Can I make a left turn at a red light onto a one-way street? Here’s what WA law says
Many downtown areas in urban areas in Seattle and Tacoma are full of one-way streets, causing confusion about what rules apply, or the differences from two-way streets.
But what about turning left onto a one-way street during a red light?
Although a steady red light while turning left usually means you must stop and cannot go through the intersection until the light changes, the rules vary on one-way roads.
In Washington state, is it legal to turn left onto a one-way street on a red light, according to the Washington State Department of Licensing Washington Driver Guide.
The one-way road must be traveling left, but after a full stop, you are then allowed to turn left onto the road while yielding to oncoming traffic. A left turn onto a one-way street is only permitted if there are no signs prohibiting the turn.
These rules are also in Washington State Legislature RCW 46.61.055, which allows a left turn onto a one-way street that carries traffic in the direction of the left turn during a red light, as long as there are no signs or authority prohibiting the turn.
The driver guide also reminds drivers that they must yield to pedestrians and bicyclists who may be crossing the road. According to the Seattle Department of Transportation, all intersections are crosswalks unless signs say otherwise, so pedestrians may cross the road without marked crosswalks.
