Right turn on red

French sign indicating to cyclists that they may treat the red light as a yield if turning right.

"No right turns on red light" sign near Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Turning right on red is forbidden in New York City unless this sign or similar is posted.^[1]
In the United States outside New York City, right turns are permitted on red (except for school buses and trucks carrying hazardous materials) unless there is a "No Turn on Red" or a "Right Turn Signal" light indicating the same and controlling the right turn.

A self-contradictory "Right turn on red" traffic light in Belgrade, Serbia

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 regions of North America. While Western states have allowed it for more than 50 years; eastern states amended their traffic laws to allow it in the 1970s as a fuel-saving measure in response to motor fuel shortages in 1973 and 1979. All 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico have allowed right turns on red since 1978, except where prohibited by a sign or where right turns are controlled by dedicated traffic lights. (In June 1978, Maryland became the last state to allow right turns on red.^[2] Right turns on red became legal in the District of Columbia in November 1978.^[3]) The few exceptions include New York City,^[4] where right turns on red are prohibited, unless a sign indicates otherwise.

In some states, such as New York^[5] and California, a right turn on red is prohibited when a red arrow is displayed.

At intersections where U-turns are permitted and controlled by a u-turn 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 could easily occur. At intersections where U-turns are prohibited in the same fashion, a green right turn 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 stop or yield to other vehicles. Some states such as California have "No U-Turn" signs posted at these intersections because of the green right turn arrow.

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 those carrying hazardous materials and school buses, are not allowed to turn on red under any circumstance and must wait for a green light or arrow.

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. 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 are forbidden in New York City unless a sign is posted permitting it.^[6]

Through most of Canada, a driver may turn right at a red light 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 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.^[7] Motorists are reminded of this by large signs posted at the entrance to all bridges.

In Mexico, right turns on red are generally allowed unless a sign indicates otherwise.,^[8] Mexico City has implemented a new transit law which prohibits right turns and motorists can be issued a citation for noncompliance. .^[9]

Central America

In Costa Rica, right turns on red are allowed in general, but a sign can forbid them.

South America

Chilean right turn on red permitted sign

In Chile, right turns on red are only allowed when a sign permitting it is shown.

In Paraguay, right turns on red are allowed in some towns.

In Brazil, right turns on red are not allowed.

In Uruguay, right turns on red are not allowed.

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 indicated otherwise, for example by 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 Poland, right turns on red are permitted, only if an additional green arrow light (apart from the main signal light) is present and flashing. However, the regulations require drivers to stop completely, as their paths intersect with other vehicles or pedestrians in at least one direction. Green arrow light can be also directed left (the same regulations apply).^[10]

In Germany, right turns on red are only 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 unchanged, even extending its scope to the former areas of West Germany in 1994. By 1999, there were 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 do 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 the arrow direction are prohibited.^[11]

French Right turn (or others) on red permission sign

In the Netherlands, bicycles are occasionally allowed to turn right on a red light. Wherever this is the case, a 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 there is no sign.

In France a right turn on red without stopping is allowed when a separate arrow-shaped amber light flashes, but drivers do not have priority. They must check if any pedestrians are crossing before turning and must give way to vehicles coming from other directions.^[12]. In France it is allowed to turn right on red for cyclists if a sign tell so.

In Belgium, road signs that allow cyclists to turn right on a red light have been added to traffic law in 2012.^[13] Such roads signs have been placed on intersections in the Brussels Capital Region.^[14]

Like in the Netherlands, Belgium and France have a road sign that allows cyclists to turn right on a red light. The French and Belgian signs consits in a yield sign with a yellow bike and arow inside. Such signs are placed under traffic lights.^[15]

Sign that allows cyclists to turn right on red in France and Belgium.

In the United Kingdom, which drives on the left, left turn on red is prohibited, but at some junctions there is a separate left arrow-shaped green "filter" light which, when lit, allows left-hand turns but conflicting traffic will always have a red signal.^[16] Other non conflicting traffic movements may have their own left or right arrow-shaped green light. Sometimes there are specific lanes without signals for turning left, separated from the through traffic signalled traffic by traffic islands, but give way signs are installed.

