Can You Turn Against a Red Arrow?

What should you do when you see a red arrow pointing to the right?
  • A. Come to complete stop and proceed only when the way is clear.
  • B. Come to complete stop and wait for a green light.
  • C. Proceed slowly and carefully if the way is clear.

You may be surprised to learn that the answer is different depending on where you drive in the United States.

Solid Red Light

The common rule in United States is that you must come to a full stop when you reach a traffic signal with a solid red light. You must stop at the marked limit line or before moving into the crosswalk or intersection. After stopping, you may turn right against the solid red light if the way is clear and no sign prohibits the turn. The same usually applies when turning left from a one-way street onto another one-way street.

This is also the rule in California. The California Vehicle Code (V.C. 21453) states:

(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.



Red Arrow

Many states don’t have different rules for the red arrow and the solid red light. Turns that are allowed when the solid red light is displayed, are also allowed when the red arrow is shown.

Other states prohibit all turns against a red arrow. In these states, you must stop at a clearly marked limit line or before entering the crosswalk. If there isn’t a stop line or crosswalk, you must stop before entering the intersection. You must then remain stopped until the light turns green, or a flashing yellow arrow is displayed.

California is one state that prohibits all turns against the red arrow. The California Vehicle Code (V.C. 21453):

(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.

Red Arrow with a Green Light

You see a traffic signal with both a green signal and a red arrow. It means you may proceed in direction permitted by the green signal. You may go straight ahead or turn in a direction not prohibited by the red arrow. You cannot turn in the direction of the arrow.




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