![]() 08/22/2016 at 15:21 • Filed to: rules of the road, dashcam, caught on dashcam | ![]() | ![]() |
That this maneuver:
Though thought to be illegal at the time by me, it was in fact, 100% LEGAL! According to Wisconsin State Legislature’s “Rules Of The Road”:
Vehicular traffic in the leftmost right-turn lane of a roadway that provides 2 right-turn lanes may make a right turn on a red signal into a lawfully available lane that is 2nd to the rightmost lane for traffic moving to the right.
Now I have seen signs at intersections like these that say “No Turn On Red From Left Lane” and assumed it was a state-wide law. Nope. Only in the case of:
No turn may be made on a red signal if a sign at the intersection prohibits the turn on a red signal.
Hrm. TIL.
I suggest EVERYONE look up their state’s laws and see what the particulars are of every driving scenario. Sometimes you learn stuff that will help you out on the roads.
![]() 08/22/2016 at 15:26 |
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Interesting. I didn't realize that was legal either.
![]() 08/22/2016 at 15:28 |
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Hmmm, guess I’ll be taking a look at that law in NJ.
![]() 08/22/2016 at 15:30 |
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Pretty much. Unless there’s a sign saying NO TURN ON RED | THIS LANE, then you’re pretty much good to go.
Also, Jesus H. Christ, 4 signals for a 2 right turn lanes? You only need two for two lanes(or two for one lane).
![]() 08/22/2016 at 15:32 |
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I’ve known that’s legal for a while, but too often I get stuck by someone who will wait for the green light when it’s clear to turn.
So yeah, people should learn these things to avoid holding up traffic. It’s just as bad when I want to turn left on red from one one-way to another.
![]() 08/22/2016 at 15:32 |
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Detroit law is:
If no one sees you run a red light, you didn’t run a red light.
![]() 08/22/2016 at 15:34 |
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Neat!
Different states sometimes have laws that are worded in a way that you might not expect.
I was surprised to learn that (in Michigan) in the event of a power outage, a “dark signal” does NOT become a four-way stop. Instead, the intersection reverts to “uncontrolled” status, and you may pass through (without stopping). If there are other vehicles, right-of-way defaults to whomever gets there first. Basically, it’s a four-way yield: you only have to yield (or stop) for someone already in the intersection.
![]() 08/22/2016 at 15:44 |
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When I moved to IL, I had to re-take the written portion of my drivers’ test (as well as the written part of the motorcycle test, if I wanted to keep my M endorsement). This is a good thing.
I got one question wrong on the drivers’ test, and it was related to a left turn on a divided highway. They asked where you should stop while you wait for traffic to clear to make your left turn.
I read the question a half-dozen times before answering that you should wait behind the stop line. Somehow, I was wrong. Apparently, the law says you should pull forward into the intersection as far as safely possible and proceed once the intersection is clear.
I guess if you’re in the intersection when it turns yellow, the theory is that it should clear before the light turns red so you can safely turn. I don’t think that ever happens.
![]() 08/22/2016 at 15:48 |
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My guess is that it’s a blind curve and they really wanna make sure you know the color of the light.
![]() 08/22/2016 at 15:49 |
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A lot of people don’t seem to know that you can make a left turn or red from a one-way street to another one way street. Which seems like common sense, but apparently not.
![]() 08/22/2016 at 16:14 |
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I know in Nebraska it is legal to do a left turn on red if you’re going from a one-way road to a one-way road.
It’s extremely helpful in Lincoln, that town is full of one way streets.
![]() 08/22/2016 at 16:43 |
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I had a driver enter an intersection with a flashing yellow arrow that turned red before she had a chance to go. Unbeknownst to her, because she just SAT THERE, is that in WI you’re allowed to clear the intersection on a red if you’ve already entered it.
![]() 08/22/2016 at 16:44 |
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That’s nuts. It’s treated as a 4-way stop here.
![]() 08/22/2016 at 16:48 |
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The other thing to consider is: While it’s legal to turn right on red (if there are no signs preventing it) its not REQUIRED. I’ve seen people get in heated discussions about this, and even some road rage videos on YouTube because a driver wanted someone to turn right on red, and they didn’t feel safe doing so.
If I am behind someone who doesn’t want to turn right on red I just wait for the green. Now....
![]() 08/22/2016 at 16:49 |
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It makes sense now that I looked it up, especially there where the left lane has a clearer view of traffic coming from the left than the right lane does, unless you creep forward into the crosswalk.
![]() 08/22/2016 at 16:54 |
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All the radio stations and news channels here like to “remind” everybody to treat it as a four-way stop. The Michigan State Police even issued a document refuting that and many other misconceptions, but the clarification doesn’t seem to be reaching enough people.
![]() 08/22/2016 at 18:00 |
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This is one I very much agree with and want everyone else to know. If traffic is really heavy and people don’t move into the intersection to make that left, you’ll never get through.
Of course, here in the Bay Area, we seem to love our green/red turn arrows so it hardly matters.
![]() 08/22/2016 at 21:03 |
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Well yeah, but I think in these cases it’s mostly because they don’t know they can do it.
I’ve only ever honked at someone for not turning once. She wanted to go straight into the turn lane at the other side of the intersection. She flipped me off after I laid on the horn while she went straight. I was pretty mad.
![]() 08/22/2016 at 22:31 |
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That would earn a honk from me as well. Happened to me a few weeks back.
![]() 08/22/2016 at 22:51 |
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In New York, one car making a left is allowed to enter the intersection to wait for a chance (in practice as many as fit go in). Given the delay between lights changing I’ve never had an issue with having room to do so. Waiting on the other hand will mess things up, since it will take you longer to clear, and depending on oncoming traffic, you might never get a chance in a left turn yield scenario.
![]() 08/22/2016 at 22:53 |
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Yeah, common sense but it does feel sort of wrong. On the other hand, in college there was an intersection where everyone turned left on red from a two way street to a one way street, which somehow felt more right (neither street was busy, so the traffic light was overkill, a two way stop on the cross street would have been fine.)
![]() 08/23/2016 at 17:11 |
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There is a turn off a frontage road on my way to work where the right turn I make has its own lane after you make the turn, so that there is no need to stop, there is no yield sign and no light pointing to this lane...but sometimes people still stop as if they need to wait for cars to pass to turn. Happened this morning. I didn’t this morning as they started moving when I approached, but that definitely deserves a honk. And then they should be forced to turn around and take 35S into downtown in rush hour.
![]() 07/20/2020 at 21:13 |
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Left turn one- way street to one-way also both left turn lanes may go after stop