You, my friends, can help settle an argument.
When approaching a traffic light that is red and it has this sign on the post below the light, do you have to wait until the light is green to make a right turn or can you turn right on red after stopping?
This is assuming that right turn on red is legal after stopping. Or must you wait until the light turns green?
What do you think?
Before I answer, which side of the argument is Mrs. Jonco on?
…And do you enjoy sleeping in the garage?
I would say yes you can turn. The only time you can’t is when it says “No Turn On Red.” And of course when there are people and cars in the way.
I always thought it was just informational…that there WILL be an actual right turn opportunity with a specific arrow indicating that time.
I just always assume “right on red” unless it’s otherwise posted. I agree with cj, just informational.
DJ, I’d rather not contaminate the results of this little quiz by saying who believes what until more results are in. I wouldn’t want anyone taking sides.
cj, I’m not clear on your answer: Are you saying you must wait for the right arrow (or green light) to turn right… that you CAN”T turn right on the red signal?
I’m guessing this sign is at a signal with poor visibility in one, or both, directions. You would have to obey the sign and not proceed until the light is green. Usually, though, a “no turn on red” sign is posted on your side of the street on the right, too.
I suppose it also depends on where you live, too. In California if you stopped at a “no turn on red” sign you’d probably get shot in the face.
It certainly isn’t very clear. I guess I’m coming down on the side of the “informational” group: the sign tells you that this light has a right-turn arrow … if you choose to wait for it.
However, it doesn’t (by itself) preclude turning right on red without waiting for the arrow.
Why not call the police, have them meet you there while you turn right … if you get a ticket (or not) you’ll have your answer. Or, just call and ask them about that intersection. Be sure to post their answer!
Just as with a left turn signal, you may not proceed with a green light nor may you proceed with a red light after coming to a stop. The sign says ‘Right Turn Signal’; therefore, to turn right, you need a signal. Now, that wasn’t too hard was it?
I say you can turn on red and its just informational.
Lynn wins.
Ok to turn after stopping unless it’s signed ” no turn on red”
Yeah, I’m with Lynn. I know that when the ‘left turn signal’ sign is posted, you’re not allowed to turn left until you get a light telling you that you can do so. So my guess is that you can’t turn right unless you have a green light.
If the signal (an arrow) is green, you may turn right without stopping even if the main traffic signals are red. Otherwise, you may turn right on red after a stop unless otherwise posted. Of course if your lights are green, you don’t worry about the Right Turn Signal signage.
Typically, you’ll see this at a large 4 way intersection. The right signal will be green while the cross traffic (those at 90 degrees to you) is doing it’s “Left Turn Signal” stuff. After the cross traffic’s Left signal has expired, the Right Turn Signal will go off and you will be back to the RTOR requirements.
You can also get a mug if you need one:
http://www.cafepress.com/worldofsigns.98752641
The sign should be indicating there is a traffic singal dedicated to the right turn.
Or so says the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
I would say that we need to see the actual sign usage. Because I can see this meaning different things.
If I had to chose though, I would say that the sign is informational letting you know that there is a right arrow there, but you can still proceed on red.
There are lots of intersections round me that have these right arrows that turn green when the cross traffic is making lefts (which means right turns are open).
I’m with cj on this one. There’s a separate right arrow, so you can turn on both a round green light or on the dedicated green right arrow only.
In some places in Oz there is a sign that says Turn Left on Red Only After Stopping, and that’s the only time you can turn while there’s a round red light.
It only means that there’s a protected right turn on the signal. You may turn right on green (you will have right of way), you may stop and make a right turn on red provided you give right of way to other traffic.
It means that there is a right turn arrow that allows you to turn right without stopping when it’s on.
Crispy got it right.
I have never seen a sign saying that you can turn on a red light but I don’t travel far from home. I would think it works like Ana said. At least over here (Oz) it does!
Ditto on Crispy. I would think the ‘Right Turn Signal’ is kind of replacing a ‘Yield’ sign. You can wait, and don’t just throw your ass out there, but as long as it’s clear you can go on red.
I would also like to note that there is one on the overpass here in my town. I pass it every day and NOONE waits for a green light. Most of them don’t wait for it to be clear either. And I have never seen anyone getting a ticket.
Are there cop cars around? No, go. Yes, wait for light.
You can make a right turn on a red light- AFTER YOU STOP, of course- unless there’s a sign posted that says otherwise. It seems they put up these signs “reminding” you to turn on your appropriate turn signal at intersections that are two or more lanes with one lane in which you could travel either straight ahead or make a turn. They advise you to turn on your turn signal if you’re making a TURN from such a lane so it doesn’t seem that you’re just sitting there in the middle of the lane that others may be attempting to just go straight through. That’s my take on it, at least. Hope it made sense.
Crispy summed it up perfectly.
We have this sign at an intersection here. The right turn light (arrow) is on/lit when the left turn only arrow is on for cross traffic. If the regular light and the right turn light are both red, then it is of course ok to turn right on red after a complete stop.
I have seen these at intersections that do not allow u terns on the left tern lane it allows intersecting right tern traffic to go at the same time as the left tern signals you can still rtor if it is red.
No “right turn on red after stop”. Signs like this are usually posted when pedestrians have their own signals allowing them the right of way.
Drivers turning right may not be aware and therefore may only turn when the signal for vehicles indicate it is appropriate to do so.
I say Crispy is correct.
I vote with Crispy… although I might hesitate if I saw a police officer.
You must wait for the turn signal to indicate whether you can go. If you could turn right on red, you wouldn’t need a “right turn signal” or a “right turn signal sign.”
Who won the argument?
I’m posting this a little late, I was on a nice long vacation…
If there is a red, right arrow light, then you must wait until the light turns green. If that light has a normal red circular light, then you can stop, can turn right on red. (both of these hypothetical lights would have green, right arrow lights)