# Do you ever not turn right on red? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 15, 2012, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-not-turn-right-on-red/621983 "2012-05-15T13:15:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2012, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-not-turn-right-on-red/621983/61 "2012-05-16T12:57:00Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > It’s the same here - I fully expect to get rear-ended when I make a complete stop before turning right on a red or a stop sign here some day. And oh yes, it is illegal here to make a rolling stop - I got the $300 ticket for that a couple of years ago. Ditto- I always make a full stop. I will always use the right on red except when visibility is poor and I’m not 100% confident I can _really_ see if anyone is coming. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2012, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-not-turn-right-on-red/621983/62 "2012-05-17T13:07:44Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > It’s the same here - I fully expect to get rear-ended when I make a complete stop before turning right on a red or a stop sign here some day. And oh yes, it is illegal here to make a rolling stop - I got the $300 ticket for that a couple of years ago. Rolling stops are illegal everywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2012, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-not-turn-right-on-red/621983/63 "2012-05-17T13:55:54Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Rolling stops are illegal everywhere. That doesn’t surprise me; I knew it was illegal here, but since I (and everyone else) get away with it so often, I used to do it regularly. I don’t any more. ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2012, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-not-turn-right-on-red/621983/64 "2012-05-17T13:57:29Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > The way you phrased the poll it seems to imply you always do one or the other, but doesn’t leave an option for sometimes yes, sometimes no. > > I might not turn right on red for a number of reasons: > > [ul] > [li]Someone in a big honkin’ SUV is on my left and I can’t see whether or not there is on-coming traffic.[/li][li]I’m unfamiliar with the location and I’m not sure right on red is OK, so instead of turning I’m looking for a “no turn on red” sign.[/li][li]I’m taking a moment at the red light to do something like adjust my seat/clothes/grab a tissue/change the radio/whatever instead of turning.[/li][li]I’m not in a hurry, so I’ll just wait for the green light (though if someone is behind me I’m not inclined to do that).[/li][/ul] > > Much of the time I do, in fact, turn right on red. Just not always. :rolleyes: You’re right, I should have added more options. like: Do you turn right on red if your car was broken into the other day and now you have a black garbage bag where your driver-side window used to be? ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2012, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-not-turn-right-on-red/621983/65 "2012-05-17T14:00:33Z")
> [@olivesmarch4th](#): > > This. Turning right on red is optional. Too many impatient drivers treat it like it’s mandatory. And where the fuck do you get off deciding when I’m impatient and when I really need to get somewhere? Do you walk down sidewalks with both your arms extended to block traffic, too? ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2012, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-not-turn-right-on-red/621983/66 "2012-05-17T14:18:53Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > Well, the poll question and the thread title are asking two different things. I voted yes, I do turn right on red, but do I ever\* not \*turn? Also yes. Poor visibility, pedestrians, bad road conditions… any number of factors can figure into the decision. You’re never _required_ to turn on red. If there’s any reason to think it’s not safe to do so, heck, I’m not in that big a hurry that I can’t wait for the green. > > And if you’re behind me and you honk, you can _bet_ I’m gonna wait. Go fuck yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2012, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-not-turn-right-on-red/621983/67 "2012-05-17T17:12:57Z")
> [@sparky\_1](#): > > Do you turn right on red if your car was broken into the other day and now you have a black garbage bag where your driver-side window used to be? Can’t say I’ve ever been in that situation… ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2012, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-not-turn-right-on-red/621983/68 "2012-05-17T17:13:59Z")
> [@sparky\_1](#): > > And where the fuck do you get off deciding when I’m impatient and when I really need to get somewhere? Where the fuck do you get off telling me I MUST do something that is actually optional? ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2012, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-not-turn-right-on-red/621983/69 "2012-05-17T17:35:41Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Where the fuck do you get off telling me I MUST do something that is actually optional? :rolleyes: You’re the reason the world will never see a successful socialist state. Happy? ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2012, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-not-turn-right-on-red/621983/70 "2012-05-17T18:02:49Z")
Right turn on red is an option here. Sometimes I do not choose this option for various reasons- finding a radio station, adjusting a seat or steering wheel, or just annoying the soccer mom in the giant SUV with a cell phone clamped to her ear who’s been riding my tail for ten blocks. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2012, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-not-turn-right-on-red/621983/71 "2012-05-17T18:55:56Z")
