Can You Turn Right on a Red Light When Driving a Motor Vehicle?
3 Answers
Whether motor vehicles can turn right on a red light depends on the following situations: Circular traffic lights: If the circular traffic light at an intersection turns red and there are no other lights, vehicles in the right-turn lane can turn right directly. However, be careful not to interfere with other vehicles, as well as pedestrians and vehicles on the road behind and to the right. Arrow-shaped right-turn indicator: If there is a circular red light and an arrow-shaped right-turn sign next to it, you need to look at the right-turn arrow light. When the red arrow is lit, you cannot turn right. If you turn right, it will be considered running a red light. A sign added to the circular red light: At some intersections with complex road conditions, you may encounter a reminder above the traffic light indicating whether you can turn right on a red light. If the prompt says "Right Turn on Red," then you can turn right. If the prompt says "No Right Turn on Red," you must wait for the green light to turn right. No right-turn sign: When encountering a circular traffic light, you should also check if there is a no right-turn sign nearby. If there is, you cannot turn right either. The rightmost lane is not a right-turn lane: In some areas, the rightmost lane may not necessarily be a right-turn lane. You should drive according to the lane markings on the ground, not the circular traffic light. Laws and regulations: According to the "Regulations for the Implementation of the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China," motor vehicle traffic signals and non-motor vehicle traffic signals indicate: When the green light is on, vehicles are allowed to pass, but turning vehicles must not hinder the passage of straight-going vehicles and pedestrians. When the yellow light is on, vehicles that have already crossed the stop line can continue to pass. When the red light is on, vehicles are prohibited from passing. At intersections without non-motor vehicle traffic signals or pedestrian crossing signals, non-motor vehicles and pedestrians should follow the instructions of the motor vehicle traffic signals. When the red light is on, right-turning vehicles can pass if they do not hinder the passage of other vehicles and pedestrians. According to the "Road Traffic Safety Law," the regulations on traffic lights are as follows: Article 25, Paragraph 2 states that traffic signals include traffic lights, traffic signs, traffic markings, and the command of traffic police. Article 26 states that traffic lights consist of red, green, and yellow lights. A red light indicates prohibition of passage, a green light indicates permission to pass, and a yellow light indicates a warning. Article 38 states that vehicles and pedestrians should follow traffic signals; when there is a traffic police officer directing traffic on-site, they should follow the officer's command; on roads without traffic signals, they should pass under the principle of ensuring safety and smoothness. Article 62 states that pedestrians should cross intersections or roads via pedestrian crossings or overpass facilities; when crossing at a pedestrian crossing with traffic signals, they should follow the traffic signals; when crossing at an intersection without traffic signals or pedestrian crossings, or when crossing a road without overpass facilities, they should ensure safety before crossing. Article 89 states that pedestrians, passengers, or non-motor vehicle drivers who violate road traffic safety laws and regulations regarding road passage will be given a warning or fined between 5 and 50 yuan; non-motor vehicle drivers who refuse to accept the fine may have their non-motor vehicles impounded. Driving a motor vehicle in violation of traffic signals will result in a 6-point penalty. Precautions for right turns: Pay attention to straight-going vehicles on the left: When turning right, you should look both to the right and the left for oncoming vehicles. Pay attention to left-turning vehicles from the opposite direction: In addition to observing straight-going vehicles, you should also check if there are left-turning vehicles from the opposite direction. When turning right, pay attention to vehicles on the left, whether they are turning left or going straight, and let them pass first. Pay attention to pedestrians: When turning right, besides the crosswalk in front of the intersection, there may also be a crosswalk at the corner. When turning right, pay attention to whether there are pedestrians on the crosswalk.
I've been driving for over a decade and often get asked about turning right at red lights. Actually, it depends on the situation: with a circular red light and no prohibition signs, turning right is generally allowed, but you must slow down and watch for pedestrians. If there's a red arrow light, you absolutely cannot turn, even if cars behind you honk. Some intersections in big cities have 'No Right Turn' signs, which require special attention. Safety is crucial too - when turning right, you must yield to through traffic and pedestrians on crosswalks, especially during rainy days with poor visibility. Last time in Hangzhou, I saw someone get fined for not yielding to pedestrians, so it's better to lose three seconds than risk one second.
I recently studied traffic regulations, and here's the rule about turning right on red: You can turn right at a circular red light unless there's a prohibition sign, but you must never turn right at an arrow red light. The key is to pay attention to road markings and roadside signs, such as those with a crossed-out right-turn arrow indicating no turns. Another tip is to observe the traffic light configuration – if there's a dedicated right-turn signal, you must wait for the green light. In practice, always yield to pedestrians, as electric bikes sometimes dart out from the right-turn lane, which can be particularly dangerous. Enforcement details vary by city, so it's advisable to check local regulations before driving in unfamiliar areas to avoid tickets.
