# Obnoxious behavior in traffic **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 25, 2004, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obnoxious-behavior-in-traffic/261437 "2004-08-25T13:57:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monster)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2004, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obnoxious-behavior-in-traffic/261437/41 "2004-08-26T16:46:17Z")
> [@KarlWinslow](#): > > This brings to mind a 4th gripe: > > 1. People who honk at you for not turning right on red, when there is a NO TURN ON RED sign **in plain view for all to see!** What on earth are they thinking?! Funny story which the OP may know the intersection involved. In Englewood CO, at the intersection of Quebec and County Line Road, there is a stoplight. If you are heading east on Cty Line, there is a “No Right Turn on Red” sign at Quebec. However, when the N/S traffic on Quebec gets their left turn signal, those who are turning right from Cty Line to southbound Quebec get a green arrow. BTW, those turning right are all in a “Right Turn Only” lane. I was the second car in the lane. We got the green arrow, and the car in front of me didn’t turn. I waited a moment, and then blipped my horn. I could tell she got very agitated and started pointing at the “No Turn on Red” sign. I laughed, and pointed at the green arrow, which was right below the sign. She still didn’t get it, and waited until the entire eastbound lane got their green light before she turned. Maybe the sign confused her, because the solid light WAS red, but just below it was the green right turn arrow. Maybe there is a better way to be more clear. ---
**Author:** ![Bongmaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Bongmaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bongmaster)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2004, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obnoxious-behavior-in-traffic/261437/42 "2004-08-26T21:08:11Z")
> [@KarlWinslow](#): > > 1. There’s no law that says that if you’re turning right, you HAVE to turn on red instead of waiting for green. Turning right on red is merely an option. I usually do it, but there are intersections where, even though there is no No Turn On Red sign, I don’t feel I have enough visibility (sometimes because of the nature of the intersection, sometimes because there’s a monster SUV waiting to turn left blocking my view) and would prefer to wait for green. I try not to do this at intersections where I would hold up traffic behind me going straight, but even where I’m in a right turn lane or on a shoulder, and people can go around me, the inevitable moron will pull up behind me and lean on his horn because I’m holding up HIS chance to make a right turn for 15 seconds. > and rushes toward me. So much for obeying the law and trying to drive safely. I have to disagree with your position here. I know you are not required by law to turn, but you are _expected_ to turn when there is no traffic. If you are holding up people who are very often in a hurry to get somewhere then you can expect to hear about it via horn. There are very, very few practical circumstances where I could imagine not turning on red when no traffic was coming. 9 times out of 10 it is someone who just isn’t paying attention or does not know the law and that is about the most aggravating thing in the world when you need to be somewhere. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obnoxious-behavior-in-traffic/261437.md?page=2)