Left hand turns on red lights

[Anonymous]

I don't know what is going on but I have seen numerous instances recently of people making left hand turns on solid red lights. Is this legal? I have never seen its around here before.

[Anonymous]

It's legal if both the road you are on, and the road you are turning to, are one-way streets... and of course there's no "no turn on red sign"

[Anonymous]

If it’s truly a left turn when the light is red, how could it be legal? Wouldn’t the cross traffic have a green light?

The only thing that makes sense is if the car enters the intersection before the light turns red, and gets caught. If it remains there, it may impede the cross traffic - or cars turning in front of it. cIn that case, the car would either have to go forward or backward to get out of the intersection. In these cases I think the safer move is to go forward if all is clear.

[Anonymous]

Are you behind these cars seeing that the light is red or on the other side of the intersection?

I’ve been at red lights before and been surprised someone coming the other direction is turning left and then realize their side of the light has a green arrow.

But who knows, there are some awful drivers out there so it wouldn’t surprise me if people just don’t want to wait for the light. Wish we didn’t have to share the road with these inpatient a holes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's legal if both the road you are on, and the road you are turning to, are one-way streets... and of course there's no "no turn on red sign"

This. Then it’s the exact situation as a right on red. Yielding to the traffic coming from the right and going when it’s clear. Only when both roads are one-way does this work.

[Anonymous]

When I grew up in CA the unofficial rule was two cars on red. Once the light turns and no more cross traffic, two cars quickly turn left before the cross direction turns green. Otherwise no one would ever get to turn since there is so much traffic and not enough left hand turn lights.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If it’s truly a left turn when the light is red, how could it be legal? Wouldn’t the cross traffic have a green light?

The only thing that makes sense is if the car enters the intersection before the light turns red, and gets caught. If it remains there, it may impede the cross traffic - or cars turning in front of it. cIn that case, the car would either have to go forward or backward to get out of the intersection. In these cases I think the safer move is to go forward if all is clear.

+2

Also, are you sure it's not a blinking yellow arrow? VDOT rolled that put awhile back .

[Anonymous]

I have been behind these cars and the light has been solid red - they were not caught by light turning red. The street is outside my house and it's two lanes on each side with a grass median in the middle. The cars either make a traditional left turn on to a cross street or they do a u-turn into the opposing traffic lane.

[Anonymous]

If a car is already pulled into the middle of the intersection to turn left, which is what you are supposed to do (but keep your tires facing straight!), but oncoming traffic never stops, then it is legal to proceed and finish your left turn on red after the oncoming traffic finally finishes rudely running the yellow light. Otherwise, in some places, the left hand turners will back up traffic indefinitely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's legal if both the road you are on, and the road you are turning to, are one-way streets... and of course there's no "no turn on red sign"

No, not in DC. Left on red is illegal, regardless of whether the roads are one way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it’s truly a left turn when the light is red, how could it be legal? Wouldn’t the cross traffic have a green light?

The only thing that makes sense is if the car enters the intersection before the light turns red, and gets caught. If it remains there, it may impede the cross traffic - or cars turning in front of it. cIn that case, the car would either have to go forward or backward to get out of the intersection. In these cases I think the safer move is to go forward if all is clear.

+2

Also, are you sure it's not a blinking yellow arrow? VDOT rolled that put awhile back .

Yes, it's a solid red light at an intersection - two lanes going west and two lanes going east with grass median in between.

[Anonymous]

No, it's not legal (other than certain rare situations described above) and yes, people do it. A loved one is now recovering from her second surgery caused by a driver who turned left on red, from a lane that had lane markers indicating straight only and a "no left turn" sign. His moment of careless or impatience caused her and many others years of problems.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, it's not legal (other than certain rare situations described above) and yes, people do it. A loved one is now recovering from her second surgery caused by a driver who turned left on red, from a lane that had lane markers indicating straight only and a "no left turn" sign. His moment of careless or impatience caused her and many others years of problems.

Was this in DC, VA or MD? I am in VA and have noticed it happening frequently lately and just don't know where this bad habit is coming from?

I'm sorry about your loved one, PP. I hope they make a full recovery.

[Anonymous]

Cars or motorcycles? Motorcycles have different left on red light rules.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cars or motorcycles? Motorcycles have different left on red light rules.

cars