Red lights – we all dread them. Waiting around, especially when you’re in a hurry, is never ideal. But, as you approach a red light to take a right hand turn with no sign stating “No Turn On Red”, you’re lucky enough not to have to participate in the waiting game. Before you make your turn around the corner, there are a few precautions you should take into consideration.
- Before you do anything you must obey the red light and come to a complete stop in the rightmost lane with your turn signal on. Make sure you stop behind the limit line (or crosswalk or intersection if there is no line). There’s no need to roll the stop and end up with a ticket or cause a collision.
- Yield to oncoming traffic, motorcyclists, and bikers. Most importantly, yield to pedestrians, as they have the right of away. Even if they are waiting for the walk sign, for their safety, wait to turn. If there is a heavy flow of traffic, you may be better off waiting until you have a green light. It’s important to be patient.
- Hug the corner but be mindful of bike lanes and bikers. As you look over your right shoulder with your signal on, get ready to turn and make sure there are no bikers sneaking up behind you. As you begin the turn, hug the right curb to avoid the next lane of traffic.
As you advance towards a red light, ready to make a right turn, remember these three key safety tips to properly approach a red light. Turning right on a red light sounds simple, but using these tips will ensure the safety of you and those around you.