Right turn on red

No right turns on red light sign in Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Turning right on red is forbidden in New York City unless one encounters this sign or similar. In the United States outside New York City, right turns are permitted on red (except for school buses and hazmat trucks) unless there is a "No Turn on Red" sign or unless there is a red arrow controlling the right turn.

Right turn on red, or simply right on red, is a principle of law permitting vehicles at a traffic light showing a red signal to turn right (almost always after a complete stop) when the way is clear, in a country with right-hand traffic. It is intended to allow traffic to resume moving, with minimal risk provided that proper caution is observed.

North America

Right turns on red are permitted in many, but not all, regions of North America. Visiting motorists are encouraged to refer to the driving code of the region they are visiting and to heed all traffic signs.

Right turn on red has been practiced in the western United States for more than 50 years, with the eastern states adopting the law in the 1970s to save fuel (see 1973 oil crisis and 1979 energy crisis).

All 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico, have allowed right turns on red since January 1, 1980, unless there is a sign or signal prohibiting this, such as "No Turn On Red" or "No Right on Red"), a No Right Turn symbol with the words On Red, or where right turns are controlled by a traffic signal separate from through traffic. In New York City, the situation is reversed, where right turns on red are prohibited unless a sign indicates otherwise.

At intersections where U-turns are permitted and controlled by an arrow from the left-most lane, motorists turning right on red onto the same road must yield to those making U-turns before turning, as the motorists making U-turns have the right-of-way and a collision can easily occur. At intersections where U-turns are prohibited in the same fashion, a green right arrow will sometimes appear with the red light for those turning right onto the road, allowing only traffic turning right to proceed without having to watch for pedestrians or other vehicles. Some U.S. states such as California will have "No U-Turn" signs posted at these intersections because of the green right arrow.

In some states, such as New York, a right turn on red is prohibited when a red arrow is present.^[1] Most Caribbean countries with right-hand traffic, such as the Dominican Republic, allow right turn on red, unless a sign prohibits it. Some vehicles, such as Hazmat vehicles and school buses, are not legally allowed to turn on red under any circumstance and must wait for a green light or arrow.^{[citation needed]}

During 1982–1992, approximately 84 fatal crashes per year occurred in the U.S. where a vehicle was turning right at intersections where right turn on red was permitted.^{[citation needed]} As of 1992, right turn on red is governed federally by 42 U.S.C. § 6322(c) ("Each proposed State energy conservation plan to be eligible for Federal assistance under this part shall include: ...(5) a traffic law or regulation which, to the maximum extent practicable consistent with safety, permits the operator of a motor vehicle to turn such vehicle right at a red stop light after stopping, and to turn such vehicle left from a one-way street onto a one-way street at a red light after stopping."). All turns on red (left or right) are forbidden in New York City unless a sign is posted permitting it.^[2] This law has been protested but not overturned.^{[citation needed]}

Throughout most of Canada, one is allowed to turn right on a red after coming to a complete stop, unless a sign indicates otherwise. In the province of Quebec, turning right on a red was illegal until a pilot study carried out in 2003 showed that the right turn on red manoeuvre did not result in significantly more accidents. Subsequent to the study, the Province of Quebec now allows right turns on red, except where it is prohibited by a sign. However, owing to locally specific safety concerns, it remains illegal to turn right on a red anywhere on the Island of Montreal.^[3] Motorists are reminded of this by large signs posted at the entrance to all bridges.

In Mexico, right turns on red are usually prohibited (unless a sign indicates otherwise), and motorists can be issued a citation for non-compliance.^[4] They are allowed in Mexico City^[5]

Europe

German Right turn on red permission sign

In European Union member states in general, it is illegal to turn on a red light, unless it is mentioned otherwise. This can be made clear by using a green arrow on a red light, a flashing amber arrow with a red light or a permanent green board next to the red light.

In Germany, right turns on red are permitted, after a complete stop, when a specific sign is present. This rule was first introduced in 1978 in East Germany and was originally supposed to become obsolete together with the East German highway code by the end of 1990, following German reunification. However, authorities were unable to remove the signs in time, and public opinion caused them to leave the regulation untouched, even extending its scope to the former areas of West Germany in 1994. By 1999, there were a mere 300 turn-on-red intersections in West Germany while East Germany featured 2,500; the numbers in West Germany have risen considerably since then, though, and as of 2002 a total of 5,000 turn-on-red intersections were counted, with 48% in West Germany.

In Russia, which drives on the right as most countries in Europe, turns on red are prohibited unless a separate arrow-shaped green light allows it; drivers must give way to any vehicle coming from a different direction. When the arrow is not lit, turns in any directions are permitted on the main green light unless its prohibited by roadsigns.

French Right turn (or others) on red permission sign

Singapore "Left Turn On Red" sign

In the Netherlands, bicycles are occasionally allowed to turn right on a red light. Wherever this is the case, a written sign "rechtsaf voor fietsers vrij" (right turn free for cyclists) or "rechtsaf voor (brom)fietsers vrij" (right turn free for cyclists and mopeds) is present. In practice, especially in large cities such as Amsterdam, cyclists rarely stop for traffic lights on right turns even if a sign is not present.^{[citation needed]}

In France right turn on red without stop is allowed when a separate arrow-shaped yellow light is flashing but this color means drivers do not have priority. They must check if any pedestrian is crossing before turning and must give way to possible vehicle coming from another way.

