Turning left on red when the straight has the green light
By Sarah1108
@Sarah1108 (310)
United States
September 10, 2008 10:52am CST
I just wanted to know how everoyne feels about turning left when you have a red arrow but the straight has a green light. From what i have read there are no laws saying you cant do it. So what does everything think about it? if it is safe to turn do you turn?
4 responses
@medney1988 (560)
• United States
10 Sep 08
I'm pretty sure you're not allowed to do it. Because you have a specific light for that lane. I'm sure you can go to DMV and see if they have any rules on it. But i think i'm right. It would be different if you shared a light with the straight lane and it was solid green but since you have your own light and the arrow is red I don't think you can do it.
@Sarah1108 (310)
• United States
10 Sep 08
Well i have asked a few cops about it and they give me the anwer is its up to the cop if they want to write the ticket or not.
@sudalunts (5523)
• United States
10 Sep 08
I think if the cops are saying it is up to them to write the ticket, then it must be an ilegal turn. A ticket wouldn't be written for something legal. I know where I live, the cop wouldn't think about writing ticket, he would just do it. That is why some lights have left arrow lights while the on coming traffic has a red light. I know there is no problem with making a right on red, but some stops specify no turn on red.
@desertdarlene (8910)
• United States
10 Sep 08
I seem to remember learning in traffic school that running a red arrow is considered running a red light. If the arrow is red it means a red light for your lane. However, there are lights where the arrow will be green for the left turn and then all the lights turn green. That is a different story.
@Sarah1108 (310)
• United States
10 Sep 08
Well we have right on red here and even if you have a red arrow you can turn right. its to help keep the traffic flowing. I will say i will only turn left on red if its late at night and not many people are around
@zeroflashx2 (2491)
• Philippines
20 Sep 08
Hey there! Well, here in the Philippines, most of the busy intersections have arrows on the traffic lights and sad to say, a lot of drivers do turn left even if the left arrow is still red. And sometimes, even if the entire lane is red. Cops and traffic enforcers are lenient at times but sometimes, they just pull them over and ask for money (some of them at least).
As for me, if it's red, 95% of the time I'd stay put and wait until it turns green. But if the roads are extremely clear and I see that there isn't a car in sight (for at least around 500 meters or a kilometer) I'd just go ahead slowly but before that, I do respect traffic enforcers and I ask if I could turn left if they are there. 
Take care!
Take care!
