going when the light is red, then by all means wait until it turns green.
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The intersection it's at is T-shaped, where Brockway runs into Gratiot. There's a right turn lane from Gratiot to Brockway that normally has a permanent green arrow, since there's no through traffic to interfere with it. There's a button for pedestrians, though, and when they push it, the next time Gratiot gets the green light for through traffic, that right turn lane gets a red arrow and the crosswalk gets a walk sign. I've only actually seen it red twice - most pedestrians don't seem to realize the button's there and instead stand blocking Brockway's left turn lane and waiting for a break.
I can vouch for Montana...I've not seen a single one of these here, and I'd not be surprised if there are none in the state (hell half the rubes up here can barely handle green right-turn arrows...it's still new to them).
But California? They're all over the damn place down there. If you didn't see any, it's because you weren't looking for them and thus it's more than likely you ran a few in your time without realizing it. :P
EDIT: And I'm pretty sure this is universal across all fifty states. A red arrow means you may not turn in that direction, even after stopping. If you were allowed to make a yielding turn after a stop, it would be a standard red, not the red arrow. And obviously Than posted the relevant info for the OP's state. There are really only a few basic rules that actually vary from state to state...almost everything is standardized. The fines obviously vary, but usually the actual rules are the same. I think U-turns are the only major exception I can think of.
EDIT: Shit, somehow missed NP's post that adds new controversy. Fuck if I know, then, but I'm inclined to side with Than's interpretation.
I definitely have not seen these. They seem to be just an expensive alternative to the "no turn on red" sign.
Well, it seems rather straightforward.
I'm curious why the OP wanted to know.
That's not straightforward because it refers specifically to the steady red circular traffic signal, not the red right arrow.
And he probably wants to know because the fuckers behind him were honking while he waited at the red arrow not knowing if he was going to get a ticket for $texas if he went through it after stopping. And these are uncommon enough that they probably aren't covered in the written or road tests to get a license, and may well not be covered as more than a footnote in full-blown driver's ed courses.
I think you need to be more specific with what it looked like (maybe draw it) because a lot of people seem to be confused
a signal light that has no full circle colors, but is in the right lane at a stoplight, pointing right
Yeah, and it sounds like some DO allow it.
Which is pretty stupid. At that point why have the red right arrow anyway? Legally it's in no way distinguished from the full right circle, unless there is some situation in which you'd want right turns to stop and yield while through traffic does not (and instead proceeds through on green).
I can't think of any such road/intersection configuration.
Parallel road traffic and high-traffic crosswalk, using the signal as a reminder to drivers that green doesn't mean mow pedestrians down. Yes I'm bitter.
You have to be on a one-way street turning on to another one-way street to make a left turn on red.
In my area the turning lanes at the intersection have green and yellow arrows, but a normal red light.
So right on red follows the normal order of things.
Critical Failures - Havenhold Campaign • August St. Cloud (Human Ranger)
That link seems to have old information. I could almost swear my driving manual for when I first got my license indicated that RTOR arrow lights are only disallowed when posted. Especially since NY is on that "no go" list and I don't see any information citing that on the web or on their website.
I think it got lifted in 1980something and the only place it still applies is in NYC.
Ha, I'm sorry, I was hella tired and just filling in the details. I mean...the red arrows lights come in a circular container...
Still, uh, I support turning on red arrows. I remember it from my driver's ed handbook.
Coming back from NIN on the 11th, I shat bricks when I was crusing along at 140kph and suddenly was hit with a wall of red traffic lights.