# Right turn on red from 2nd lane - legal in California? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 18, 2005, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-turn-on-red-from-2nd-lane-legal-in-california/295153 "2005-03-18T16:51:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DarrenS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@DarrenS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarrenS)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-turn-on-red-from-2nd-lane-legal-in-california/295153/1 "2005-03-18T16:51:17Z")
I’m thinking of the situation where you are turning right from a road that has two right-turn lanes. There are no signs prohibiting RTOR. If you’re in the right lane, by default you can do it. How about if you’re in the 2nd-from-right lane? Can you make a RTOR? There’s an intersection like this near me, and drivers seem torn on whether they may do it or not. The CVC doesn’t seem clear about it - all I could find was this: [http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/hdbk/pgs16thru17.htm](http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/hdbk/pgs16thru17.htm) > [@](#): > > SOLID RED. A red signal light means “STOP.” You can make a right turn against a red light after you stop and yield to pedestrians, bicyclists, and vehicles that are lose enough to be a hazard. Make the right turn only when it is safe. Do not turn if a “NO TURN ON RED” sign is posted. ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-turn-on-red-from-2nd-lane-legal-in-california/295153/2 "2005-03-18T17:36:44Z")
> [@DarrenS](#): > > I’m thinking of the situation where you are turning right from a road that has two right-turn lanes. There are no signs prohibiting RTOR. If you’re in the right lane, by default you can do it. How about if you’re in the 2nd-from-right lane? Can you make a RTOR? There’s an intersection like this near me, and drivers seem torn on whether they may do it or not. > > The CVC doesn’t seem clear about it - all I could find was this: > > [http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/hdbk/pgs16thru17.htm](http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/hdbk/pgs16thru17.htm) That’s the Driver’s Handbook, not the vehicle code. CVC 21453(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. There appears to be no problem with that. I do it myself, and I’m pretty sure I’ve done it in front of a cop. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-turn-on-red-from-2nd-lane-legal-in-california/295153/3 "2005-03-18T18:13:35Z")
FWIW Pleasanton Ca has a number of this type of intersections. There are signs posted Right turn on red only from curb lane. (Or words to that effect) ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-turn-on-red-from-2nd-lane-legal-in-california/295153/4 "2005-03-18T18:17:25Z")
What **Nametag** said. I _know_ I have done so in front of a cop. As long as you don’t cut off oncoming traffic, it is generally ok. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-turn-on-red-from-2nd-lane-legal-in-california/295153/5 "2005-03-18T19:22:42Z")
Gary Richards has a column in the San Jose Mercury News in which he answers questions about driving. This one has come up several times. The rule is simple, and has been answered correctly. If you are allowed to turn right from your lane, and there’s no sign disallowing a right-on-red, then you are allowed to make a right turn on a red light from your lane even if you’re not in the far right lane. Ed ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-turn-on-red-from-2nd-lane-legal-in-california/295153/6 "2005-03-18T19:45:42Z")
> [@DarrenS](#): > > I’m thinking of the situation where you are turning right from a road that has two right-turn lanes. There are no signs prohibiting RTOR. If you’re in the right lane, by default you can do it. How about if you’re in the 2nd-from-right lane? Can you make a RTOR? There’s an intersection like this near me, and drivers seem torn on whether they may do it or not. > > The CVC doesn’t seem clear about it - all I could find was this: > > [http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/hdbk/pgs16thru17.htm](http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/hdbk/pgs16thru17.htm) In Hawaii, it’s okay unless there is signage stating otherwise.