Turn on red

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.

North America

Turning on red is forbidden in New York City unless one encounters this sign or similar. In the United States outside New York City, turns are permitted on red unless there is a "No Turn on Red" sign.

In North America, with some exceptions (most notably in New York City and the Island of Montreal; see below), one may turn right during a red light after coming to a complete stop, traffic and safety permitting.

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 a sign otherwise prohibits this, such as "No Turn On Red" (less commonly "No Right On Red"), a No Right Turn symbol with the words On Red, or a red arrow or red light symbol is present. Also, 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.

From 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 (left or right) are forbidden in New York City unless a sign is posted permitting it. This law has been often protested, but never successfully overturned.

In some states, including California and New York, a right turn on red is prohibited when a red arrow is present.

In Canada, one is allowed to turn right on a red, only after a complete stop, unless a sign states otherwise. In the province of Quebec, turning right on a red was illegal until a pilot study carried out in 2003 showed that there were no significant adverse effects of the right turn on red maneuver. Subsequently the province of Quebec now allows universal right turn on red, except where it is prohibited by a sign. However, due to locally specific safety concerns, it remains illegal to turn right on a red anywhere on Montreal Island {{citation}}: Empty citation (help). Motorists are reminded of this via large signs posted at the entrance to all bridges.

Europe

German Right turn on red permission sign

In the entire European Union, 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 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, 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.

Asia

In India and in Pakistan, which drive on the left, the situation is different. Previously, turning left on red was permitted unless explicitly prohibited. 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, this is often indicated by a "Free left turn" or "No free left (turn)" signage. If the turn is permitted, a sign is often posted stating this. (This is usually when the left turn is free-flowing.) Since traffic in India drives on the left, this is essentially identical to turning right on red for countries that drive on the right.

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 both mainland China and Taiwan, 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.

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 [1] Section 56-5-970 C3, for example. Five other states, namely Alaska, Idaho, Michigan, Oregon and Washington, allow left turns on red even from a two-way street. [2] [3]In Washington, freeway on-ramps are considered one-way streets for the purposes of the left turn on red law. [4] The following states and territories completely ban left turns on red: South Dakota (unless permitted by local ordinance), Connecticut, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, 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.

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.

See also

• Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals

References and 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.
• Rolling right turn or no right turn on red locations and fines database by PhotoEnforced.com