You are on a two-way street, stopped at an intersection. Can you legally turn left on a red light into a one-way street?

"This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja:" (hkt00)
10/06/2020 at 23:20 • Filed to: None

“If you are on a two-way street, stopped at an intersection. You can legally turn left on a red light into a one-way street if traffic allows unless prohibited.”

Am I the only one who did not know this?

DISCUSSION (36)

MiniGTI - now with XJ6 > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja:
10/06/2020 at 23:28

I know you can if it’s two one ways but I did not know about turning onto a one way.

This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: > MiniGTI - now with XJ6
10/06/2020 at 23:30

I'm familiar with right on red, but left on red is a new one to me. Took the practice exam for fun and they got me with that one.

ttyymmnn > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja:
10/06/2020 at 23:32

What wacky state is this legal in?

WilliamsSW > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja:
10/06/2020 at 23:32

Yes, if you’re in the UK, or Japan, or Australia?

This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: > ttyymmnn
10/06/2020 at 23:33

Washington State

Roadkilled > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja:
10/06/2020 at 23:34

It varies from state to state. It’s legal in some cases in Washingon.

https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=46.61.055

Of course, it isn’t written that clearly.

“ However, the vehicle operators facing a steady red arrow indication may, after stopping proceed to make a right turn from a one-way or two-way street into a two-way street or into a one-way street carrying traffic in the direction of the right turn; or a left turn from a one-way street or two-way street into a one-way street carrying traffic in the direction of the left turn; unless a sign posted by competent authority prohibits such movement.”

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja:
10/06/2020 at 23:37

If you are on a one- way to one- way intersection, possibly. Probably it isn’t on the books but I’ve seen plenty of places where it would be reasonable.

But your scenario? HECK NO!

barnie > ttyymmnn
10/06/2020 at 23:39

Used to be legal in Indiana, late 50s. Don’t know if it still is.

Cop was behind Dad at a red light. Dad had his blinker on for left. Cop got out of his car and told Dad, “it’s ok to turn left on red in a one-way !”. He did. Cop went right.

shop-teacher > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja:
10/06/2020 at 23:39

I did know that, but I learned it in my mi d 20's.

shop-teacher > ttyymmnn
10/06/2020 at 23:39

Also legal in Illinois.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja:
10/06/2020 at 23:40

I personally would not try that. You’re not gonna love our cops here.

shop-teacher > WilliamsSW
10/06/2020 at 23:40

Or Illinois.

WilliamsSW > shop-teacher
10/06/2020 at 23:41

huh?

Urambo Tauro > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja:
10/06/2020 at 23:44

Michigan too, according to MCL 257.612 (1)(c)(ii)

Honestly, I don’t know if I’ve ever encountered an opportunity to take advantage of this. And if I have, i t’s definitely not common enough knowledge to a point where people behind me would blow their horn for me to hurry up and make my turn already, like they might in a right-turn-on-red situation.

ttyymmnn > barnie
10/06/2020 at 23:45

Wack.

subexpression > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja:
10/06/2020 at 23:52

Not legal most of the places I’ve been. Lots of places have weird little differences that trip people.

I went through a little town years ago that had signs up at every intersection explicitly stating that U-turns were permitted. I’m sure there was a story behind that .

I lived in an area where all of the small towns had 20mph speed limits . It turned out that there was a state law saying you couldn’t set a limit below 30mph for certain types of street, which covered almost all of the streets in all of those towns. So what was the actual speed limit? Nobody cared , because those towns didn’t have traffic cops .

Chariotoflove > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja:
10/07/2020 at 00:14

That’s me. Apparently it is in MI too. I was indignant in here some time back about how I saw people doing it in Ann Arbor. The good folks here promptly schooled me.

Chariotoflove > Urambo Tauro
10/07/2020 at 00:15

Observed it all the time in Ann Arbor. Always thought it was illegal back then.

