Left turn on red.

On my first trip to Colorado a few years ago I noticed that left turns are permitted after the green arrow disappears and goes to amber for a time instead of red. I have since noticed there are other states that have this option. I am either breaking the law or this is a good idea except at very busy intersections. I believe it helps to keep the traffic moving.
Has any one else been aware of this.  Howard

The only left turn on red permitted I know of is in o-HI-o are on one way streets. I don't know how comfortable I'd be with that system unless I were there using it.

MN also has a left turn on red if the rider has waited an "unreasonable" time and the light hasn't changed. Although, the rules of the road still apply meaning it has to be safe to turn on red with no traffic coming etc. It's the same with a right turn on red.

Dale N. wrote:

MN also has a left turn on red if the rider has waited an "unreasonable" time and the light hasn't changed. Although, the rules of the road still apply meaning it has to be safe to turn on red with no traffic coming etc. It's the same with a right turn on red.

that's fine but now if a LEO sees that you have to convince them your time was correct, arbitrary laws draweth large

Here the DOT is putting amber left turn arrows that blink after the green turn light ends, and continue flashing until the green through light turns red. As the amber turn arrow is flashing you can make a left turn as long as there are no oncoming traffic. Is this what you are referring to NWSSC?

Oregon has had the flashing amber arrow for years. It means you can turn left if oncoming traffic allows.

MN is also starting to put in the flashing amber arrows. My son lives in Foley, MN and they have those at the highway intersection.

The only drawback to flashing amber arrows is that you have to watch them carefully because there's no warning when the stop flashing amber and turn red.

Hi All,
Been awhile since I checked, but do believe here in Kansas that motorcycles are allowed the left turn on red because they might not be heavy enough to set the light sensors.

Most states allow a left on right or a straight through if the bike doesn't trigger the light. In Oregon you are required to wait out a complete cycle of the light to be sure it's the bike not triggering it. Of course if no one is around... If a tree falls in the forest....

exavid wrote:

The only drawback to flashing amber arrows is that you have to watch them carefully because there's no warning when the stop flashing amber and turn red.

The flashing light in Foley, MN I mentioned is timed with the green light. Once the green light turns amber the turn arrow goes solid on and quits when the main light goes red. So we do get some sort of warning when we will have to gun it or stop.

In Texas (or at least in Tyler) when the light is blinking yellow arrow- it will go to a solid yellow before going red, just as with other lights.
We now have some that blink with red double arrow vs solid red double arrows to indicate right turns at busy intersections as well.
I know this is an old post- but thought it may be nice for those not familiar with this

Dale N. wrote:

The flashing light in Foley, MN I mentioned is timed with the green light. Once the green light turns amber the turn arrow goes solid on and quits when the main light goes red. So we do get some sort of warning when we will have to gun it or stop.

I've seen cagers that seem to think that what the traffic lights mean is: Green = go, yellow = go faster and red means go really, really fast.  

Erm!!! Am I missing something here?
If you drive on the right then you have to cross traffic approaching from the left to get to the far (right) side of the road - whereas when you turn right you are joining one stream of traffic from the left.

Surely this post is about turning right on red not Left???

Mind you I don't know how anyone survives driving on the wrong side over there!

JB

at busy intersections with lots of accidents- they do a flashing red arrow for RIGHT turns. if it is flashing red you can go when there are no cars coming, but if it is solid red you cannot turn RIGHT

Texas Traffic Law
Right turns on red are permissible when safe to do so with a curb to curb turn (no crossing lanes)
Left turns on red are permissible when safe and performed curb to curb (no crossing lanes)
this limits left turns on red to one way streets intersecting one way streets except in the following circumstance:
if you pulled into the intersection to make a left turn while the light was green, and the light is now yellow, oncoming traffic is supposed to give you the right of way, so you can clear the intersection for crossing traffic

I've never been in Tyler, never seen flashing yellow to solid yellow to red, but cities can add their own traffic restrictions to state traffic laws