Q&A for How to Make a Right Turn at a Red Light

Many cities also have laws in addition to, or separate from, state laws. Make sure you know all the laws in your city. For example, New York City and Washington D.C. prohibit drivers from making a right turn on red. Virginia, North Carolina, Nebraska, Minnesota, and California prohibit taking a right on red if there is a red arrow light.

Yes. Even though there were no pedestrians or cars coming, you do still have to come to a complete stop.

It is only required that you first come to a full stop before turning, so that you can examine the situation and check for other vehicles and pedestrians. You should complete the turn after this is done.

For safety and legal reasons, yes. There could still be pedestrians in (or coming up to) the crosswalk or drivers that are trying to beat the red light.

Be sure to come to a full stop before the cross walk. If there is no cross walk, imagine one and stop that far back. As long as you come to a full stop and look both ways, you can proceed to turn right through the red light. Or you can wait for the green, the choice is yours. Make sure when you do turn, you turn into the correct lane. (i.e; when turning from the right lane, turn into the right lane, when turning from the inner right turn lane, turn into the inner lane).

You may turn in the direction the arrow is pointing if you are in the proper turning lane. You may not go straight.

If there in no one in the pedestrian walkway, you can make the right turn. Remember, however, that the pedestrian always has right of way. If the pedestrian is in the walkway and there is no walk light, you must stop.

Yes; those with the green light have the right-of-way, even if turning.

No. Right turns on red lights are to be made from the curb lane to the nearest inside or curb lane.

3 seconds, or you should be yielding to the pedestrians and cars.

It depends. Everybody should turn into the lane closest to them. If there are two left-turn lanes, then yes, those in the rightmost turning lane would properly be in the right lane. If there's just one left-turn lane turning into a double-lane road, then no, the right lane would be for traffic turning right.

If you are turning on red, you need to give way to all other traffic. That does include cars making left turns.

If you are in the turn lane and there is a green arrow, you do not have to stop before turning.

It depends on your state's laws, so you should do some research on those. Sometimes you can complete the turn as long as the pedestrian is not in the crosswalk on your half of the roadway.

No. You always need to come to a complete stop when turning during a red light.

Unless a "No Turn on Red" signs forbids you from doing so, you can turn right when there's an opening after yielding to all traffic that has a green light.

If turning right on red is legal where you live, and you come to a complete stop before you turn, you are allowed to turn right.

You can turn right on red after stopping completely and checking for oncoming traffic unless there is a sign that specifically says you cannot.

If the yield sign is for the right turn lane, yes, you can roll through it without stopping, provided there are no other cars coming through.

Yes, if the car is not coming into the lane closest to you. Otherwise, you have to wait.

Yes, but a school bus has to follow the same rules as any other car when turning right on a red light.

The yellow light means that you should prepare to stop. It is only okay to drive on a yellow light if you are unable to brake in time before entering the intersection.

Yes, you can. The sign "Stop here on red" indicates where you need to stop if you have to wait at the red light. If your area allows turning right on red, you just need to stop at the point the sign indicates before proceeding.

If you see that vehicles are at a far enough distance to continue through, then you can go.

You should stop before the first white line; that indicates the stopping point.

Yes, because cars are far enough to not have to slow down or hit you. In this case, it does not say no right turn on red.

Yes, but you must yield to pedestrians and oncoming traffic if there is no sign stopping you.

You should be stopped for at least 3 full seconds, in order for it to be considered a complete stop.

Yes, as long as the pedestrian has passed you fully and is not walking towards you, you can turn.

In the state of New York, turning right on red is prohibited as it is against the law.