Ozarksbill

A learning situation for us moving from Missouri to Boston area...here there are indeed restrictions most everywhere about no right on red.

Tabernash2

I love the 'right turn on red' rule. It works very well in our city. But, of course, you have to come to a complete stop first, and check oncoming traffic.

We can also make a left turn on red, if going from a one-way street into a one-way street. It doesn't happen often, and if I do it, it feels really strange. I don't think many drivers know this is allowed.

travelerfromtx

Another lesser known fact is that at intersections where U-turns are permitted and controlled by an 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. When the city I live in constructed concrete medians throughout much of the major roadways there were many accidents due to people not realizing this rule. They had to post signs stating the rule and inform people via the local news and paper. All the more reason to come to a complete stop and check oncoming traffic.

Tabernash2

I can't imagine that a driver thinks it's ok to go through a red light to make a right turn, without stopping. That would be really dumb. It's a RED light.

We do have a few intersections where there is a right turn arrow, which is my favorite. Then you don't have to stop if you have a green arrow.

rjasnumberonefan

Michael, I agree. California city driving is a section all its own. You must know where you are going if you are from another state. The signs are so low to the ground that it makes them useless if there is traffic, the exits aren't numbered in some cities, and to top it off, roads have names. Not I-10, but the San Bernardino Freeway or Santa Monica Freeway. You must know Route numbers instead of Avenues or Streets, and you have no clue when you are approaching your exit because they aren't numbered.

Everyone mentions the gridlock and slow driving in LA. While I've seen it up and down the coast, I've never been in slow traffic near LA. My advice is know which exit is yours via GPS and an early warning system, then just get to the left hugging the concrete wall until your exit and drive 100mph like everyone else. That is truly the safest way. haha

Actually, it's just like that in South Florida near Miami. Anywhere on I-75, not I-95.

The proper lane driving is from coast to coast sideways.

trover

As someone who lives and drives in NYC, but works and drives in NJ, I find it funny how simply crossing a river changes the way people drive. It's where I was introduced to "whoever hits the gas first does what they want" - that took some getting used to and some close calls when someone making a left darted out in front of me. Of course, this will only happen on local streets. And I must admit I am a jug handle convert.

The reason most east coasters drive in the middle and/or left lane is that it is easier for motorists getting on and off if the right lane is free. NY/NJ/CT/MA have a lot of old parkways that are 2 lanes with a lot of traffic and lots of entering exiting, if everyone drove in the right lane it would really slow things down.

lindagj

What states do not allow right turns on red?

vjpblovesitaly

Where did you get the idea that entire states don't allow it?

Gretchen

intersections where U-turns are permitted and controlled by an arrow from the left-most lane, motorists turning right on red onto the same road must yield to those making U-turns before turning,

Well, bully for you, but that is not necessarily true elsewhere. So check it out.

thursdaysd

"if everyone drove in the right lane it would really slow things down."

Nonsense. It just requires people smart enough to understand merging. Europeans manage it fine, Americans seem to have difficulty.

Ackislander

"Nonsense. It just requires people smart enough to understand merging. Europeans manage it fine, Americans seem to have difficulty."

The ability to merge varies widely in the US. In my experience, drivers in NJ are an order of magnitude better than in New England.

travelerfromtx

I wasn't trying to one up you Gretchen. I was just sharing something I did not know previously and learned relatively recently. I did try to check it out, as you so rudely suggested but was unable to find where that was not the case. Would you be so kind as to let me know where this is not true?

NeoPatrick

I'm trying to picture that whole UTurn thing. So I'm sitting in a right lane to turn right and the light is red, but to my right there is a car with a green light making a UTurn and thereby turning into the lane that I need to also go in. Where in the world would it be legal for me to cut in front of him rather than yield to him since I have a red light and he has a green light?

So I'm with travelerfromtx on this one. Gretchen please explain where it wouldn't be necessary to yield to that Uturn maker, but it would be legal to cut if front of them as they make their green UTurn and I take the right of way?

AAFrequentFlyer

What states do not allow right turns on red?

I can't think of any.

There are some busy intersections that will have signs that you're not allowed to turn right on red light but overall it's allowed everywhere.

Finally, you do have to stop and give pedestrians the right of way, so unless there is a sign prohibiting it then you're good to go.

Dukey1

Thank you to all of those people who do not live in Florida and have decided we are "very impatient" (yet we apparently remain IN our cars rather than jumping out to "have a conversation" as is reported in the DC area above.

I am so relieved I cannot tell you.

As to how things are in Charleston, they are still trying to figure out why they lost "the recent unpleasantness" so you can understand the thing about U-turns.

NeoPatrick

What states don't allow a right turn on red after stop? Apparently none.

From Ask.com

"All states permit drivers to turn right on a red signal after a complete stop if the intersection is not designated otherwise by posted signs. New York City now is the only major jurisdiction that prohibits the turn."

So, please note -- it is worth mentioning that such a turn IS illegal in NYC. I don't think I've ever known that, and I'm pretty sure I've done a few of those.

Fabio

Wow ! Good lesson ! Thank you. Now I know it for the future. As it is illegal in EU to make right with red light I wrongly assumed it was the same in the US. Here red = stop and not = stop + go with above mentioned rules. It was my fault not to check it in advance, but I could not even imagine that it was allowed. That's why I did not even check it.
I did not turn right with red because I was afraid to be ticketed. The reason why I was never honked in the past I simply do not know. Probably I was just lucky to find less impatient drivers.

hopingtotravel

What about the red arrow on the right turn light? There's no sign saying don't turn. but...

rjasnumberonefan

Dukey1, You're welcome. I'm glad you're so relieved. *insert wink of sarcasm* Having driven in Florida for nearly 50 yrs, I stand by my opinion that patience is not a virtue many drivers here possess.

gail

Fabio - thanks for going a good sport about all this. Although they are trying to standardize traffic signals in US, there are still some confusing oddities. Red and yellow lights flashing at the same time used to mean stop for pedestrians - but since you are always supposed to do that, not sure the point. A flashing red light means stop and proceed if safe while a flashing yellow light just means "caution". Near where I live there is a flashing green signal, but I have no clue what that means. Many areas in Florida have sensible road patterns, well marked intersections, turning lanes - so perhaps people expect cars to behave.

If you ever want a US driving adventure, come on up to Boston and try to figure out roads, signage and traffic - since many roads were paved onto old cow or cart paths.