NeoPatrick

"Guys, the OP posted over a year ago."

And your point is. . .? I responded directly to a new post which was about red arrow lights, not just regular red lights. Was I not supposed to?

And Gretchen and Dukey, yes, you're both explaining why this is so complicated to many. Different states clearly have different meaning for a red arrow light! In some states it specifically means you cannot turn when it is eliminated, and in others it means you can!

NeoPatrick

"eliminated"? Damn spellcheck. Thought I was typing "when it is illuminated".

Surfergirl

This actually is a topical conversation, since the rules do change from year to year.

Before I go to Europe and drive, I get familiar with the rules of the road of the country I'm visiting, since the rules do change. For instance, I remember a few years back drivers in England were getting "done" for eating while driving. And the newish highway cameras in France and in England have changed how people on those roads drive.

I also remember the time when California was one of the few places that had the right turn on the red light . . . it was a remark Woody Allen made in Annie Hall (I don't want to move to a city where the only cultural advantage is being able to make a right turn on a red light)that clued me in that rules of the road might be different state to state. But that was in 1977 . . . nearly 40 years ago.

So, in the States (other than NYC), you may make a right turn on a red light, but only after stopping (no California rolls). In California (and I suspect other states), but particularly in LA, there has been a recent crack down (i.e. ticketing) for those who make the right turn, but a pedestrian is in the cross-walk. The pedestrian has to pass the point where you are making the turn before you move. When you have a big street, they may be at the other side, a full 15 seconds away, and you still cannot turn, so long as they've stepped into the intersection. Of course, LA has decided to ramp this up a notch by starting to ticket pedestrians who start their march well after the red hand and second countdown is going, since that forces a back up of drivers wanting to make a right turn on a green light.

On the red arrows . . . In CA, if there is a red arrow, left or right, you can't make the turn in the direction of the arrow. What pisses me off is when there was a green arrow to turn left, but that ends and the green light is still on, and some people think they can't make a left after the green arrow goes away. You have to honk to get them into the intersection. Especially those phased intersections where the green arrow never goes on if there aren't the right number of vehicles in the intersection, So they sit for a year and a half waiting for a green arrow that never comes.

needmorevacation

Topherella- from the link you posted- "You can make a right turn at a steady red light after you come to a full stop and yield the right-of-way to oncoming traffic and pedestrians. "

So it is NOT illegal to make a right on red, if you stop, there is no sign, and you're not in NYC...

NeoPatrick

Needmorevacation, but he wasn't talking about turning right at a solid red light. He made clear the issue was at a red arrow light, and the same link you quoted makes it clear you can't turn right at a red arrow until it turns green. It's right below the line you quoted.

Ozarksbill

When in the Boston area DO NOT turn right on a red light. Usually this is clearly marked and if it isn't I mull it over. It is true like emalloy says often cars continue through an intersection through yellow and red too. All this was new to me moving from Missouri.