Thanks for honking - I _know_ I can...

[LoraJ]

Wow, alot of impatient drivers on the DIS. I would want the person to go but I wouldn't have honked, its a red light, the can choose to stay stopped. They owe us no explanation.

I do honk around here because we are so close to NYC where it is against the law to turn right on red. So many people space and forget they are in NJ. It's not an impatience thing, it's a "hey, you know you can turn now, you're not in NYC anymore" alert.

 

[LuvOrlando]

Maybe it would help to think about the turn on red rule like it was a stop sign. If you approached a stop sign you would go when clear, not wait until the intersection was completely clear of all other cars to cross .... or would you? At least that's how I think about it.

This turn on red thing is usually true everywhere except NYC where it is never ever ok to turn right on red. I grew up there and even now I think twice before going right on red, but I do go. There I think the rule is in place to protect the ridiculously high volume of pedestrians. In NYC the people can barely keep themselves from walking right out into traffic and cabbies can barely keep themselves off the sidewalks.

 

[luvmy3]

I do honk around here because we are so close to NYC where it is against the law to turn right on red. So many people space and forget they are in NJ. It's not an impatience thing, it's a "hey, you know you can turn now, you're not in NYC anymore" alert.

Okay, you are excused I think you are in the minority, most people honk because they want you to get out of their way If you don't have that 1 minute to wait at a light, leave yor house 1 minute earlier

 

[golfgal]

Me as well. Unless there is a sign prohibiting no turn on red, then you have to go or you will be blocking a lane, which where I am from is illegal as well.

I agree, impeding traffic is against the law. You could always take a different route too instead of being rude to all the other drivers that DO want to turn right.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

I would probably beep if you sat there for like 5 minutes with nothing but opportunity...But a few seconds...not a big deal...

***I had to say beep, because after reading HONK so many times, I've discovered that-

A. That word is really funny (go ahead...repeat it out loud a few times...my kids looked at me like I was crazy)

AND B. When you say or hear a word too much it loses meaning... I know...crazy.

 

[Mermaid02]

Wow, alot of impatient drivers on the DIS. I would want the person to go but I wouldn't have honked, its a red light, the can choose to stay stopped. They owe us no explanation.

It's not being impatient and I don't want anyone to turn when it's dangerous- but waiting for the green when you can turn safely on red is ridiculous.

A red light IS like a stop sign if you are turning right- sitting there is impeding traffic and dangerous, you might have cars piling up behind you... why do that unless you are too scared to go, then you shouldn't be on the road anyway.

 

[rgf207]

I would've been honking at you too....

me too

 

[RadioNate]

If it is clear and legal for you to turn on red, turn already. Yeah I would have been honking too. I don't care that the light is going to turn as soon as the traffic clears, if the right turn is clear now and the right turn on red is legal why wait? That seems stupid and it is holding up traffic.

It isn't a matter of not being able to wait. I'll wait if I have to but I should have to because someone chooses not to go when it is safe and legal.

Hi, I think I'm just going to stop at a green light and choose to treat it like a stop sign because hey it's going to turn red in a minute anyway.

I don't know, you choose to hold up the flow of traffic then I guess you also choose to get honked at.

 

[Mickey's Minion]

... turn right on red; I choose to wait for the green arrow. I know it's coming. I've been through this intersection five days a week for the last six months.

It's going to change as soon as the right-of-way traffic clears. Honest. I stopped just this side of the stop line, so the sensors know there's a vehicle waiting. Five seconds, tops - once there's no oncoming traffic and it's safe to proceed, of course.

Right on red is a option, not a rule.

Impeding traffic is NOT an option.

If it was clear and you were just sitting there, I would honk. I would assume that you were texting, talking on the phone, spacing out or doing something else that was taking your mind off the road.

 

[dislaney]

It's not being impatient and I don't want anyone to turn when it's dangerous- but waiting for the green when you can turn safely on red is ridiculous.

A red light IS like a stop sign if you are turning right- sitting there is impeding traffic and dangerous, you might have cars piling up behind you... why do that unless you are too scared to go, then you shouldn't be on the road anyway.

What she said. And if the road is clear and your not turning I will probably be honking.

 

[happygirl]

If it's clear I'm going. I'm not going to hold anyone up by waiting for the light to turn

 

[Dan Murphy]

It's not being impatient and I don't want anyone to turn when it's dangerous- but waiting for the green when you can turn safely on red is ridiculous.

A red light IS like a stop sign if you are turning right- sitting there is impeding traffic and dangerous, you might have cars piling up behind you... why do that unless you are too scared to go, then you shouldn't be on the road anyway.

If it is clear and legal for you to turn on red, turn already. Yeah I would have been honking too. I don't care that the light is going to turn as soon as the traffic clears, if the right turn is clear now and the right turn on red is legal why wait? That seems stupid and it is holding up traffic.

It isn't a matter of not being able to wait. I'll wait if I have to but I should have to because someone chooses not to go when it is safe and legal.

Hi, I think I'm just going to stop at a green light and choose to treat it like a stop sign because hey it's going to turn red in a minute anyway.