Like in the Netherlands, France has a roadsign that allows cyclists to turn right on a red light.^[6]

In 2011, Belgium Parliament considered erecting roadsigns that would allow cyclists to turn right on a red light.^[7][8]

Asia

In Pakistan, which drives on the left, the situation is different. Previously, turning left on red was permitted unless explicitly prohibited.^{[citation needed]} However, as of 2008 left turns on red are prohibited unless separately controlled. On most traffic signals, the left turn has a separate light, a left-pointing arrow.

In India, which drives on the left, a "Free left turn" is allowed unless there is a sign prohibiting it ("No free left (turn)").^[9] In certain places an explicit sign also guides drivers to take a "free left" turn.

In Taiwan, right turn on red is always prohibited. The only one situation for turning right on red to be legal is that there is a green arrow along with the red light.

In South Korea, right turn on red is permitted in most cases, but the driver has to come to a complete stop before proceeding, just like in Germany.

In mainland China, right turn on red is allowed unless there is a red right arrow, as long as doing so does not interfere with traffic on the destination road.

In Singapore, which drives on the left, left turn on red is allowed only when the "Left Turn On Red" sign is displayed at the traffic junction. The driver will have to stop at the red light first and give way to pedestrians and oncoming vehicles from their right before turning.^[10]

In Japan, which drives on the left, the only left turn allowed requires a green left arrow along with the red light.

Oceania

In New Zealand, left turns on red are permitted at some intersections with a "free turn" sign, or a special lane passing to the left of the traffic light, which sits on a traffic island.

Pedestrian safety

Law is especially problematic for pedestrians due to drivers looking left for traffic on red light and easily ignoring pedestrian waiting for "walk" sign and causing the "right hook" collision (during green pedestrian light). Right on red reduces perceived safety for pedestrians and hence walkability. Suburbanization and car oriented development of the west has been the driving force behind right on red, although in some downtown core areas even in Western US right on red is explicitly disallowed with signs.

Left turn on red

In U.S., 37 states and Puerto Rico allow left turns on red only if both the origin and destination streets are one way. See South Carolina law ^[11] Section 56-5-970 C3, for example. Five other states, namely Alaska, Idaho, Michigan, Oregon and Washington, allow left turns on red onto a one-way street even from a two-way street.^{[12][13][14][15]} In Washington, freeway on-ramps are considered one-way streets for the purposes of the left turn on red law.^[16] The following states and territories ban left turns on red: South Dakota (unless permitted by local ordinance), Connecticut, Maine, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Carolina, the District of Columbia, and Guam. New York City also prohibits left turn on red lights, unless a sign indicates otherwise.

In Canada, left turn on red light from a one-way road into a one-way road is permitted except in some areas of Quebec, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island. Left turn on red light from a two-way road into a one-way road is permitted in British Columbia, but you must turn into the closest lane and yield to pedestrians and cross-traffic let through by signals.^[17]

See also

• Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals

References and external links

1. ^ New York State Driver's Manual, Chapter 4.
2. ^ "Right Turn on Red" (PDF). nyc.com. http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/ssi09_projects/ssi09_rightonred.pdf. Retrieved 22 January 2010. 
3. ^ mtq.gouv.qc.ca
4. ^ cbrd.co.uk
5. ^ Reglamento de Tránsito del D.F. Título 4, artículo 66, inciso IX
6. ^ Trotignon, Jean-Michel. "Tourne à droite au feu rouge: il manque juste le panneau". Vélocité. Fédération française des Usagers de la Bicyclette. http://www.fubicy.org/IMG/pdf/VC109_PANNEAU_TOURNE_A_DROITE.pdf. Retrieved 16 July 2011. 
7. ^ "Fietsers binnenkort door rood?". De Standaard. http://m.standaard.be/artikel.xhtml?contentID=1816155. Retrieved 16 July 2011. 
8. ^ "Wetsvoorstel tot wijziging van het koninklijk besluit van 1 december 1975 houdende algemeen reglement op de politie van het wegverkeer en van het gebruik van de openbare weg teneinde de fietsers toe te staan in bepaalde gevallen de verkeerslichten voorbij te rijden". Belgische kamer van volksvertegenwoordigers. dekamer.be. http://www.dekamer.be/kvvcr/showpage.cfm?section=/flwb&language=nl&rightmenu=right&cfm=flwbn.cfm?lang=N&legislat=53&dossierID=1004. 
9. ^ delhitrafficpolice.nic.in
10. ^ Left Turn On Red Scheme, Singapore ONE Motoring, Land Transport Authority Singapore 2011-08-27
11. ^ scstatehouse.gov
12. ^ touchngo.com
13. ^ legislature.idaho.gov
14. ^ legislature.mi.gov
15. ^ apps.leg.wa.gov
16. ^ dwb.thenewstribune.com
17. ^ BC Motor Vehicle Act, Section 129

• The Safety Impact Of Right Turn On Red: Report To Congress, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Traffic Tech
• Sarkar, van Houten, and Moffatt, Using License Manuals To Increase Awareness About Pedestrian Hazards at Intersections, Transportation Research Record 1674.
• Traffic Light Signals and Red Light Cameras: Turning on Red Light (US), by Justin JIH.