Delaware Driver Education State Practice Test

Under what circumstances can a right hand turn at a red light not be made?

1. When traffic is too heavy

2. When there is a sign specifying otherwise

3. Failure to yield

4. When the light is green

The correct answer is: Failure to yield

A right turn on red is generally permitted after a complete stop, provided that the driver yields to all oncoming traffic and pedestrians. However, there are specific conditions when making a right turn at a red light is not allowed. The most important of these conditions is if there is a sign present indicating that right turns on red are prohibited. When considering the provided options, the circumstance where a driver must not make a right turn on red is when there is explicit signage stating otherwise. Adhering to traffic signs is essential for ensuring safety and compliance with traffic laws. If a sign prohibits it, such as in certain intersections or locations with high pedestrian traffic, the driver must obey the regulation and refrain from making the turn. Other scenarios, such as heavy traffic or the light being green, while they may complicate or affect the decision to turn, do not constitute outright prohibitions in the same way that a traffic sign does. The failure to yield, while a critical aspect of safely executing a turn on red, does not itself prevent the action; it merely underlines the necessity of yielding properly before making the turn.