Is driving to the right front considered going straight?
2 Answers
In the straight lane, proceeding to the right front when the traffic light is red, and the right-turn lane signal is also red, constitutes running a red light and driving in a lane not as prescribed. According to the "Regulations for the Implementation of the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China": Article 40 Lane signal lights indicate: (1) When the green arrow light is on, vehicles in this lane are permitted to proceed in the indicated direction; (2) When the red cross light or arrow light is on, vehicles in this lane are prohibited from proceeding. Article 41 The arrow directions of directional signal lights indicate left turn, straight, and right turn when pointing left, up, and right respectively. Article 42 A flashing warning signal light is a continuously flashing yellow light, alerting vehicles and pedestrians to pay attention and proceed after confirming safety.
Speaking of this issue, I recall my own experience when I first started learning to drive. The instructor always emphasized that going straight means you don't turn the steering wheel, and the car keeps moving forward; while moving to the right front may sound like describing a situation at an intersection, in most cases, it actually involves a turning action, such as needing to turn right onto another road at a fork. It's not going straight because the path of going straight is straight, with no change in direction. This is very important in daily driving, especially at intersections controlled by traffic lights: the straight-ahead sign is usually an upward arrow, while diagonal arrows indicate a change in direction. I've seen many novice drivers confuse this, ending up in the wrong lane, getting penalized, or causing congestion. Remember, checking road signs and clear navigation descriptions is key to avoiding mistakes. After driving for a while, you'll understand that these small details can save a lot of trouble and improve driving safety.
