Can You Turn Right at Two Parallel Red Lights?
4 Answers
As long as there is no red right-turn arrow, no right-turn prohibition sign, and no sign prohibiting right turns on red, you can turn right. The following are the traffic light rules at intersections: 1. When encountering a red light: Vehicles (including bicycles, motorcycles, and electric vehicles) cannot go straight or turn left, but can turn right. Pedestrians who have already entered the crosswalk can continue to cross or wait at the centerline of the road. 2. When encountering a green light: Vehicles can go straight, turn left, or turn right (pay special attention to the directional arrows on the traffic light). However, turning vehicles must not impede the passage of through traffic or pedestrians.
I've encountered a similar situation before while driving and thought about it. When a regular circular red light is on, you can theoretically make a right turn as long as there's no 'No Right Turn on Red' sign at the intersection. But two red lights side by side are a bit special—they might be arrow signals specifically controlling the right-turn lane. If both are red right-turn arrows, then turning is absolutely prohibited; if one is a circular red light for straight traffic, you'll need to check the status of the signal corresponding to the right-turn lane. Last month, I saw this design at the intersection of Liberation Road, where they installed a dedicated indicator light for the right-turn lane. In such cases, the safest approach is to observe the traffic signs or follow the lead of local drivers ahead. Also, pay extra attention to pedestrians at crosswalks when making a right turn—sometimes the signal prioritizes pedestrian crossing.
It depends on the specific type of traffic light. With over twenty years of driving experience, I've seen all kinds of signal configurations. Standard circular red lights usually permit right turns, but side-by-side red lights indicate it might be a combined signal group. If there's a left red light with a right-turn arrow alongside a circular red light, you should follow the arrow signal. I remember at certain intersections in Shenzhen, two parallel red lights actually control different lanes separately - you must clearly identify which signal corresponds to your lane. Once when driving my child to the hospital intersection, I saw the right-turn lane had a solid red light and had to stop and wait. Also note some cities implement special regulations, like certain areas in Shanghai that prohibit right turns on red lights year-round.
The setup of traffic signals is indeed nuanced. A regular full-circle red light generally permits a right turn, but two side-by-side red lights likely indicate arrow signals. For instance, if the left light controls straight-through traffic and the right light controls right turns, drivers must obey their respective signals. The safest approach at such intersections is to stop and observe, confirming whether the red light in your direction allows passage. My routine is to first check the road markings, then look up at the directional arrows on the signal group. A reminder for novice drivers: always check blind spots by turning your head before turning right, as electric scooters may suddenly appear. Many cities now implement these dual-light configurations at major intersections to achieve more precise traffic flow control.
