Turn on red
A turn on red is a principle of law permitting vehicles at a traffic light showing a red signal to turn into the direction of traffic nearer to them when the way is clear, without having to wait for a green signal. It is intended to allow traffic to resume moving, with minimal risk provided that proper caution is observed.
Turns
Right on red
The simplest version is commonly known as a right turn on red in countries that drive on the right side of the road, or a left turn on red in countries that drive on the left side of the road. The reasoning is that a right turn requires checking only crosswalks and traffic moving towards the driver, while a left turn or going straight requires checking traffic moving in multiple directions.Left on red
Another version is commonly known as a left turn on red in countries that drive on the right side of the road, and would be a right turn on red in countries that drive on the left side of the road, if any allows it. These turns are typically restricted to turns onto a one-way. Many jurisdictions also require that this type of turn be from a one-way.With restrictions, the turn is geometrically equivalent to a right on red. Left turns from a one-way to a one-way are completely geometrically equivalent to a right turn. Left turns on red from a two-way to a one-way is usually but not always equivalent to a right turn. However, despite the equivalence, left on red is not typically permitted in countries outside North America.
There are rarely some intersections where a left on red from a two-way to two-way is permitted, but this is due to the expected low amount of traffic, rather than being geometrically equivalent to right on red.
Jurisdictions
North America
Right turns on red are permitted in many regions of North America. In the United States, western states have allowed it for more than 50 years, and 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. The Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 required in §362 that in order for a state to receive federal assistance in developing mandated conservation programs, they must permit right turns on red lights. All 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico have allowed right turns on red since 1980, except where prohibited by a sign or where right turns are controlled by dedicated traffic lights. The few exceptions include New York City, where right turns on red are prohibited, unless a sign indicates otherwise.In some states, such as New York, Virginia, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Minnesota, 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 for those turning right onto the road, allowing only traffic turning right to proceed without having to stop or yield to other vehicles or pedestrians. 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 . All turns on red are forbidden in New York City unless a sign is posted permitting it.
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, like in New York City, it remains illegal to turn right on a red anywhere on the Island of Montreal. Motorists are reminded of this rule by large signs posted at the entrance to all bridges.
In Mexico, right turns on red are generally allowed unless a sign indicates otherwise. Mexico City has implemented a new transit law which prohibits right turns on red.
Left turn on red
In the U.S., 38 states allow left turns on red only if both the origin and destination streets are one way as of December, 2018Five states, namely Alaska, Idaho, Michigan, Oregon and Washington, allow left turns on red into a one-way street from either a one-way or a two-way street.
As of December 2018, the following states and territories ban left turns on red: Connecticut, Maine, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Dakota, the District of Columbia, and Guam. New York City prohibits left turn on red 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 after yielding to pedestrians and cross traffic.
Central America
In Costa Rica, right turns on red are allowed in general, but a sign can forbid them.South America
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 Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Peru and Uruguay, right turns on red are not allowed.
Europe
In European countries 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 is present and lit. 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.
In Germany, right turns on red are only permitted when a sign is present at the traffic light, after a complete stop. This rule was first introduced in 1978 in East Germany. It was derided as the "socialist right turn" in West Germany, which planned to eliminate it after German reunification in 1990. However, a public backlash put an end to the plans, and the practice spread to the rest of Germany in 1994. Half of the 5,000 turn-on-red intersections that existed in 2002 were located in the former West Germany.
In Russia, 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. However, in some cities, they have allowed turns on right provided there is a fixed green arrow with the writing below saying "Give way to everyone, you can turn on right".
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" or "rechtsaf voor fietsers vrij" is present.
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.. In France, cyclists are permitted to turn right on red if a sign indicates it.
In Belgium, road signs that allow cyclists to turn right on a red light have been added to traffic law in 2012. Such roads signs have been placed on intersections in the Brussels Capital Region.
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 consist of a yield sign with a yellow bike and arrow inside. Such signs are placed under traffic lights.
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. 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 the Republic of Ireland, which drives on the left, left turns on red are prohibited.
In Lithuania, drivers are allowed to turn right on red when a particular sign with a green arrow on a white background is mounted beside the red light of the traffic signal. However, on 10 November 2014, national traffic rules were altered meaning that this sign will be valid only until 31 December 2019 at the latest, by which time all such signs will have been eliminated. These changes for reasons of road safety.
In Czech Republic and Slovakia right turns on red are allowed only when there is a lit green arrow present. Also in this case the car turning on red must give way to ongoing traffic, to pedestrians and other road users.
In Romania, right turns on red are prohibited, except when there is a small green flashing light with a right turn arrow. Drivers must yield to pedestrians and oncoming vehicles from their left. In some one-way junctions, the same rule applies for left on red.
In Bulgaria, right turns on red are prohibited.
In Spain, right turns are allowed only if there's either a flashing amber or lit green arrow-shaped traffic light. Flashing amber arrow allows turning without priority, while a lit green arrow grants priority. If just a regular set of traffic lights is present, then turning on red is prohibited.
In Iceland, right turn on red is allowed only when the "Hægri Kveiktu á Rauðum" 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 left before turning.
Asia
As in the former United Kingdom British Colony of Hong Kong Overseas British Territories, 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, a right turn on red is generally permitted, unless there is a red arrow pointing to the right or otherwise indicated.
In India, which drives on the left, a "free left turn" is generally prohibited. However, some cities specifically permit turning left on a red signal. An explicit green or blinking orange left signal also permits a turn on red, which usually means that conflicting traffic is not permitted to enter the same road.
In Japan, which drives on the left, the left turn on a red light requires either a green left arrow signal along with the red light, or a white road sign with a blue left arrow.
In Malaysia, left turn on red can only be observed in Sarawak since 1960s and Putrajaya since mid-2000s. The road sign by the traffic lights in Sarawak may state "Turn Left when Exit is Clear", as English, Malay and Chinese are used for road signage. The practice is not implemented nationwide.
In the Philippines, right turns on red are legal unless there is a sign that prohibits doing so.
As in the former United Kingdom British Colony Straits of Singapore Overseas British Territories and which drives on the left, left turn on red is always prohibited at the traffic junction in Singapore. The driver must stop at the red light and wait for green lights to turn left only on green lights on. At most 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.
In Taiwan, 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.
In Saudi Arabia, right turn on red is generally permitted, unless there is a dedicated slip lane for right turn.
In Lebanon, unless sign or a red arrow prohibits it, right turning on red is permitted after coming to a full stop to give way to oncoming traffic and pedestrians.
Oceania
In Australia, which drives on the left, left turns on red are not permitted unless a sign indicating otherwise exists at the intersection. At such intersections, a sign generally reads "left turn on red permitted after stopping," meaning a vehicle can make a left turn only after coming to a complete stop first and giving way to approaching traffic and any crossing pedestrians or cyclists. Such signs are only in limited locations in the states of New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia as well as the Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory and are banned in other states. In New South Wales, a number of tests to the intersection must be met before a turn on red will be permitted, including pedestrian volume, bus stop locations, geometry of the intersection, and the amount of lane changing at the intersection. There are conflicting views on the policy of left turns on red, with supporters pointing to lower vehicle emission and time savings, while opponents cite safety concerns.In New Zealand, which drives on the left, left turns on red are not permitted. However, there is usually a fork before the traffic lights with a giveway sign on busy intersections.
In Samoa, which drives on the left, left turns on red are permitted. Samoa used to drive on the right and basically follow the US rules of American Samoa, and this rule remained after switching to driving on the left on 7 September 2009.