May you turn left on a red light onto a one-way street, state by state?
Every state’s answer, and the District of Columbia’s, from its own manual or code: 42 have a rule on this, quoted below with where it is written; 9 say nothing on it.
Statutes fetched between 6 and 8 October 2026; manuals fetched between 6 and 16 September 2026. How the answers are made
| State | The rule | Where it is written | As of |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | You may turn left after stopping at a red light only from a one-way street onto another one-way street with traffic moving from right to left, yielding to traffic and pedestrians. | Alabama Driver Manual, p.60 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Alaska | (B) a driver of a vehicle who has stopped as provided in (a)(3)(A) of this section may, after stopping, cautiously proceed to turn right or left from the lawful lane for the turn, except that no person may turn left onto a two-way street when facing a steady red indication; these movements are not allowed if an official traffic-control device prohibits them or directs the driver's attention to a green arrow signal which controls these movements; vehicular traffic making such a turn must yield the right-of-way to another vehicle or to a pedestrian lawfully within the intersection or an adjacent crosswalk at the time the signal is exhibited; | Alaska law, 13 AAC 02.010(a)(3) | 6 Oct 2026 |
| Arizona | A left turn from a one-way road onto a one-way road is the only left turn you may make against a red light, after stopping and yielding, unless signs prohibit it. | Arizona Driver License Manual and Customer Service Guide, p.47 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| California | You may turn left against a red light only when turning from a one-way street onto a one-way street, and only where no sign prohibits the turn. | California Driver’s Handbook, p.20 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Colorado | (B) Such vehicular traffic, when proceeding on a one-way street and after coming to a stop, may make a left turn onto a one-way street upon which traffic is moving to the left of the driver. Such turn shall be made only after yielding the right-of-way to pedestrians and other traffic proceeding as directed. No turn shall be made pursuant to this sub-subparagraph (B) if local authorities have by ordinance prohibited any such left turn and erected a sign giving notice of any such prohibition at each intersection where such left turn is prohibited. (C) To promote uniformity in traffic regulation throughout the state and to protect the public peace, health, and safety, the general assembly declares that no local authority shall have any discretion other than is expressly provided in this subparagraph (I). | Colorado law, C.R.S. § 42-4-604(1)(c) | 7 Oct 2026 |
| Connecticut | (3) Red alone: Vehicular traffic facing a steady red signal alone shall stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or, if none, then before entering the intersection and remain standing until the next indication is shown; provided, on or after July 1, 1979, vehicular traffic traveling in the travel lane nearest the right hand curb or other defined edge of the roadway, unless a sign approved by the Office of the State Traffic Administration has been erected in the appropriate place prohibiting this movement, may cautiously enter the intersection to make a right turn onto a two-way street or onto another one-way street on which all the traffic is moving to such vehicle's right after such vehicle has stopped as required in this subdivision and yielded the right-of-way to pedestrians within an adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection. Pedestrians facing a steady red signal alone, except when directed by separate pedestrian-control signals, shall not enter the roadway. | Connecticut law, Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-299(b)(3) | 7 Oct 2026 |
| Delaware | In Delaware a left turn on a steady red light is allowed after a full stop only from a one-way street onto another one-way street, unless a sign or a steady red arrow prohibits it. | Delaware Driver Manual, p.69 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| District of Columbia | It is illegal in the District of Columbia to make a left turn on red. | DC Driver Manual, p.87 | 16 Sep 2026 |
| Florida | At a red light you may turn left from a one-way street onto a one-way street with traffic moving to the left. | Official Florida Driver License Handbook, p.51 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Hawaii | After stopping, Hawaii lets you turn left on a red light from a one-way street into a one-way street where traffic moves to the left, unless a sign prohibits it. | State of Hawaii Driver’s Manual, p.39 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Idaho | You may turn left onto a one-way street from a steady red light after stopping and yielding to cross-traffic, unless left turns are not allowed. | July 2026 Idaho Driver's Handbook, p.69 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Illinois | A driver may turn left at a red light from a one-way street onto another one-way street with traffic moving to the left, after stopping and yielding. | Illinois Rules of the Road 2026, p.26 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Indiana | You may turn left on a red light only from a one-way street onto another one-way street, after a full stop and with the way clear. | Indiana Driver's Manual, p.34 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Iowa | You may turn left on a red light only from the left lane of a one-way street onto another one-way street. | Iowa Driver's License Manual, p.43 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Kansas | Some left turns are permitted on red in Kansas when moving from a one-way street onto another one-way street, or from a two-way street onto a one-way street. | Kansas Driving Handbook, p.34 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Kentucky | A Kentucky left turn on red is permitted only when turning from a one-way street onto a one-way street. | Kentucky Driver Manual, p.35 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Louisiana | (c) Except when a sign prohibits a turn, vehicular traffic facing any steady red signal may cautiously enter the intersection to turn right, or to turn left from a one-way street into a one-way street, or to U-turn at a signalized U-turn after stopping as required by Subparagraph (a) or Subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph. Such vehicular traffic shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection. | Louisiana law, La. R.S. 32:232(3)(c) | 7 Oct 2026 |
| Maryland | Unless a sign forbids it, after a complete stop at a red signal you may turn right, or turn left from a one-way street onto another one-way street, yielding to people crossing and to all other traffic. | Maryland Driver's Manual, p.17 | 6 Sep 2026 |
