Turn on red: Difference between revisions
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'''Right turn on red''' ('''RTOR''') 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]]. RTOR has been practiced in the western [[United States]] for more than 50 years, with the eastern states adopting the law in the 1970s. |
'''Right turn on red''' ('''RTOR''') 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]]. RTOR has been practiced in the western [[United States]] for more than 50 years, with the eastern states adopting the law in the 1970s. |
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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. Some vehicles, |
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. Some vehicles, such as [[Hazmat]] vehicles and [[school buses]] in New York and Illinois are not legally allowed to turn on red under any circumstance and must wait for a green light or arrow. In the 1970s, some states instituted the practice to save fuel (see [[1973 oil crisis]] and [[1979 energy crisis]]). From 1982–1992, approximately 84 fatal crashes per year occurred in the U.S. where a vehicle was turning right at intersections where RTOR was permitted. {{Fact|date=February 2007}} As of 1992, right turn on red is governed federally by {{UnitedStatesCode|42|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 prohibited in [[New York City]] unless a sign is posted permitting it. This law has been often protested, but never successfully overturned.{{Fact|date=December 2007}} |
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[[Image:Zeichen 720.svg|thumb|[[Germany|German]] Right turn on red permission sign]] |
[[Image:Zeichen 720.svg|thumb|[[Germany|German]] Right turn on red permission sign]] |
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Revision as of 22:59, 6 October 2008
Right turn on red (RTOR) 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. RTOR has been practiced in the western United States for more than 50 years, with the eastern states adopting the law in the 1970s.
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. Some vehicles, such as Hazmat vehicles and school buses in New York and Illinois are not legally allowed to turn on red under any circumstance and must wait for a green light or arrow. In the 1970s, some states instituted the practice to save fuel (see 1973 oil crisis and 1979 energy crisis). From 1982–1992, approximately 84 fatal crashes per year occurred in the U.S. where a vehicle was turning right at intersections where RTOR 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 prohibited in New York City unless a sign is posted permitting it. This law has been often protested, but never successfully overturned.[citation needed]
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 RTOR 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 the island of Montreal. Motorists are reminded of this via large signs posted at the entrance to all bridges.
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 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 the German Democratic Republic 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 some states, including California and New York, a right turn on red is prohibited when a red arrow is present.
Left turn on red
In most areas of the United States, it is also legal to make some left turns on red. In all cases, the road being turned onto must be one-way. Making a left-turn on red from a two-way street is legal in only five states: Alaska, Idaho, Michigan, Oregon, and Washington. In Washington, freeway on-ramps are considered one-way streets for the purposes of the left turn on red law.[1]
In 37 other states and Puerto Rico, it is legal to make a left turn on red only from a one-way street. Left turns on red are prohibited in the states of South Dakota (unless permitted by local ordinance), Connecticut, Maine, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Rhode Island and in the District of Columbia and Guam, as well as in New York City, 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, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. Left turn on red light from a two-way road into a one-way road is permitted in British Columbia only.
In India, the situation is slightly 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. 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 Russia, right and left 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 this direction are not permitted even on the main green light.
See also
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.