The Basic Rule: Right Turn on Red Permitted
In Ohio, the right turn on red rule remains in effect for 2025, allowing drivers to make a right turn at a red light unless otherwise posted. To do so legally, a driver must come to a complete stop at the intersection before the crosswalk or stop line. After stopping, the driver may proceed with the right turn only if the way is clear and there are no signs indicating that right turns on red are prohibited.
Exceptions and Important Conditions
There are specific conditions and exceptions to this rule. If a “No Turn on Red” sign is posted at the intersection, turning right on red is strictly forbidden and drivers must wait for the green light. Additionally, drivers must always yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk and to any vehicles that have the right of way in the intersection. Failing to yield can result in fines, points on your driving record, and increased risk of accidents.
Red Light vs. Red Arrow
A crucial update in recent years, and still applicable in 2025, is the distinction between a solid red light and a red arrow. While a right turn is permitted on a solid red light after stopping and yielding, a right turn on a red arrow is not allowed unless a sign at the intersection specifically permits it. Many intersections now use red arrows for turn lanes, so it’s important to pay close attention to the signals.
Special Situations: Malfunctioning Traffic Signals
Ohio law also addresses situations where a traffic signal is malfunctioning or fails to detect a vehicle, such as motorcycles or bicycles. In these cases, after making a complete stop and ensuring the intersection is clear, a driver may proceed through the red light. However, the driver must be able to demonstrate that the light was malfunctioning if questioned by law enforcement.
Left Turn on Red: The One-Way Street Exception
Another aspect of Ohio’s traffic rules is the allowance for a left turn on red, but only from a one-way street onto another one-way street. As with right turns, the driver must come to a complete stop and ensure the way is clear before proceeding.
Safety and Legal Consequences
Intersections are among the most dangerous places on the road, so drivers should always exercise extra caution when making a right turn on red. Failing to yield to pedestrians or oncoming vehicles can result in serious accidents and legal consequences, including fines and points on your license.
Ohio’s right turn on red rule in 2025 continues to allow this maneuver under certain conditions: always stop first, yield to pedestrians and vehicles, obey all posted signs, and never turn on a red arrow unless permitted. Staying informed and cautious helps keep Ohio’s roads safe for everyone.
Sources
[1] https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-4511.13
[2] https://www.leejohnsonlegal.com/blog/2019/01/the-facts-on-turning-right-on-a-red-light/
[3] https://www.drivinglaws.org/resources/traffic-tickets/moving-violations/running-red-lights-and-stop-32
[4] https://www.columbusdefensefirm.com/what-is-considered-running-a-red-light-in-ohio/
[5] https://flickingerlegalgroup.com/new-ohio-red-light-law/
