Turning right on red is a standard maneuver any licensed driver should be comfortable with, amirite?

Just because it's legal doesn't mean it's safe. I will always turn right on red when it's reasonable for me to do so, but there are certain intersections with bad visibility where it would absolutely be irresponsible.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Just because you're allowed to turn right on red doesn't mean it's always safe. People in my town drive way over the speed limit, don't use blinkers and change lanes in intersections. It's better to be safe than to try to get somewhere a couple minutes early.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Right on red when it is safe to do so. I decide when it is safe to do so. Thank you.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

OP experienced some road rage today

by Anonymous 1 year ago

It's not only about feeling safe but also about making sure you don't hit someone due to poor visibility. But I guess that's the thing with drivers who usually care about themselves only.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Can and should are not synonyms.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

it being legal doesn't mean it's safe, i'd rather be safe and make a proper decision about turning instead of being impatient.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I've been almost hit by drivers because they are only looking for traffic, not pedestrians. They approach a cross walk, don't see any cars coming and gun it, ignoring any bikes or walkers. Drivers need to have less freedom to move. Not more.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Your definition of opportunity may be different than mine, I drive an old SUV that only has a 4 speed transmission which means that it's SLOW and that I'm not taking a gap where I can barely make it. Same goes with people towing trailers and semi trucks (ones carrying hazards like gasoline arent even allowed to turn right on red)

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I agree. I will often have moments when I am to turn where I think "I probably could have made that", but in those cases, I still feel better having waited a bit longer. Waiting for an opening might cost me several extra minutes. Getting into accident is going to take up significantly more time, and might really hurt someone

by Anonymous 1 year ago

It's not about what you're comfortable with, it's about what's safe. Rights on red increase pedestrian deaths, and unprotected lefts increase collisions. Nearly every country in Europe bans most turns on red, and they're fine. And protected lefts are better in high volume areas whenever possible.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

It would be left turn on red here in the UK and it is not a thing, anywhere. Most junctions would have pedestrian lights, and if not they would have left filter arrows when it is safe to do so. Roundabouts also help a lot. We have some of the safest roads in the world.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

It's completely crazy how much Americans value cars over just about everything else. I live in a city with some of the highest rates of pedestrian deaths, and every time there's a proposal to make it safer there's always a bunch of people going "but muh freedoms!"

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I think I've seen someone *not* turn right on red when safe to do so once or twice in my entire life. Most people are too aggressive, not the other way around. Where on Earth do you live that people are afraid to turn right on red?

by Anonymous 1 year ago

If you cant wait another 10-25 seconds, you're a selfish jerk

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Life pro tip: Leave 3 minutes earlier next time.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

This sounds like a Murica moment….

by Anonymous 1 year ago

We can't turn on red here in Japan. Drives me nuts.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I determine when it's safe for my being and others around me. There been countless times of impatient AHs honking behind me. Then 5 seconds later some other AH speeds up to the intersection going 10-20 over the speed limit. God for bid they allow their fragile egos to have someone get Infront of them. I am not turning right in unsafe conditions so you can get to your destination 30 seconds faster.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Jesus christ. Driving in another country sounds awful. Why would you go when it's red??

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Why would you wait if traffic is clear?

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I'm from the uk. If a light is red, you wait.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I'm sorry, that sounds terrible

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Why? If you don't have the patience to wait 30 seconds for safety, that says more about you than me. It's a much clearer and safer instruction than telling someone if it's clear, they can go because you'll always have some idiot who hasn't judged it correctly and crashes. Although, to be fair, we have fewer traffic lights because we can use roundabouts.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

It just seems like a waste of time to sit on an empty road and wait for a light to change. I turned right on red thousands of times and I haven't had a problem yet.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I guess. You hardly weight long because of sensors and cameras and, like I say, I'd rather wait 30 seconds than be hit by someone driving poorly. I'm curious what it means by turning right, though? A system like that wouldn't work here because often a junction isn't that clear cut.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Sometimes I forget you guys drive on the wrong side, rights are pretty straightforward here

by Anonymous 1 year ago

But even turning left, there isn't always a left hand turn, or it might cross another lane or sometimes you have give way rounds that lead into traffic light junctions. Not knowing if someone's going to turn or not would be super dangerous. Our junctions aren't all just 4 way crossroads.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Our roads are obviously a lot different, I'm not even sure what you're talking about

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Because you can get a ticket for running on red light 🤷 Here, in Poland, we have some monitored crossroads to catch anyone who crossed the intersection on red light

by Anonymous 1 year ago

In the US turning right on red is perfectly legal unless there is a sign indicating otherwise

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Ah, US, a wild country where everything is turned upside down...

by Anonymous 1 year ago

We do seem to have a lot of liberties others don't

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Canada allows it too. They're more similar than people think lol.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

The fact it's legal is stupid. I'll be sitting waiting to go straight and there's always an asshole who's too impatient to wait behind me to turn when the light is green, so they sneak between me and the sidewalk/side of the road. I've absolutely seen people almost hit pedestrians as well as other vehicles. Half the time they leave barely a foot of room between us and I swear one of these days I'm going to get sideswiped by one of these idiots and they'll just drive off.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

> If you don't feel safe doing that then you are not qualified to operate a motor vehicle. LOL. I can't take you seriously.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

No thanks, I rather drive safe and don't get fined

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Exactly, everyone should drive according to their own skills and comfort.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Everyone should drive according to the rules

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Not unpopular. a lot of the time people just use that time to text or change the song on thier phone

by Anonymous 1 year ago

When I'm turning right on a red I leave my turn signal off until I see an opportunity to go then I turn my signal on and go, got sick of people honking.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Amen!

by Anonymous 1 year ago

How do you know if it's legal?

by Anonymous 1 year ago

It's legal if there isn't a sign saying otherwise. In Canada and the US anyway. That said, everything in the OP will get you points on a driving test in Canada if it's bad enough to be an issue.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

>if there isn't a sign saying otherwise Not always the case. I lived in a city where it wasn't legal, and they actually had signs to let you know which lights you could make a right on red at

by Anonymous 1 year ago

It is in the US

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Not often I see a truly unpopular opinion. Points to OP.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

For left on green I can understand, but sometimes the traffic is really bad and its hard to find an opening. But right on red is optional, if someone doesn't want to go right on red thats up to them. If you're such an impatient driver that you can't wait for the light to turn green then you should not be on the road.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

None of those things are unpopular. They're just knowing how to drive. So is left turn on red from one one-way street to another one-way street. The latter is not "unpopular", but it may be lesser known.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

You can turn left if it's on a one way also Thanks for the driving tip

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Someone got mad that they had to wait at a light for an extra 30 seconds didn't they

by Anonymous 1 year ago