Traffic Lights and Right on Red
Ala. Code § 32-5A-32 — a turn on red after a full stop, unless a sign says otherwise
| Facing | What it means |
|---|---|
| FacingA circular green | What it meansGo straight or turn right or left unless a sign forbids the turn, yielding to vehicles and pedestrians lawfully in the intersection or an adjacent crosswalk |
| FacingA green arrow | What it meansEnter cautiously only for the movement the arrow shows, yielding to pedestrians in an adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully in the intersection |
| FacingA steady yellow | What it meansA warning that the green movement is ending or a red is about to show |
| FacingA steady red | What it meansStop at the marked stop line, or before the crosswalk, or before the intersection, and stay stopped until a signal to go |
Who handles this in Alabama: Alabama State Bar Lawyer Referral Service; and legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the Alabama directory.
Right on red, and left from one way to one way. Unless a sign prohibits the turn, traffic facing a steady red may, after stopping, cautiously enter the intersection to turn right, or to turn left from a one way street into a one way street, yielding to pedestrians in an adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection.
Drivers obey official traffic control devices unless a police officer directs otherwise. A rule that needs a sign is not enforced where the sign was not in proper position and legible enough for an ordinarily observant person to see.
Sources for this section (2)
- Ala. Code § 32-5A-32 — Traffic-Control Signal Legend
- Ala. Code § 32-5A-31 — Obedience to Traffic-Control Devices; Devices Presumed to Comply with Requirements
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Alabama attorney.