Do You Need to Obey Traffic Lights When Turning Right?
1 Answers
Vehicles need to obey traffic lights when turning right. Although right turns can often be made directly at many intersections, some specific intersections have dedicated right-turn traffic signals that require waiting for the green light before proceeding. Purpose of Right-Turn Signals: Setting up right-turn red lights serves two main purposes: first, to enhance motorists' awareness of yielding to non-motorized vehicles and pedestrians, reducing conflicts between right-turning vehicles and straight-moving non-motorized vehicles and pedestrians in the same direction, thereby preventing traffic accidents. Second, it improves the traffic efficiency of straight-moving vehicles at intersections, avoiding situations where vehicles compete for the right of way. Indications of Right-Turn Red Lights: Observe the shape of the red light. Generally, right-turn red signals come in two types: circular signal lights and arrow signal lights. If it's a circular signal light, you can turn during both red and green phases, but you must yield to pedestrians while turning. If it's an arrow signal light, you must wait for the green light to proceed; otherwise, you will be penalized for running a red light. Penalty Points for Right Turns at Intersections: When there is no special right-turn red signal at an intersection, the right-turn lane is often shared with other lanes. If there are straight or left-turning vehicles ahead in the right-turn lane, a vehicle that crosses the solid line to use the non-motorized vehicle lane for a right turn will be penalized. Similarly, if a right-turning vehicle crosses the solid line to turn right before fully exiting the lane, it will also be considered a violation and incur penalty points.
