Thanks for honking - I _know_ I can...

[luvmy3]

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.

When its LEGAL and SAFE to sit at the light, the only dangerous ones are the ones getting their you know whats in a wad because they have to sit there. I'd be more worried about them and the way they are behind the wheel than the person just waiting for the light to turn green

 

[Mermaid02]

When its LEGAL and SAFE to sit at the light, the only dangerous ones are the ones getting their you know whats in a wad because they have to sit there. I'd be more worried about them and the way they are behind the wheel than the person just waiting for the light to turn green

There is an ebb and flow of traffic- there are rules that we all follow- things go pretty well when we all follow the rules- four way stops- passing when appropriate-merging onto the interstate- RIGHT ON RED- it's when someone doesn't follow the rules that it messes everyone up, because if folks follow the rules, we know what to expect.

Nobody's panties are in a wad- nobody is impatient- they merely expect their fellow drivers to follow the rules of the road. If you are too afraid to turn right on red when it is SAFE AND LEGAL to do so- turn in your license.

 

[luvmy3]

There is an ebb and flow of traffic- there are rules that we all follow- things go pretty well when we all follow the rules- four way stops- passing when appropriate-merging onto the interstate- RIGHT ON RED- it's when someone doesn't follow the rules that it messes everyone up, because if folks follow the rules, we know what to expect.

Nobody's panties are in a wad- nobody is impatient- they merely expect their fellow drivers to follow the rules of the road. If you are too afraid to turn right on red when it is SAFE AND LEGAL to do so- turn in your license.

The rule of the road is that you have an option to either turn, or stay stopped. It is safe and legal to do either. If you feel that others need to follow "your" rules while they are driving, then maybe it is you that need to turn in your license.
I'm not going to go tit for tat with you any longer, we each have our opinions.

 

[paintnolish]

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

Yeah, me too. I call it a reminder honk- a little tap. I wouldn't lay on the horn. That's for people who cut me off!

 

[Mermaid02]

The rule of the road is that you have an option to either turn, or stay stopped. It is safe and legal to do either. If you feel that others need to follow "your" rules while they are driving, then maybe it is you that need to turn in your license.

Yep- go ahead and sit there when it's perfectly safe and legal to turn. It makes a lot of sense.

They aren't my laws/rules and a safe turn is different for different people. My husband makes turns I would NEVER make, I believe that is why you do not HAVE to turn on red, but if there is NOTHING coming, why wouldn't you feel safe to turn?

 

[SundaeAfternoon]

... 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.

I feel ya! I also love the people who honk at you when it's a NO TURN ON RED intersection. Hello??? Can't they read?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Yes I would have honked too. Particularly if the road was totally clear and I had been sitting behind you for the last 6 months!

Good. Now let's say the oncoming traffic is over a rise, view partially blocked by the road design along with trees and buildings, and you haven't been waiting behind me for six seconds once traffic apparently cleared.

For the record, I couldn't find any law requiring that a driver turn right on a red light under any conditions in this state. Allowing it, sure. Demanding it? No.

 

[RayaniFoxmur]

What if there are two turn right lanes?

There's an intersection by where I live where there's two lanes for turning right. I was always taught the only right on red lane was the curb lane, as was the law in the state I grew up in. But people turn right on red out of both lanes!

That makes me extremely uncomfortable. I don't know if it's actually allowed here (I've been told no before) or if people are just impatient because they drive NUTS here. This is a dangerous intersection as it is... and I hate it! I won't turn right on red if I'm in that second lane. And people still yell.

 

[lillygator]

why on earth would you CHOOSE to wait for a green arrow if there was no oncoming traffic?

 

[EMom]

If the way is clear and your turn signal is on, yet you are not turning right on red, I will likely assume you are yakking on your cell phone, texting, or if we're in Florida.......shaving your privates in anticipation of a visit with your boyfriend. The first day, I'd give you a pass, but if it happened every day for six months, yeah.....I'd honk and hope the razor didn't slip and cut you.

 

[kaytieeldr]

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

Ah, but how can it be the FLOW of traffic if we're all STOPPED because of a red light?

And whoever mentioned "like a stop sign" - don't get me started on the apparent complete invisibility of those in Massachusetts!

 

[diznygirl]

I got honked at for not turning right. There were about twenty girls crossing the street in front of me. I don't know how the person behind me couldn't see them. But there ya have it - sometimes the person behind doesn't have as good a view.

 

[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.

And not only would I beep-beep at you, but if I was also traveling the same intersection five days a week and was stuck behind you several times, indicating that this was a pattern of yours, I would be writing down your plate number and calling it in so that a patrol officer can keep an eye out for you and explain the rules of the road to you.