> [@MrDurden](#): > > Really…? tell me what is wrong with turning right on red even when a ‘No Turn on Red’ sign is there when there is absolutely no traffic coming through the intersection. Most of the time the sign is there just because… some of the times it is there because the intersection has a blind hill or whatever, THAT is when you use reason. I can almost always figure out the reason for a “No Turn on Red” sign, given a little bit of study of a particular intersection, and the reason almost always makes sense. Generally, there are two cases: 1. There is a curve or a hill or some other obstruction just before the intersection, so you can’t see whether a car is coming from the left until too late. 2. The cross street has a very high speed, for example it’s a major highway, so again you can’t see whether a a car is coming until it’s too late. I live in California, where you are allowed to turn right on red at the vast majority of intersections, so the ones with these signs are very few. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2012, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-not-turn-right-on-red/621983/72 "2012-05-17T19:10:44Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > I can almost always figure out the reason for a “No Turn on Red” sign, given a little bit of study of a particular intersection, and the reason almost always makes sense. There is an intersection here that should be a no right on red, but it’s legal. It’s a Y intersection. You just can’t see cars coming for one particular right turn. Buildings are in the way. That, and since this is a resort town, tourists are wandering around cluelessly everywhere. If there are no pedestrians, It’s pretty safe to gun it and not have any problems. If there are people that I have to keep an eye on too, it does not feel safe. ---
**Author:** ![Blackberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blackberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackberry)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2012, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-not-turn-right-on-red/621983/73 "2012-05-17T20:55:43Z")
If you have a reason not to take a free right (adjusting your seat belt or having a sneezing fit or whatever) then fine, but if you’re not in a right turn only lane, just don’t turn on your blinker until the light turns green, so the person behind you won’t have to sit through the whole light wanting to kill you (yeah, yeah, you don’t think they should want to kill you over that anyway. Well they do). ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2012, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-not-turn-right-on-red/621983/74 "2012-05-17T21:03:16Z")
> [@Blackberry](#): > > If you have a reason not to take a free right (adjusting your seat belt or having a sneezing fit or whatever) then fine, but if you’re not in a right turn only lane, just don’t turn on your blinker until the light turns green, so the person behind you won’t have to sit through the whole light wanting to kill you (yeah, yeah, you don’t think they should want to kill you over that anyway. Well they do). Exactly! There are seriously a lot of inconsiderate assholes in this world. If you feel justified impeding someone, then I should be justified in punching you in the face. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2012, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-not-turn-right-on-red/621983/75 "2012-05-17T21:09:05Z")
> [@sparky\_1](#): > > Go fuck yourself. Yeah, this is really strengthening your case that we’re the inconsiderate ones. Stop being so rude. ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2012, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-not-turn-right-on-red/621983/76 "2012-05-17T21:22:17Z")
> [@olivesmarch4th](#): > > Yeah, this is really strengthening your case that we’re the inconsiderate ones. Stop being so rude. :rolleyes: We get it; you get a power trip over controlling someone else (by not moving your ass at the red light). I salute you, you magnificent example of humanhood! (BTW: kindly fuck off) ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2012, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-not-turn-right-on-red/621983/77 "2012-05-17T21:28:39Z")
> [@sparky\_1](#): > > :rolleyes: > > We get it; you get a power trip over controlling someone else (by not moving your ass at the red light). > > I salute you, you magnificent example of humanhood! > > (BTW: kindly fuck off) You realize we’re not in The Pit, right? ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2012, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-not-turn-right-on-red/621983/78 "2012-05-17T21:30:19Z")
> [@olivesmarch4th](#): > > You realize we’re not in The Pit, right? Eh. Whatever. ---
**Author:** ![Gukumatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/74df32/32.png) [@Gukumatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gukumatz)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2012, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-not-turn-right-on-red/621983/79 "2012-05-17T21:30:28Z")
> [@sparky\_1](#): > > Go fuck yourself. > [@sparky\_1](#): > > :rolleyes: > > We get it; you get a power trip over controlling someone else (by not moving your ass at the red light). > > I salute you, you magnificent example of humanhood! > > (BTW: kindly fuck off) **[Mod Hat]** **Sparky** , this is a formal Warning for language and insults. You’ve been here for four years and you should know by now that this is inappropriate anywhere outside the Pit - and even there all variants of “fuck yourself” are banned. Coming back to it with another insult instead of the apology and retraction the situation called for escalated this from a Mod Note to a Warning. Don’t do it again. ETA: Quoted wrong posts. Correct, now. - Gukumatz, IMHO Moderator. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2012, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-not-turn-right-on-red/621983/80 "2012-05-17T21:37:08Z")
> [@sparky\_1](#): > > Eh. Whatever. Thanks, **sparky**. Have a good day. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-not-turn-right-on-red/621983.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-not-turn-right-on-red/621983.md?page=5)