left on red?

[flyersfan1]

I have always wondered about what to do at a red turning signal.

When coming to a traffic light with a dedicated left turn lane and signal: if the turning signal is red and the adjacent signals are green, can I make a left turn if there is no opposing traffic? The way I see it, the turning light is there to help cars turn left at a normally busy intersection, where only one or two cars would legally make a left on green. If that light is red, it is to let you know that you can not freely make a left turn and you should yield to oncoming traffic. I know that there are some lights that specifically say only turn on green arrow. But would that be somewhat likened to a "no turn on red sign"? I have always wondered about this and in driver training was told my point was correct....but I thought it would be better to hear from an officer.

Thanks..

[-Erik-]

Unless things are different in PA, In Michigan a red light means stop until given green to go. Yellow light means slow down/be prepared to stop, green light means proceed through intersection and a flashing red light means stop and then proceed through intersection when safe.

So if the light is red, you stop, wait till it turns green, then proceed to make your turn. Cross traffic or no cross traffic, you stop at a solid red and dont cross till given a green.

However if that light was a flashing red then you can stop, check for traffic and then make your turn when it is safe to do so.

[VSPTAC]

Unless it is:

1. A flashing red left turn signal

or

2. You are turning left off of a one way street to another oneway street

You better not do it in Virginia.

[NavyLT]

**Deleted**

[PABear31]

You'd better not do it in PA either. The left turn signal is that same as any other traffic light and requires the same response. Your's is not the first instance I've learned of that a driver's ed teacher gave incorrect information.

[Fuzz]

California

21453. (a) A driver facing a steady circular red signal alone shall
stop at a marked limit line, but if none, before entering the
crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or, if none, then
before entering the intersection, and shall remain stopped until an
indication to proceed is shown, except as provided in subdivision
(b).
(b) Except when a sign is in place prohibiting a turn, a driver,
after stopping as required by subdivision (a), facing a steady
circular red signal, may turn right, or turn left from a one-way
street onto a one-way street. A driver making that turn shall yield
the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk
and to any vehicle that has approached or is approaching so closely
as to constitute an immediate hazard to the driver, and shall
continue to yield the right-of-way to that vehicle until the driver
can proceed with reasonable safety.
(c) A driver facing a steady red arrow signal shall not enter the
intersection to make the movement indicated by the arrow and, unless
entering the intersection to make a movement permitted by another
signal, shall stop at a clearly marked limit line, but if none,
before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection,
or if none, then before entering the intersection, and shall remain
stopped until an indication permitting movement is shown.


If its a red arrow you must stop and remain stopped........no left turn or right turn allowed with a red arrow. If left turns were allowed there would only be a solid green light and you would need to yield to oncoming cars.

[sharpey31]

In Pa you are in violation of the law Title 75 section 3112 (a )(3)(i), it will cost you $108.00 and 3 points on your license. You are better off waiting for the green.

[Iszi]

I'd like to expand on the original question with these scenarios:

1.) One traffic tree governs both left turn and straight travel lanes at an intersection. (i.e.: Circular red lamp positioned top-center of the tree, with turn-arrow yellow and green lamps below-left, and circular yellow and green lamps below-right) Green and yellow arrows are not lit. Circular green lamp is lit. No other signage is present. Is it legal to make the left turn if traffic in the intersection permits?

2.) Two one-way roads intersect. For this example, one road has only northbound traffic, and the other has only westbound traffic. Are there jurisdictions where (again, traffic permitting) northbound traffic in the left-most lane could turn into the left-most lane on the westbound road during a red light, much in the way a right turn is commonly allowed on a red light?

Edit: According to VSPTAC's post, it looks like scenario 2 is legal in VA? Can someone speak for FL? Thanks.

Edit 2: Looks like Fuzz's post also validates scenario 2 for CA. One other part of it makes me wonder, though:
...unless entering the intersection to make a movement permitted by another signal...

Is this to say that one in a left-turn only lane on a red left-turn light, but having a circular green light, could legally move into the straight-travel lane and cross the intersection? Or (as I'm guessing) is that something governed in another part of the CVC, and this particular exemption is intended to apply to some road where both a turn arrow and a thru arrow (or circular signal) are governing the same lane?

[VSPTAC]

I'd like to expand on the original question with these scenarios:

1.) One traffic tree governs both left turn and straight travel lanes at an intersection. (i.e.: Circular red lamp positioned top-center of the tree, with turn-arrow yellow and green lamps below-left, and circular yellow and green lamps below-right) Green and yellow arrows are not lit. Circular green lamp is lit. No other signage is present. Is it legal to make the left turn if traffic in the intersection permits?

2.) Two one-way roads intersect. For this example, one road has only northbound traffic, and the other has only westbound traffic. Are there jurisdictions where (again, traffic permitting) northbound traffic in the left-most lane could turn into the left-most lane on the westbound road during a red light, much in the way a right turn is commonly allowed on a red light?


Answer to both in VA is YES

[Iszi]

I'd like to expand on the original question with these scenarios:

1.) One traffic tree governs both left turn and straight travel lanes at an intersection. (i.e.: Circular red lamp positioned top-center of the tree, with turn-arrow yellow and green lamps below-left, and circular yellow and green lamps below-right) Green and yellow arrows are not lit. Circular green lamp is lit. No other signage is present. Is it legal to make the left turn if traffic in the intersection permits?

2.) Two one-way roads intersect. For this example, one road has only northbound traffic, and the other has only westbound traffic. Are there jurisdictions where (again, traffic permitting) northbound traffic in the left-most lane could turn into the left-most lane on the westbound road during a red light, much in the way a right turn is commonly allowed on a red light?Answer to both in VA is YES

Anyone for FL?

Thanks.

[Blueribbon]

No left on red in a turn lane with a red light arrow. That would be running a red light. If you are at a red light and a oneway street (left only), no problem.

[LA DEP]

Is this to say that one in a left-turn only lane on a red left-turn light, but having a circular green light, could legally move into the straight-travel lane and cross the intersection? Or (as I'm guessing) is that something governed in another part of the CVC, and this particular exemption is intended to apply to some road where both a turn arrow and a thru arrow (or circular signal) are governing the same lane?

In CA, if you are in the left turn bay, then you MUST make the turn. In the scenario that you gave above, you would be required to wait for the left green arrow, and then make the left turn.

Turning against the red arrow would almost always get you a ducket if you were caught, as it is considered the same as running a red light (and some of the newer 'big brother' red light cameras also work on the turn bays), pulling out of the turn bay and going straight through the intersection on a green light MIGHT attract some attention...esp if a motor see you do it.....

[mac266]

Red means stop. Why do people keep asking this question? Red means stop. Seriously, I'm going to petition my state legislature to mandate ALL drivers go through driver's training again.

[skatr5435]

Pennsylvania Title 75 Section 3112

(3) Steady red indication.—
(i) Vehicular traffic facing a steady red signal alone shall stop at a clearly marked stop line, or if none, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or if none, then before entering the intersection and shall remain standing until an indication to proceed is shown except as provided in subparagraph (ii).

(ii) Unless signing is in place prohibiting a turn, vehicular traffic facing a steady red signal may enter the intersection to turn right, or to turn left from a one-way highway onto a one-way highway after stopping as required by subparagraph (i). Such vehicular traffic shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection.

[Steve in PA]

As indicated above, it is legal in PA to turn left on a red light from one one-way road, onto another one-way road.