# Are right turns on red optional?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-right-turns-on-red-optional/421760>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 6, 2007, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-right-turns-on-red-optional/421760 "2007-10-06T16:21:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 5

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**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\
**Post date:** [October 13, 2007, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-right-turns-on-red-optional/421760/81 "2007-10-13T00:46:43Z")

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[QUOTE=Bearflag70]  
Although they may have the right to do so, it is irksome to be blocked by someone who fails to turn right on red when the coast is clear (and I can also see the coast is clear).  
[/quote]

I have to imagine that the honking isn’t because the person’s simply not going, but because they can go, and they refuse. What everyone says about safety, comfort, not being able to see is perfectly valid, but if you have no excuse not to go, then you’re just a bad driver. Clearly you have no _legal_ obligation to go, but you have a _social_ obligation to go. If you’re not a social driver, then sorry, you’re a bad driver.

> [@](#):
>
> Another bugger is when people fail to turn left on red from a one-way street to another one-way street when it is safe to do so.

Here in Michigan (and I assumed everywhere, knock on wood, no tickets yet) the only requirement is that it be _onto_ a one-way road. You don’t have to be on a one-way road to make the turn. This drives me batty, too, because by not knowing the rules, you’re (again) a bad driver.

I’ll add another one – you’re allowed to complete left turns on a red light. What do I mean? We have a lot of boulevards, and in order to turn left you’ve got to cross the boulevard and the oncoming traffic. Let me explain: there’s northbound traffic on one side, and southbound traffic on the other side, with the boulevard dividing them. Let’s say we’re heading north. The crossing point is designed so that you can make a U turn back towards the south, and sometimes also a left turn from your lane of traffic so that you hit a smaller road that goes to the west. These are often controlled by lights. Once you’re stopped at the light, the U turn becomes what you’d call a left turn (to go south), or straight (to go west). You’re allowed to go straight towards the west on the red light, because you’re really only completing a left turn. The stopping area on the boulevard doesn’t constitute a road. On some of the more congested spots, the cities are considerate enough to remind the populace that yes, please complete your left turn after stopping on the red (it’s red, you’ve still got to stop!). But most such turns aren’t marked. Also please cross reference Michigan Lefts if this description is lacking.

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**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\
**Post date:** [October 13, 2007, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-right-turns-on-red-optional/421760/82 "2007-10-13T00:48:27Z")

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[retracted – operator head-space error was committed]

I’m typing this because it’s not operator head-space. The BBS is screwing up, and now I’ve got to add extra text. ::sigh::

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