TheRealBicycleBuck > ttyymmnn
10/07/2020 at 00:36

It’s not legal in Texas. You may turn left on red if you are in the leftmost lane on a one-way street and are turning left onto a one-way street. Two way? Not it Texas.

http://www.texashighwayman.com/laws.shtml#:~:text=A%20left%20turn%20on%20red,the%20left%2C%20of%20course).&text=Unless%20both%20streets%20are%20one,make%20a%20left%20on%20red.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja:
10/07/2020 at 00:42

It varies by state but yeah. At least in Oklahoma you can make a “free left” from a 1-way to a 1-way. Apparently some states you can from a 2-way to a 1-way but that just breaks my brain .

ttyymmnn > TheRealBicycleBuck
10/07/2020 at 00:43

I knew about the one-way to one-way, I’ve done it many times downtown. The other scenario is nothing I ever would have imagined.

facw > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja:
10/07/2020 at 02:21

Pretty sure it’s n ot legal in Massachusetts. You are allowed to turn left on red from a one-way to a one-way, but I don’t think turning from a two-way is allowed.

I did this all the time at an intersection near my college when I was in school, but I don’t think it was legal there either, just something that seemed low risk.

shop-teacher > WilliamsSW
10/07/2020 at 07:07

You can turn left on red onto a one way street here.

notsomethingstructural > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja:
10/07/2020 at 07:18

One way to one way only in New York State

WilliamsSW > shop-teacher
10/07/2020 at 07:46

Only if you're on a 1 way street as far as I know.

stuckMTB > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja:
10/07/2020 at 07:56

I was taught this is only legal turning from one one-way street onto another one-way street.

haveacarortwoorthree2 > Urambo Tauro
10/07/2020 at 08:21

(ii) Vehicular traffic facing a steady red signal, after stopping before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or at a limit line when marked or, if there is no crosswalk or limit line, before entering the intersection, ... may make a left turn from a 1-way or 2-way street into a 1-way roadway carrying traffic in the direction of the left turn, unless prohibited by sign, signal, marking, light, or other traffic control device.

Wait, unless prohibited by a signal, light or other traffic control device? Isn’t that what the red light is? So in Michigan, if you are stopped at a red light, which prohibits you from entering an intersection, you may enter the insection against the red light to turn left unless there is another light that prohibits it! lol

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja:
10/07/2020 at 08:26

One of the welcome occasions when traffic rules are based in common sense.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja:
10/07/2020 at 09:23

Yeah, that’s weird.

Milky > Urambo Tauro
10/07/2020 at 10:00

All of the highway service drives around Detroit are when I do it. Saw a cop do it a long time ago, thought to myself “what the shit?”, then looked it up.

Urambo Tauro > Milky
10/07/2020 at 10:11

Oh , that’s right! I forgot about the service drives.

shop-teacher > WilliamsSW
10/07/2020 at 10:44

Hmmmm ... OK, I’m not sure then.

WilliamsSW > shop-teacher
10/07/2020 at 11:32

The one way to one way I knew back in college for sure - Sixth and Armory in Champaign is one of those places where you can turn left on red, if you’re on Sixth.

I don’t think it’s legit on a two way street - but you’ll see it done in rural areas when the pavement sensor doesn’t trip, leaving you sitting a long time. I know I’ve done it.

shop-teacher > WilliamsSW
10/07/2020 at 12:48

In about 2002, they completely FUBAR’d the traffic pattern on the Champaign side of campus. They purposely made driving through there so completely effed up, with the idea that people just wouldn’t do it. It was a nightmare when I was delivering for Jimmy Johns through that part of town. I can’t even describe what a cluster it was.

WilliamsSW > shop-teacher
10/07/2020 at 15:07

I could see the need for that though - a lot of pedestrians around there, plus crazy bikers, and 90% not paying attention. And that was long before cell phones existed for me!!!

Haha- I delivered for Garcia’s while I was down there. Roommate delivered for Papa Del’s. That was a great way to make money in school !

shop-teacher > WilliamsSW
10/07/2020 at 19:15

It didn’t work. It just created chaos and backups. It was a total nightmare.

Delivering was a great school job. I delivered pizza for a local place in high school. I liked delivering sandwiches better, because I didn’t have to worry about them getting cold or sliding the toppings off.

Although delivering the fountain drinks sucked. Have I ever told you the straw lady story?