Can You Turn Right Without Looking at the Traffic Light?
3 Answers
At most intersections in most cities, you can turn right directly without affecting other vehicles, but you must yield to pedestrians. This is a relatively easily overlooked traffic violation. It is important to note that this applies to circular traffic lights. If the traffic light is an arrow style, the only thing to do is wait in place until the right-turn arrow turns green before making the turn. The following are the descriptions of traffic light signals: (1) Green light: Vehicles and pedestrians are permitted to proceed, but turning vehicles must not obstruct straight-moving vehicles or pedestrians who have the right of way. (2) Yellow light: Vehicles and pedestrians are not permitted to proceed, except for vehicles that have already crossed the stop line and pedestrians who have already entered the crosswalk, who may continue. (3) Red light: Vehicles and pedestrians are not permitted to proceed. (4) Green arrow light: Vehicles are permitted to proceed in the direction indicated by the arrow.
In our driving community, right turns shouldn't be taken lightly. As an experienced driver, I commute through several intersections daily where right turns on red are usually permitted – provided there are no pedestrians or non-motorized vehicles blocking the way. Once when I was in a hurry, I almost hit an electric bike that darted across, which scared me into always slowing down to check my surroundings now. While the law permits this maneuver, it depends on the specific intersection: some have dedicated right-turn arrow signals prohibiting turns when red, or no-right-turn signs requiring full stops. I recommend developing the habit of decelerating, especially in crowded urban areas – don't follow those risk-takers, safety always comes first. Heard traffic enforcement has tightened recently too, with cameras issuing penalty points and fines for violations. Bottom line: better lose three seconds than gamble one, avoid lifelong regrets.
When I first got my driver's license, I was really confused about whether to check the traffic light when making a right turn. The instructor said that in most cases, you can turn right on a red light, but you must ensure it's safe and unobstructed. During my first attempt, my palms were sweaty—I waited for the green light before moving. It wasn't until I practiced more that I started to relax. The key is to observe the traffic signal: if there's a dedicated right-turn arrow, you must follow it; otherwise, always watch for pedestrians and never assume you can ignore all traffic lights. I recommend beginners watch more traffic rule videos to familiarize themselves with local customs—for example, suburban areas might be more lenient, but busy urban intersections are accident-prone. Practicing with a friend is safer, and remember, driving isn't a race—getting home safely is what matters most.
