# Left Turn to an One Way Street on Red **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 16, 2003, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-turn-to-an-one-way-street-on-red/175755 "2003-05-16T19:29:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![andy\_fl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@andy\_fl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andy_fl)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-turn-to-an-one-way-street-on-red/175755/1 "2003-05-16T19:29:27Z")
If one is turning left to an one way street, can the person do so by yielding on a red, or does the person has to wait till the lights turn green ? Assume the person is on the leftmost lane. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-turn-to-an-one-way-street-on-red/175755/2 "2003-05-16T19:30:57Z")
In CA, it is legal to make a left turn on red onto a one-way street. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-turn-to-an-one-way-street-on-red/175755/3 "2003-05-16T19:36:19Z")
It is also legal to do in Illinois (except where signs are posted prohibiting it): [http://www.sos.state.il.us/publications/rr/rr\_chap08.html](http://www.sos.state.il.us/publications/rr/rr_chap08.html) YMMV depending on your state. ---
**Author:** ![DeVena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-turn-to-an-one-way-street-on-red/175755/4 "2003-05-16T19:38:22Z")
In AL, it’s legal to make a left turn on red, from a one-way to a one-way. ---
**Author:** ![DeVena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-turn-to-an-one-way-street-on-red/175755/5 "2003-05-16T19:38:22Z")
In AL, it’s legal to make a left turn on red, from a one-way to a one-way. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-turn-to-an-one-way-street-on-red/175755/6 "2003-05-16T19:45:26Z")
I should have clarified my post - in IL, you must be on a one-way street to start with, as well. This is noted in the link that I gave. ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-turn-to-an-one-way-street-on-red/175755/7 "2003-05-16T20:05:08Z")
WA checking in–legal here. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-turn-to-an-one-way-street-on-red/175755/8 "2003-05-16T20:08:56Z")
It’s legal in WI as long as you’re not crossing a lane of traffic going another direction, or otherwise prohibited. ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-turn-to-an-one-way-street-on-red/175755/9 "2003-05-16T20:14:46Z")
It’s essentially the mirror image of **right turn on red** , since when it’s done properly the car is moving from left lane to left lane, not crossing traffic. I assume it’s similarly legal nationally unless posted otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-turn-to-an-one-way-street-on-red/175755/10 "2003-05-16T20:15:12Z")
Legal in NY, if both streets are one way. ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-turn-to-an-one-way-street-on-red/175755/11 "2003-05-16T20:57:52Z")
Legal in Texas (if it is from a one way to a one way). ---
**Author:** ![Hauky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/0ea827/32.png) [@Hauky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hauky)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-turn-to-an-one-way-street-on-red/175755/12 "2003-05-16T20:58:10Z")
Legal in Michigan, and you don’t have to be on a one-way street, just turning onto one. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-turn-to-an-one-way-street-on-red/175755/13 "2003-05-16T21:10:45Z")
NOTE: Legal in CA only turning from a one way street to a one way street. There are no left turn on red if you are coming from a two way street. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-turn-to-an-one-way-street-on-red/175755/14 "2003-05-16T21:13:38Z")
NOTE 2, it is a one way street, not an one way street. O counts as a consonant in this case (let pronunciation be your guide). P.S. do you American types write a herb or an herb ? ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-turn-to-an-one-way-street-on-red/175755/15 "2003-05-16T21:17:31Z")
It’s legal in Michigan from a one-way to a one-way (and to complete a turn around a boulevard island where that is set up to handle left turn traffic–passing through the intersection and then making a left across the boulevard and a right at the intersection). Left on red at one-way intersections is also permitted in Ohio. ---
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-turn-to-an-one-way-street-on-red/175755/16 "2003-05-16T21:39:09Z")
In Virginia, left-turn-on-red from a one-way street to another one-way street is legal unless there is a sign prohibiting it. When I lived in central Richmond, there was one intersection I sometimes would purposely drive to, just so I could make a left-turn-on-red. Then, one sad day, they replaced the traffic light with a stop sign, and my fun came to an end. In North Carolina, for the last five years they have tried to pass the same law, but so far it has been blocked by persons claiming it would endanger blind pedestrians. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-turn-to-an-one-way-street-on-red/175755/17 "2003-05-16T21:44:54Z")
“In CA, it is legal to make a left turn on red onto a one-way street.” Yep, unless there is a sign saying no left turn on red. I hope the OP comes back with their location so we don’t have to do every state in the union 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-turn-to-an-one-way-street-on-red/175755/18 "2003-05-16T21:45:03Z")
You mean it’s normally _not_ legal to turn left on red? No wonder I get so many dirty looks. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-turn-to-an-one-way-street-on-red/175755/19 "2003-05-16T21:48:44Z")
Greg, i didn’t say that, here it is again: "Left Turn Against Red Light On A One-Way Street Only. Signal and stop for a red traffic light at the limit line, if there is one, or before entering the intersection. On a one-way street, you may turn left into a one-way street where traffic moves left if there is no sign which prohibits the left turn. If the light is red, be very careful that you do not interfere with pedestrians, bicyclists, or vehicles moving on their green light. " [http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/hdbk/pgs25thru29.htm](http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/hdbk/pgs25thru29.htm) That page has pretty pictures too 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-turn-to-an-one-way-street-on-red/175755/20 "2003-05-16T23:24:34Z")
In Washington, it’s legal to turn left onto a one-way from a one- or two-way street. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-turn-to-an-one-way-street-on-red/175755.md?page=2)