 

[Evil Genius]

Good. Now let's say the oncoming traffic is over a rise, view partially blocked by the road design along with trees and buildings, and you haven't been waiting behind me for six seconds once traffic apparently cleared.

For the record, I couldn't find any law requiring that a driver turn right on a red light under any conditions in this state. Allowing it, sure. Demanding it? No.

Sounds like you are now making excuses for not turning. If the road were that dangerous, the state would have it posted as a no turn on red. Maybe you need to find another route to where you are going. Can I ask how you know it was exactly 6 seconds? Yeah I would have thought you were texting, enjoying your morning coffee and cig or just in your own little world. I would have honked at you too.

 

[kaytieeldr]

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?!?!

Nope. I'm the kind of person who stays out of the far right lane (so I don't have to slow down for entering traffic), drives at or up to ten miles above the speed limit in the next lane/s, and uses the passing lane to, well, pass - and then moves back over to a traveling lane... as the road was designed

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?

Specifically, as the last apparent oncoming vehicle proceeded through the intersection, the light on that (main) road turned yellow, then red, followed immediately by our light turning green. So, about three seconds from when the last permitted car went through and when we got the green light.

Again, if you are AFRAID to turn right on red when it is LEGAL AND SAFE

I'm not afraid. I've been driving since before the gas crisis that initiated the "right on red" movement. I commuted to Boston every day for ten years. NOTHING scares me (well, maybe a couple of ice storms, but that's it). Even stupid drivers - and man, have we got some! - not afraid.
I turn right on red all the time. Heck, where we grew up, there was a "no right on red" sign -but it was on the traffic light pole on the left... so my brother made up his own "home rule": we grew up there, so we could turn right on red (for the record, I never did - and he never got ticketed!). The city FINALLY removed the sign, after about twenty years.

Given ALL the conditions last night, I made an informed decision this one time to wait for the light to change.

 

[kaytieeldr]

The first day, I'd give you a pass

Nope - just last night

 

[Mermaid02]

Nope. I'm the kind of person who stays out of the far right lane (so I don't have to slow down for entering traffic), drives at or up to ten miles above the speed limit in the next lane/s, and uses the passing lane to, well, pass - and then moves back over to a traveling lane... as the road was designed

Specifically, as the last apparent oncoming vehicle proceeded through the intersection, the light on that (main) road turned yellow, then red, followed immediately by our light turning green. So, about three seconds from when the last permitted car went through and when we got the green light.

I'm not afraid. I've been driving since before the gas crisis that initiated the "right on red" movement. I commuted to Boston every day for ten years. NOTHING scares me (well, maybe a couple of ice storms, but that's it). Even stupid drivers - and man, have we got some! - not afraid.
I turn right on red all the time. Heck, where we grew up, there was a "no right on red" sign -but it was on the traffic light pole on the left... so my brother made up his own "home rule": we grew up there, so we could turn right on red (for the record, I never did - and he never got ticketed!). The city FINALLY removed the sign, after about twenty years.

Given ALL the conditions last night, I made an informed decision this one time to wait for the light to change.

LOL I thought (as did many others I think) that YOU NEVER turned right on red....

Absolutely if you didn't think it was safe you shouldn't do it- let them honk.

 

[punkin]

I got honked at for not turning right. There were about twenty girls crossing the street in front of me. I don't know how the person behind me couldn't see them. But there ya have it - sometimes the person behind doesn't have as good a view.

I remember standing at a green light waiting to make a left turn. The light turned yellow but here was a cop going straight from the opposite direction so I decided to let him go through first (I probably would have made it but decided not to since there is a left only green arrow that comes on immediately). The guy behind me started honking (and I mean leaning on the horn). He then swerved around me on the right and made the left turn in front of me, cutting off the cop, who had to slam on his breaks and barely avoided ramming into him. I doubt he would have done what he did if he had actually seen the cop coming. Sometimes the guy behind you just does not have the same view.

Oh, the cop chased him down with flashing lights. I waved as I drove past.

 

[Mickey's Minion]

Nope - just last night

If it was a one time thing, based on the perceptions of safety, then no big deal.

But your original post came across that you have been doing this 5 days a week for the past 6 months.

 

[RadioNate]

Ah, but how can it be the FLOW of traffic if we're all STOPPED because of a red light?

And whoever mentioned "like a stop sign" - don't get me started on the apparent complete invisibility of those in Massachusetts!

Because if everyone behind you is also waiting to turn you are preventing them from doing so. I'm not at all talking about unsafe conditions but if it is safe and legal to turn, then you are holding up the people behind you from making a safe and legal turn on red.