Turning left on red is legal in Michigan and Alaska but outlawed in New Jersey and this is why

Turning left on red isn’t something most drivers even think about. Right on red? Sure. Left? Feels off-limits.

But depending on where you are in the US, it’s not only possible – it’s perfectly legal.

The rulebook isn’t consistent, though. Some states give you the green light, whilst others will happily hand you a ticket.

And that messy patchwork is exactly why Michigan, Alaska, and New Jersey all play by completely different traffic laws.

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Where you can (and can’t) turn left on red

Turning left on red is legal more often than you’d think, but only in very specific conditions. 

The classic setup is moving from a one-way street onto another one-way. 

Do a full stop, check the road is clear, then go. 

That move is allowed in 42 states and Puerto Rico.

There’s a simpler way to think about it: where is it not legal? 

Just eight states – Connecticut, Maine, Missouri (with the exception of Kansas City), New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Rhode Island, and South Dakota. 

On top of that, Washington DC and Guam ban turning left on red under any circumstances. 

And whilst the state of New York allows it, New York City has its own rulebook that forbids it inside city limits.

Everywhere else, it’s fair game.

A handful of states push the rule even further. 

Alaska, Idaho, Michigan, Oregon, and Washington all permit left on red even when you’re turning from a two-way onto a one-way. 

The hesitation comes down to safety. 

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 61 percent of intersection crashes involve a left turn. 

Some engineers even argue left turns should be scrapped altogether, swapped for workarounds like the Michigan Left – where you overshoot, U-turn, and loop back.

So depending on your zip code, the same maneuver could save you time, or earn you a ticket.

America’s other bizarre traffic laws

Left on red proves traffic laws aren’t universal – what’s normal in Michigan is outlawed in New Jersey. 

And that same patchwork shows up all over the country.

Take Alabama. 

Their codebook literally bans driving blindfolded. 

Sounds like common sense, but down there it’s an actual written law.

Or West Virginia. 

They just toughened up their ‘Move Over’ rule so much that ignoring a car with hazards on the shoulder can land you with a $500 fine or even jail time. 

What most places call common courtesy, they’ve turned into a criminal offense.

And if you zoom out globally, the contrasts get sharper. 

The US built right-on-red into its DNA, but in Germany you can’t make the move unless a sign explicitly allows it. 

Same light, two drivers, opposite instincts.

Road rules aren’t neat, and they’re definitely not universal. 

So next time you’re waiting at a red, remember: left might be legal here, banned two states over, and in Alabama?

Just don’t do it blindfolded.

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