No Right Turn on Red Arrow...in Charlotte, at Least

[Henry]

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/dr-traffic-blog/article35563263.html

However, you can still turn right on a solid red circle at most intersections.

[AlexandriaVA]

True story, I got hit in a crosswalk by a right-on-red motorist while I had the right-of-way to cross on foot. Fortunately it was low speed and it wasn't hurt. Had I not been so frazzled, I would have called her in to the cops.

Right-on-reds are inherently dangerous in non-rural areas, because the motorist wants to look to his/her left to look for oncoming cars, and often doesn't check to see if any pedestrians are crossing in front of them. It also encourages cars to creep into intersections to give them a head start.

I'm fine with right-on-red in rural and suburban areas, but anywhere you've got pedestrians and crosswalks, I think it's a bad idea.

[Ace10]

Granted, this might be because I grew up and live(d) in states that allow rights (and lefts) to be made on red arrows, but I think it's a bad idea to let the shape of a signal determine whether or not it's legal to turn on red. My idea of arrow signals is to let people know that hey, if you're in this lane, you have to turn this direction. I think that should be the only message that's implied. Just because a car is in a dedicated turning lane (with an arrow signal), as opposed to an optional through/turn lane (with a circular signal), shouldn't change the fact that turns on red can't be legally made.

Unfortunately I think the right (and left) turn on red arrow laws are probably the most inconsistent amongst all 50 states. If all states were to adopt a universal meaning for no turn on red arrow, I'd advocate for a flashing red arrow at intersections to note when it is legal to turn. The five states that allow left on red from two-way to one-way (Alaska, Idaho, Michigan, Oregon, Washington) could also use a flashing left turn arrow on two way streets to let drivers know it's OK to turn left onto one-way streets when traffic is clear, something I wish more drivers around here would be aware of.

[jeffandnicole]

My idea of arrow signals is to let people know that hey, if you're in this lane, you have to turn this direction.

"My idea" is probably not what you were taught in driving school.  You can't just decide to make up meanings for different signs and signals.  Tell that to a judge, and he'll give you 8 hours of driving school in addition to a fine and points so you understand the correct meaning of the signal, rather than your meaning of it.

[Ace10]

My idea of arrow signals is to let people know that hey, if you're in this lane, you have to turn this direction.

"My idea" is probably not what you were taught in driving school.  You can't just decide to make up meanings for different signs and signals.  Tell that to a judge, and he'll give you 8 hours of driving school in addition to a fine and points so you understand the correct meaning of the signal, rather than your meaning of it.

If I don't know the meaning of a sign or signal, I look up the relevant state's law, or at least the MUTCD (for those sometimes obscure signs I'm not used to seeing, especially in different parts of the country). That's actually how I discovered left turns on red from two-way streets to one-way streets were legal in Washington and Oregon (and later discovered the same in three other states). I didn't "make up" my own meaning for these signals; I looked up the meanings and what requirements and permissions they give to drivers who meet them.

I'm not naïve enough to think I can make up my own mind about signs and signals and have that stand up in court. I think in my earlier post I could have more accurately stated that "I believe arrow signals should mean..." because that would get my true message across better, and it's OK for me to have a certain belief about them and it's OK for that belief to be in conflict with what someone else believes. However, "my idea" of them is not going to determine my behavior. I'll take the turn legally if I can, and will patiently wait when I can't.

However, I still think arrow signals should first and foremost control those specific turning movements (meaning you must turn in the direction of the arrow) and that the shape in and of itself should not prohibit the turn to be made on red like many states currently prohibit it. If it's unsafe, a "NO TURN ON RED" sign should be posted, or even a lighted sign can be provided and activated when necessary. Lots of states get by with there being no distinction between circular red and red arrows when it comes to turning when they're lit, and they get by just fine. However, I'm not saying that's the right way or the only way to do things, but what I do want is for there to be consistency in the way things are done across the United States because not everyone takes the time to pull up their state's statutes to see what they can and can't do in these situations. Even Mississippi's driver's manual can't be trusted to be complete - it has no mention of left on red from a one-way street to another one-way street.