Tempe's "no right turn on red" intersections

[observer53]

Originally Posted by Valley Native

That's exactly what happened to me a few years ago when I made a right turn at a "no right on red" light rail intersection. A cop in an unmarked car instantly pulled me over. I remember being hesitant about pulling to the curb because the car wasn't properly marked, but he was quick to make sure I was cited. It was my fault for not seeing the restricted "no right turn on red" sign, but it was suspicious how he nabbed me instantaneously ... like he was purposely hiding out & waiting for it to happen.

I live near a no right on red that in the past many drivers paid no heed to. I saw DPS there more than once making their presence known and stopping people. So yes, sometimes they are waiting for it to happen, because it has been happening too much.

[Need4Camaro]

@ The OP, I'm not local the Phoenix but Right on Red stuff IMO is taken way to liberally. You are NOT in ANY way or circumstance ENTITLED to make a right turn on red. In every state, it is an OPTIONAL condition - Not a mandatory condition such as going through a green light. Most countries outside the U.S.A do not permit Right on Red under ANY circumstance and are much more stringent on punishment. We often feel we are entitled to every vehicular motion we so desire even if / when that feels safe to us, because as drivers we entitle ourselves to a box confined to ourselves and the road is about 'me' and 'me getting where I need to be' on time, rather than 'everything and everyone else on the road including other vehicles and pedestrians.' ...I'm not saying pedestrians are any more innocent.. but no offense - you accuse America of being so lenient on drivers but based on your responses, you're the very type of driver you despise and I'm sorry if that hurts your feelings but its the truth, you hold onto to your own values over the values of the public. I can guarantee you with your current disposition and attitude on the matter, you would definitely not have a license in a place like Germany. You'd be on the train.

Also, incase you didn't know, Right turn on red at a unprotected intersection is OPTIONAL, that is ALSO apart of the state law that you so greatly adhere to, meaning it is completely up to the driver to decide if he will or will not turn, and it also sets no delimiter conditions partaining to visibility, road conditions, oncoming traffic, and if the driver decides not to proceed, even for no reason at all, he has every right to wait until green regardless of how angry or frustrated it makes you.

You're bending the law to your own logic and deceiving yourself with your desires and taking out only the parts of it that you want when the law does not in any way condone your motif's.

I can understand it getting annoying at every interchange, but that does not make you any less responsible for following it... If you want good drivers on the road, it starts with you... and remember, Driving is only a privilege, not a right.

Bottom line, don't let your frustration behind the wheel.

[FirebirdCamaro1220]

Originally Posted by Valley Native

Wondering if anybody (particularly anybody who lives or works in Tempe) knows why the city forbids right turns on red lights at certain intersections. I've especially noticed this at the 60 freeway offramps to major streets: McClintock, Mill, etc. Arizona law allows right turns on red lights if the motorist first comes to a complete stop and yields to right of way rules ... however, Tempe seems to be the one city which prefers to makes its own rules, and have long lines of backed up traffic waiting to turn right. Makes no sense.

Generally right on reds are prohibited where they'll be blind turns, so a safety issue

[mags61]

Funny story about right-turn lanes.
I was in a right-turn lane yesterday where it's permitted to turn on red lights but the car at the head of the pack didn't turn even when traffic from the other side cleared.
Light turned green and he still didn't make his turn until people started blasting their horns. I thought maybe he had car trouble but he finally made his turn after everyone else was angry.
The funny part was------
He had a Massachusetts license place, the same state where I'm from.

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by mags61

Funny story about right-turn lanes.
I was in a right-turn lane yesterday where it's permitted to turn on red lights but the car at the head of the pack didn't turn even when traffic from the other side cleared.
Light turned green and he still didn't make his turn until people started blasting their horns. I thought maybe he had car trouble but he finally made his turn after everyone else was angry.
The funny part was------
He had a Massachusetts license place, the same state where I'm from.

And this is exactly what I'm against the "no turn on right" freeway offramp intersections. What your MA driver did was completely discourteous (and illegal for that matter), but the intersections which outlaw right turns on red make what that driver did perfectly legal. They cause intersection backups ... and since the green lights often don't stay on long enough, trying to get turned in time can be a challenge with the slow, inattentive drivers ahead of you.

[asufan]

Not reading the whole thread but on freeway offramps it is impossible to see if traffic is coming UNLESS you pull into the crosswalk, which you're not supposed to do but we all probably do.

[exit2lef]

A related problem highlighted on Stanley Roberts' "Caught Misbehaving" feature:

https://www.azfamily.com/news/caught...74da6643f.html

[Prickly Pear]

Tempe is a high volume suburb with lots of pedestrians and cyclists. And given that one cannot get from the rest of the valley to the East Valley without going through Tempe or vice versa, lots of cars as well. Many of the intersections with it make sense, it's simply to protect pedestrians and cyclists.