No Turn on Red: When You Must Wait for the Green Light
A NO TURN ON RED sign means you may not turn right (or left) while the traffic light facing you is red, even after a complete stop. Stay behind the stop line and wait until the signal turns green, then turn after yielding to pedestrians. Without this sign, most states allow a right turn on red after a full stop.
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No turn on red quiz: 3 test-style questions
- You are stopped at a red light with a NO TURN ON RED sign and want to turn right. No one is coming. You should: Turn right after a full stop because the road is clear / Wait for the green light, then turn after yielding to pedestrians / Turn right if the car behind you honks / Turn right only if you are in a hurry. Answer: Wait for the green light, then turn after yielding to pedestrians. The sign prohibits all turns while the light is red. Wait for green, then yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk before turning.
- Without any sign, a right turn on a red light is usually allowed: Without stopping, if no cars are coming / Only on weekends / After a complete stop and yielding to pedestrians and traffic / Only with a green arrow. Answer: After a complete stop and yielding to pedestrians and traffic. All states allow right on red after a full stop and yielding, unless a sign prohibits it or local law does (as in New York City).
- A NO TURN ON RED sign has a plaque reading 7 AM – 7 PM. At 9 PM on a red light you may: Never turn / Turn without stopping / Turn only left / Turn right after a full stop and yielding, unless other rules prohibit it. Answer: Turn right after a full stop and yielding, unless other rules prohibit it. Outside the posted hours the normal right-on-red rule applies: stop completely, yield, then turn.
What the no turn on red sign means
The NO TURN ON RED sign (MUTCD R10-11) is a regulatory sign with black letters on a white rectangle, mounted near the traffic signal it applies to. It cancels the normal permission to turn on a steady red light. While your signal is red, you may not turn at all, even after a complete stop and even if the road looks empty.
Every state allows a right turn on red after a full stop and after yielding, unless a sign prohibits it. Most states also allow a left turn on red from a one-way street onto another one-way street. New York City is the best-known exception: right on red is prohibited citywide unless a sign permits it. Some intersections use an electronic blank-out sign that lights up only when turns on red are prohibited, for example while pedestrians have the walk signal.
What to do
- Stop behind the stop line or before the crosswalk, as for any red light.
- Check for a plaque limiting the rule to certain hours or days, or an arrow showing which lane it applies to.
- Wait for the green light (or a green arrow) even if traffic is clear and drivers behind you are impatient.
- On green, yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk you are turning across before turning.
Common mistakes and test traps
- Right on red always requires a complete stop, even where it is allowed. A rolling right turn on red is a violation.
- Red arrow. In many states you may not turn on a red arrow at all; others allow it after stopping. Check your state handbook.
- Pedestrian signals. Many NO TURN ON RED signs are installed because many people cross there; looking only to the left for cars is the classic mistake that hits pedestrians on the right.
- Railroad crossings. Where tracks cross the street just beyond the turn, the sign is often posted so that no one turns on red and ends up stopped on the tracks.
Where you see it
NO TURN ON RED signs appear at intersections with heavy pedestrian traffic (downtowns, campuses, near schools), where sight distance to the left is poor, where a railroad crossing is just past the turn, where a signal gives a protected phase to conflicting traffic, and in some states where crash history justifies it. They are posted near the signal head or on the far right corner where turning drivers look.
Related signs to know
See the no left turn and no U-turn signs, and the signal ahead warning. Light colors, arrows and flashing signals are explained in the traffic lights and pavement markings guide; all sign families are in the road signs guide.
No turn on red FAQ
Is right on red legal in every state?
Yes, after a complete stop and yielding to pedestrians and traffic, unless a sign prohibits it or local law does, as in New York City.
Does NO TURN ON RED apply to left turns?
Yes. It prohibits any turn on the red light, including a left turn from a one-way street onto another one-way street.
Can I turn right on a red arrow?
It depends on the state. Some states prohibit any turn on a red arrow; others allow it after a full stop, like a red circle. When in doubt, wait.
What does the sign look like?
A white rectangle with a black border and the black words NO TURN ON RED. Some intersections use an electronic version that lights up only at certain times.
Official sources
- FHWA — Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)
- NHTSA — Pedestrian safety
- IIHS — Red light running
Keep studying
- No left turn sign
- Signal ahead sign
- Traffic lights and markings
- Traffic signal test questions
- All US road signs
- Practice tests by topic