| Massachusetts | You can turn left on a red light only when driving on a one-way street and turning onto another one-way street. | Massachusetts Driver's Manual, p.81 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Michigan | Turning left from a two-way street onto a one-way street at a red light, you must come to a full stop, scan for vehicles from the right, and yield to vehicles opposite you turning right. | What Every Driver Must Know, p.30 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Minnesota | You may turn left on red from a one-way street onto another one-way street in certain situations. | Minnesota Driver’s Manual, p.28 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Montana | Montana law also allows a left turn on red from a one-way street onto a one-way street, after stopping and making sure it is safe. | Montana Driver Manual, p.40 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Nebraska | A left turn at a circular red light after stopping is allowed only from a one-way street onto another one-way street. | Nebraska Driver’s Manual, p.32 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Nevada | You may turn left on a red light only from a one-way street onto another one-way street with traffic moving to the left. | Nevada Driver Handbook, p.30 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| New Mexico | (2) vehicular traffic on a one-way street facing the signal shall stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or if there is no crosswalk, then before entering the intersection, and if a left turn onto a one-way street in the proper direction is intended, may turn left after stopping until the intersection may be entered safely, provided that such vehicular traffic shall yield the right-of-way to all pedestrains [pedestrians] and vehicles lawfully in or approaching the intersection; | New Mexico law, NMSA 1978, § 66-7-105(C)(2) | 8 Oct 2026 |
| New York | A driver can make a left turn at a steady red light when turning from a one-way road into another one-way road, after a full stop and yielding. | New York State Driver's Manual, p.31 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| North Dakota | In North Dakota you may turn left on a red light from a one-way street onto a one-way street, unless a sign prohibits it. | North Dakota Noncommercial Driver License Manual, p.15 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Ohio | A left turn on red is allowed only from the extreme left lane of a one-way street onto another one-way street, and only where no sign forbids it. | Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.25 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Oklahoma | After a complete stop, you may turn left on red only from a one-way street into a one-way street, unless signs forbid it. | Oklahoma Driver Manual, p.26 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Oregon | Turning left from a one-way road onto another one-way road, you approach in the lane nearest the left curb and turn into the nearest left lane, and you may make this turn against a red light after stopping and yielding to traffic and pedestrians. | 2026-2027 Oregon Driver Manual, p.40 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Pennsylvania | You may turn left on a red signal only if you are in the left lane turning from a one-way street onto another one-way street, unless a sign forbids it, and you must stop and yield first. | PA Driver's Manual, p.7 | 6 Sep 2026 |
| South Carolina | (3) Except when a sign is in place prohibiting a turn, vehicular traffic facing any steady red signal may cautiously enter the intersection to turn right or to turn left from a one-way street into a one-way street after stopping as required by item (1) or (2). Such vehicular traffic shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection. | South Carolina law, S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-970(C)(3) | 8 Oct 2026 |
| South Dakota | The governing body of a municipality may authorize by ordinance, adopted pursuant to chapter 9-19, a motor vehicle to make a left-hand turn from an intersection after stopping in obedience to a red or stop signal as defined in § 32-28-4. This left-hand turn may only be authorized for a motor vehicle which has stopped in the extreme left-hand lane lawfully available on a one-way roadway and intends to turn on to a one-way roadway in which the direction of traffic is moving to the left of the motor vehicle. In addition such turns may only be made after yielding the right-of-way to pedestrians or other traffic proceeding as directed by the signal at the intersection. A violation of such restrictions is a Class 2 misdemeanor. | South Dakota law, SDCL § 32-28-4.1 | 8 Oct 2026 |
| Tennessee | A left turn on red is allowed where a one-way street meets another one-way street and traffic moves in the direction of the turn. | Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual, p.58 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Texas | At a steady red light a driver may also turn left if both streets are one way, unless the law prohibits it. | Texas Driver Handbook, p.25 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Utah | (c) (i) (A) The operator of a vehicle facing a steady circular red signal may cautiously enter the intersection to turn right, or may turn left from a one-way street into a one-way street, after stopping as required by Subsection (4)(a). (B) If permitted by a traffic control device on the state highway system, the operator of a vehicle facing a steady red arrow signal may cautiously enter the intersection to turn left from a one-way street into a one-way street after stopping as required by Subsection (4)(a). | Utah law, Utah Code § 41-6a-305(4)(c) | 8 Oct 2026 |
| Vermont | (3) Steady red signal. (A) Vehicular traffic facing a steady circular red signal alone shall stop at a clearly marked stop line, but if none, shall stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection. (B) Except when a sign is in place prohibiting a turn, vehicular traffic facing any steady red signal may cautiously enter the intersection to turn right, or to turn left from a one way street into a one way street, after stopping as required by subdivision (A) of this subdivision (3). This traffic shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection. No motorist shall turn right when facing a red arrow signal indication unless a regulatory sign is present that permits this movement. | Vermont law, 23 V.S.A. § 1022(a)(3) | 8 Oct 2026 |
| Virginia | You may turn left on a stop signal only when you are on a one-way street turning onto another one-way street, and only after a complete stop. | Virginia Driver's Manual, p.5 | 6 Sep 2026 |
| Washington | After a complete stop at a red light, a driver may turn left onto a one-way street if there is no sign forbidding it and there is room to enter traffic. | Washington State Driver Guide, p.110 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| West Virginia | A driver may turn right on red at the intersection of two-way streets, or turn left on red from a one-way street onto another one-way street, after yielding to all other traffic and people crossing and where no sign forbids it. | West Virginia Driver's Licensing Handbook, p.39 | 6 Sep 2026 |
| Wisconsin | A driver may turn left on red only when turning from a one-way street on to a one-way street. | Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, p.32 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Wyoming | After stopping and yielding, you may turn left at a red light from a one-way street onto a one-way street. | Wyoming Rules of the Road Driver License Manual, p.97 | 14 Sep 2026 |
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No rule found
No rule found in the manual or code of: Arkansas, Georgia, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Rhode Island.
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