I don't know, you choose to hold up the flow of traffic then I guess you also choose to get honked at.

Impeding traffic is NOT an option.

If it was clear and you were just sitting there, I would honk. I would assume that you were texting, talking on the phone, spacing out or doing something else that was taking your mind off the road.

I read the OP and thought that was a strange way to drive. And do agree with the thoughts above and others.

Doing as the OP is stating would be similar to going the speed limit, not a mile over, in the left, passing lane. It may be the speed limit, but thankfully, here in Illinois, a driver can get a ticket for doing the speed limit in the left lane, impeding traffic, even if that other traffic is speeding, even if you are not speeding.

Certainly sitting as a red light with the safe ability to turn right on red, is a clear misjudgment of safety. If one is scared of driving, then one should not drive but rather use public transportation, a cab or some other conveyance.

As for using my horn, I would also, and have, as drivers dose at lights.

 

[Kies99]

me too

I would've honked as well.

OP, you aren't the kind of person who drives really slow in the left lane and I have to pass on the right are you?!?!

 

[robinb]

I would honk too. But it would be more of a beep-beep and not a HOOOOOOOONNNK.

 

[luvmy3]

It's not being impatient and I don't want anyone to turn when it's dangerous- but waiting for the green when you can turn safely on red is ridiculous.

A red light IS like a stop sign if you are turning right- sitting there is impeding traffic and dangerous, you might have cars piling up behind you... why do that unless you are too scared to go, then you shouldn't be on the road anyway.

If there is one lane and the person sitting at the light is turning and the next person is going straight, then its no more dangerous for that first person to sit and wait for a green light than that second person sitting there waiting to go straight would be doing. If there is a seperate right turn only lane, that is why its there, so that cars going straight will not line up behind that person. It may be like a stop sign for you, but unless the law states that you must turn right on red if no traffic is coming, then its really not. Thats just how I see it, I just accept that there are those who exercise their right to sit at a red light instead of turning, and I will end up behind them and have to wait that minute so that I can go, no big deal.

 

[SaraJayne]

We(school buses) are not allowed to use this option in our school district. Buses are big and take a long time to turn right. People get really peeved. BUT...I don't see the need to wait or be afraid to use it if it's otherwise safe. OP, why are you waiting? If you are driving with fear instead of caution and confidence, you may be a hazard. It's like those old folks driving 40mph on the freeway-they are causing danger due to their fear. Why intentionally irk someone?

I wait because there are signs that say "no right on red".

Otherwise, I have no problems turning right on red.

 

[RadioNate]

I read the OP and thought that was a strange way to drive. And do agree with the thoughts above and others.

Doing as the OP is stating would be similar to going the speed limit, not a mile over, in the left, passing lane. It may be the speed limit, but thankfully, here in Illinois, a driver can get a ticket for doing the speed limit in the left lane, impeding traffic, even if that other traffic is speeding, even if you are not speeding.

Certainly sitting as a red light with the safe ability to turn right on red, is a clear misjudgment of safety. If one is scared of driving, then one should not drive but rather use public transportation, a cab or some other conveyance.

As for using my horn, I would also, and have, as drivers dose at lights.

In Illinois you can also get a ticket for driving under the speed limit if they find you are impeding traffic. They will really nail you on the expressway for going slower if traffic is moving at a normal rate of speed. The judge isn't going to dismiss it either, they see it as equally dangerous as speeding.

Bottom line, don't impede the flow of traffic.

 

[Heidict]

So OP, was it clear for you to turn and you just wanted to wait for the green light or did you feel it wasn't safe to turn at that time due to other traffic?


If it is clear and that person sits at a red light, then I may beep my horn at them, figuring that they aren't watching what they are doing or are otherwise distracted. It would depend on my mood though and if I was in a hurry or not.

 

[Mermaid02]

If there is one lane and the person sitting at the light is turning and the next person is going straight, then its no more dangerous for that first person to sit and wait for a green light than that second person sitting there waiting to go straight would be doing. If there is a seperate right turn only lane, that is why its there, so that cars going straight will not line up behind that person. It may be like a stop sign for you, but unless the law states that you must turn right on red if no traffic is coming, then its really not. Thats just how I see it, I just accept that there are those who exercise their right to sit at a red light instead of turning, and I will end up behind them and have to wait that minute so that I can go, no big deal.

Again, if you are AFRAID to turn right on red when it is LEGAL AND SAFE do the rest of us a favor and don't drive. If you just get your jollies sitting there and waiting for the green light because then you feel REALLY safe, turn in your license you're dangerous.

 

[mjkacmom]

I get honked at when there are signs for No Turn on Red. I point at the sign and then they lay on their horns. Welcome to NJ.

LOL - I was recently honked at in a parking lot - I was letting someone walk in front of my car, instead of running them over. OP, I'd honk, because I would think you weren't paying attention (I've been guilty of not realizing the light has turned green). The worst is when you honk because the light has turned, and the driver in front of you doesn't go, and you end up arriving at the same place!