The Wild West Of Left Turns At Hudson Valley’s Red Lights

Having just moved to the Hudson Valley from a different state, there are lots of new things to get used to. One big thing was drivers making a left hand turn on a red light. Every time I'm at this one particular red light in Poughkeepsie, people just dash through it as if it isn't even there! I've even been honked at for NOT making a left on red.

Left On Red?

Maybe you know the light I'm talking about?  This must be the most run red light in Dutchess County. At the intersection of Columbus Drive and Church Street the section of US-44/East-West Arterial right near the Mid-Hudson Bridge, I have seen countless cars making a left, blowing right through the red light.

So, Can You Turn Left on Red in New York State?

Most of us are familiar with being able to turn right on red, but what about left? Turns out, yes! According to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, you can make a left turn at a steady red light when you turn from a one-way road into another one-way road after you come to a full stop and yield the right-of-way to oncoming traffic and pedestrians.

So that explains why people turn left through here. But again, you are supposed to yield. This rule does not justify those who are driving straight through the red light. If you find yourself at a red light and you need to turn left from one one-way street to another, remember you can go through if it is clear, but make sure you actually yield before blasting through.