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Where Is It Legal to Turn Right on Red?

By Susan Meyer

Updated September 23, 2026

Reviewed By Beth Swanson

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Which states allow right turn on red?
Cities that don't allow right turn on red
Why ban right turn on red?
Consequences for turning right on red when illegal

Can Turning Right Ever Be Wrong?

In most of the U.S., the right turn on red – that is, turning against a red light after yielding to all pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists who have a green light — is a time-honored part of traffic law. It turns an impatient wait at a stoplight when no one else is going to a quick stop, look, and go. But while many take these laws for granted, worldwide it’s the exception, not the rule. For example, while most of the U.S. and Canada allow drivers to turn on a red light, it is illegal in most of Europe.

And even in the U.S., before you make that turn, you should know that in some cities, right-on-red is illegal as well. And the legal landscape is shifting. Largely concerned for pedestrian safety, some states and major cities are rethinking whether saving a few seconds on a commute is worth the trade-off.

Which States Allow Right Turn on Red?

You can actually turn right on red in all 50 states, provided the following conditions are met:

The driver comes to a complete stop before the crosswalk or stop line.
The driver yields the right-of-way to oncoming traffic, cyclists, and pedestrians.

With so many of the states having radically different traffic laws, why do they all agree on this one? Interestingly, it all traces back to the 1970s oil crisis and the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975. Prior to the 1970s, few states had right-turn-on-red laws on the books. But a provision of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act said that for states to receive federal funding for conservation programs, they had to add these laws. The reasoning was that reducing idling at stop lights would conserve fuel.^[1] Notably, later research shows the fuel conservation effects of right-on-red laws are only marginally effective in select circumstances.^[2] This is particularly true now that many modern vehicles have automatic start-and-stop engines that consume little to no fuel while idling at stoplights.

Nuances in State Laws

While the default rule is "yes," states handle specific red-light scenarios differently:

Red Right Arrows: In most states, a solid red right arrow means the same thing as a round red light. However, in states like California, New York, Virginia, North Carolina, Minnesota, and Nebraska, turning right on a red arrow is illegal unless a posted sign says otherwise.
Left Turn on Red: In 38 states, drivers can turn left on red if turning from a one-way street onto another one-way street.

City with Restrictions on Right Turn on Red

Because of concerns for public safety, some densely-populated cities, especially those with a lot of pedestrian traffic and cyclists, have chosen to create their own laws around right turn on red.

New York City

The biggest exception in the country is in its largest city, which has a blanket ban on right turns on red unless a sign explicitly states otherwise.
Washington, DC

The nation’s capital also passed legislation banning right turn on red at most intersections.
San Francisco

While not a blanket ban, San Francisco also prohibits right turn on red at 200 intersections in major transit corridors with high pedestrian traffic.
Seattle

In a different approach, Seattle is outlawing right turn on red as a default in all newly built or newly upgraded traffic signals.
Atlanta

Much like San Francisco, Atlanta doesn’t have a blanket ban, but restricts right turns on red in densely populated areas of the city.

Why Cities Are Banning Right Turns on Red

Other cities are also considering the possibility of restricting right turns on red. The reasons are almost always in response to public safety concerns. Often, drivers turning right on red are making an effort to look for oncoming cars to avoid by looking left, but are failing to look right for pedestrians crossing or cyclists approaching in the bike lane.

Pedestrian injuries and deaths from cars have risen in recent years. From 1970 to 2009, they were actually falling, but starting in 2009, they began to go up.^[3] In the U.S., more than 7,000 pedestrians were killed, and more than 71,000 pedestrians were injured in 2024.^[4]

Now, since these laws have been around since the 1970s and pedestrian deaths were falling until relatively recently, we know that right-on-red laws did not cause pedestrian deaths to rise on their own.

So what has changed?

For one, vehicles have gotten bigger, with taller hoods and larger front blind spots. This can make it harder to spot shorter pedestrians and children. Light trucks accounted for 54% of pedestrian fatalities where a vehicle type was known in 2023, compared to 37% for passenger cars.^[5] Additionally, increasing cell phone use has only amped up the number of distractions that keep people from looking both ways before making a turn.

Some studies show that eliminating the right turn on red can help. For example, the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) found that adding no turn-on-red restrictions at target intersections in Washington, D.C. reduced instances of drivers failing to yield to pedestrians by 92%.^[6]

Consequences of Violating Red Light Laws

Failing to obey no-turn-on-red laws is no different than running any red light in terms of consequences.

You can, of course, receive a ticket either from an officer or a red-light camera. In most states, running a red light also counts as a moving violation and can add points to your license. Accumulating too many points can lead to license suspension.

Finally, it can raise your car insurance rates. Because moving violations demonstrate risky driving behavior, your insurance company will often raise your rates after a violation. In the case of running a red light, it’s a 24% increase on average. The ticket can end up impacting your insurance rates for up to three years.

Wrapping Up

For much of the U.S., turning right on red feels like a right, not a privilege. However, even though it is legal in all U.S. states and in most cities, it's important to always look carefully in both directions before proceeding. Pedestrians and cyclists thank you!

Sources

How Right Turns on Red Became the Norm. [Plantizen]

How Right Turns on Red Became the Norm. [Plantizen]
Right Turn on Red: Energy-Saving Measure or Unsafe Maneuver? [United States Department of Transportation]

Right Turn on Red: Energy-Saving Measure or Unsafe Maneuver? [United States Department of Transportation]
Pedestrian Safety. [NHTSA]

Pedestrian Safety. [NHTSA]
Fatality Facts 2024: Pedestrians. [IIHS]

Fatality Facts 2024: Pedestrians. [IIHS]
U.S. Pedestrian Deaths Fall for Second Straight Year. [GHSA]

U.S. Pedestrian Deaths Fall for Second Straight Year. [GHSA]
Analysis of Expanded No Turn on Red Applications in Washington DC. [ITE Journal]

Analysis of Expanded No Turn on Red Applications in Washington DC. [ITE Journal]