In Lithuania, drivers are allowed to turn right on red when a specific sign with green arrow is present. However on 10 November 2014, traffic rules were changed so that the specific sign with green arrow is valid until 31 December 2019. Until that time all specific signs with green arrows in Lithuania will be eliminated. Changes were made because of road safety reasons.^[17]

In Czech republic and Slovakia right turns on red are allowed only when there is a lit green arrow present (called S 5 in Czech republic and S 10 in Slovakia). Also in this case the car turning on red must give way to ongoing traffic, to pedestrians and other road users. (According to Czech law §70 of decree 30/2001 of Law Codex; and Slovak law §9, part 3g, decree 9/2009 of Law Codex)

In Bulgaria right turns on red are prohibited.

Asia

As in the United Kingdom, left turn on red is always prohibited in Hong Kong. At some junctions, however, there may be separate sets of signals for left turns, or specific lanes for turning left separating from the through traffic by traffic islands and give way signs are installed. One such example is at the junction of Queen's Road East and Morrison Hill Road.

In China, right turn on red is permitted, unless there is a red arrow pointing to the right.

In India, which drives on the left, a "Free left turn" is allowed unless there is a sign prohibiting it ("No free left (turn)").^[18] In certain places an explicit sign also guides drivers to take a "free left" turn.

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

Singapore "Left Turn On Red" sign

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.^[19]

In Taiwan (Republic of China), right turn on red is always prohibited, except when there is a green arrow along with the red light.

In Thailand, which drives on the left, left turn on red is allowed unless a sign prohibits it. Where signs prohibit turn on left (usually in both Thai and English language), most Thai drivers ignore them.

Oceania

In Australia, which drives on the left, left turns on red are permitted at some intersections with a "left turn on red permitted after stopping"^[20] sign, though such signs are relatively rare.^[21]

In New Zealand, which drives on the left, left turns on red are not permitted. However, some intersections have a special lane passing to the left of the traffic light that then joins on to the main road with a give way sign, effectively allowing a left turn on red.

Pedestrian safety

Turns on red are especially problematic for pedestrians due to drivers looking left for traffic on red light and not noticing a pedestrian waiting to cross the street to the driver's right. This may lead to a "right hook" collision when the driver and pedestrian both enter the intersection. Right on red reduces perceived safety for pedestrians and hence walkability. Suburbanization and car oriented development of the west has been a driving force behind right turn on red, although in some downtown core areas even in Western US right on red is explicitly prohibited with signs.

Left turn on red

Left turns on red for US states

Left turns on red from one-way and two-way streets into one-way streets permitted   Left turns on red from one-way streets into one-way streets permitted   State prohibits left turns on red

In the U.S., 36 states and Puerto Rico allow left turns on red only if both the origin and destination streets are one way. (See South Carolina law Section 56-5-970 C3,^[22] 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.^{[23][24][25][26][27]}

The following states and territories ban left turns on red: South Dakota (unless permitted by local ordinance), Connecticut, Maine, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Rhode Island, the District of Columbia, and Guam. New York City also prohibits left turn on red lights, unless a sign indicates otherwise.^[28]

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, Prince Edward Island. Left turn on red light from a two-way road into a one-way road is permitted in British Columbia^[29] but only if the driver turns onto the closest lane and yields to pedestrians and cross traffic.

In the United Kingdom, which drives on the left, right turn on red is prohibited, but at some junctions there is a separate right arrow-shaped green light which, when lit, allows right-hand turns but conflicting traffic will have a red signal^[30] excepting situations where traffic from the opposite direction will be directed by lane markings to pass nearside to nearside (passenger side to passenger side) when making mutual right-hand turns across (stopped) through-traffic without contention between the two. Other non conflicting traffic movements may have their own left arrow-shaped green light.

See also

• Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals

References

External links

• 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.