Rules of the road
Lesson 2 · Turns and crossings

Can you turn right on a red light?

Short answer

In all 50 states you may turn right on red after a complete stop, unless a sign says No Turn on Red. You must yield to cross traffic and people crossing.

Watch it play out

How to do it

  1. Stop fully at the line, before the crosswalk.
  2. Look for a No Turn on Red sign.
  3. Look left for cars, and check the crosswalk to your right.
  4. Turn into the right lane when there is a safe gap.

Why the rule works this way

Allowing right turns on red keeps traffic flowing, but the cross street has the green light. You are fitting into their traffic, so you wait for them.

Common mistakes

  • Rolling the turn without a full stop.
  • Missing a No Turn on Red sign.
  • Only looking left and missing someone in the crosswalk.
State differencesNew York City bans right on red unless a sign allows it. Some states, like California and Virginia, do not allow turning on a red arrow unless a sign says so.
In VirginiaRight on red is allowed after a full stop unless a sign says no. Left on red is allowed only from a one-way street onto another one-way street. See all Virginia rules

Questions people ask

Can I turn left on red?

In most states you may turn left on red from a one-way street onto another one-way street, after a full stop. Check your state rules.