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Saturday, May 10

Can I Make a Right Turn at a Five-way Controlled Intersection on a Red Light?

Anyone stuck at Penman and Florida in Neptune Beach has asked themselves this question, but I'm sure there are other five-way (maybe six-way?) controlled intersections that present the opportunity to consider whether to make a right turn on a Red or wait for the green. Based on my fairly good knowledge of traffic laws, it's probably legal to make the right turn to the immediate next lane (if no restrictions are posted), but you have to be prepared to yield to anyone entering that lane from any of the three or four other lanes that might have a green, including anyone trying to rip a u-turn. 

While it may be legal to make that right turn, I wouldn't say it's safe. Not only could someone be entering the intersection in a vehicle, but you always have to be aware of pedestrians, bikes, and possibly golf cart traffic. In fact, I think all directions of the 5-way at Penman get a Red light when a pedestrian gets at least one of the walk signals, but none of the right-turn lanes flash a separate no-right-turn sign, so you've got to be aware.
The image in this article shows where you should be able to make a right on a red in a controlled intersection, but make sure you are yielding to anyone and everyone that may be coming into that lane.