The number of completely erroneous and dangerous interpretations and opinions on this thread is mind boggling. Where did you folks learn how to drive? It's the same in EVERY state in the USA.

A vehicle turning right at a stop light or sign, never, ever, under any circumstances, has the Right of Way. They are at the mercy of any other traffic in the vicinity. Always.

If the OP had a Green Arrow, vehicles coming in the opposite direction at that intersection have a RED light. They can't move from a stopped position, until it's "safe to do so". Every other vehicle in the area, not subject to a red light, takes precedent.

Turning with a Green arrow allows you to enter into any available lane, unless it's a "double turning lane" you're in.

Driving 101.

Well said, and correct.

The books says the car on the right has the right of way. The reality it is a bit of a reach assuming those around you know the law and a bigger reach that they know the law and will follow it. Defensive driving means be sure you have a way out if they..........

The OP needs to learn how to drive in The Villages.

You can't expect old codgers to follow every rule perfectly. At every intersection or roundabout, I always have one hand on the horn so I can blast my horn at anyone who, in my opinion, does something wrong while driving.

Never under any circumstances - is 100% incorrect.

If I show up at a stop sign and I'm taking a right, and someone else comes to their stop sign opposite me, and they want to take a left (in the same direction I'm heading) - I have the right of way if we arrived at the same time, OR if I arrived first. If THEY arrived first, then they have the right and I have to wait. But we both have to stop, because we each have a stop sign.

If I'm taking a right, and someone is coming across the road from my left, and we both have a stop sign, and we both arrived at the same time, then I have the right of way. If they arrived first, then they have the right of way.

So no - not "never under any circumstances." There are LOTS of circumstances when the person taking a right has the right of way.

Reading the entire statue is needed....
 

The statue starts with right turns and what is legal. That was left out.

If my understanding is correct, the other car was in front of you as you were turning left. If that is the case and he was making a right turn on red into the right lane, then that lane was no longer available for you to "lawfully enter" since he was entitled to use that lane to complete his turn. You could have slowed down and entered behind him safely. Any other interpretation would cause the driver legally entitled to the right lane to wait for all left turning drivers before he turns.... that defeats the reason for permitting right turns on red on to a roadway with two or more lanes.

You were turning into a lane he was already legally occupying. That lane was no longer legally available to you due to his right turn on red starting before your left turn.


316.151 Required position and method of turning at intersections.—
(1)(a) Right turn.—The driver of a vehicle intending to turn right at an intersection onto a highway, public or private roadway, or driveway must:
1. Make both the approach for a right turn and a right turn as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway.
2. When overtaking and passing a bicycle proceeding in the same direction, give an appropriate signal as provided for in s. 316.156 and make the right turn only if the bicycle is at least 20 feet from the intersection, and is of such a distance that the driver of a vehicle may safely turn.
(b) Left turn.—
1. The driver of a vehicle intending to turn left at an intersection onto a highway, public or private roadway, or driveway must approach the intersection in the extreme left-hand lane lawfully available to traffic moving in the direction of travel of such vehicle and must make the left turn so as to leave the intersection in a lane lawfully available to traffic moving in such direction upon the roadway being entered.

..
 

The oadway being entered.

When you get in an accident and get a ticket for doing so, please show the officer this quote from the DMV handbook. He'll laugh at you all the way to his patrol car!!!!

Hopefully an accident won't be necessary to test the theory. And cops already laughed at me. Come to think of it, most folks laugh at me.

This post reminds me of my youth and my Driver Education course. The instructor stated "don't always expect you or the other driver to be right or wrong. Reason being even if you follow the rules of the road and you feel what you want to do is correct or right, you could be right DEAD RIGHT." Always drive defensively and arrive home alive.

Good advice!

I believe that when making a Left your are to stay in the far Left lane on the road that you are entering. Many people end up in the right lane and yes there could be an accident with people making a Right onto the same street. That said the people making a Right should always yield to those making a Left… ok got that?

Unless you are turning left on a green arrow. The opposing traffic should have a red light & yield for a right turn.

I will add to go straight or right at the next intersection on Trailwinds Blvd. you have to be in the right lane. If you look closely you can see where the solid white line starts about 30 feet from the crosswalk.

I can’t fathom that so many posters believe they can pull into approaching traffic to make a right turn on red.

The above ONLY applies if the person taking a left does NOT have a traffic light directing him to proceed.

If the person taking a left has a traffic light directing him to proceed (a green arrow pointing left) then he has the right of way. Everyone else needs to wait. Except for pedestrians who are already in the crosswalk. They can continue across.

Impatience, entitlement, ignorance, just naturally "pushy", are a few reasons. Death Wish? Naw, thats going too far.

All I can say is better be careful when driving in villages cause I amazed how many have no clue what red stop light means or how to enter intersection making right turn on red. I tend to agree actual driving test should be required for any out state new drivers. All Written test means you can read and comprehend enough to pass written test, but might have no clue how to drive.

This diagram would indicate that the red car is turning right but then if it wants to turn left next it needs to enter the middle lane. If this is the case then it is bad traffic design. Unless I am misunderstanding it. In most places the red car turning right must turn into the rightmost lane first, and then change lanes, when it is safe to do so, into a left turning lane.

You are right again. And you're backed-up by Statute (like the driver's handbook clearly states).

But I now see it's hopeless trying to convince some people, even with written evidence. Even former law enforcement is mistaken, think about that.

Then a judge and/or attorney would explain to the cop what State law clearly states. And how the cop is subservient to the law (which is enacted by the people via the elected legislature).

Hopefully the judge would then send the cop to traffic school.

That is the most concise, simple and logical way to explain it. Thank you.

Wrong. Left turns can go to any available lane. Here's the Statute, which is unambiguous.

The 2024 Florida Statutes
Title XXIII MOTOR VEHICLES
Chapter 316 STATE UNIFORM TRAFFIC CONTROL

316.151
Required position and method of turning at intersections.—
(1)((b) Left turn.—
1.The driver of a vehicle intending to turn left at an intersection onto a highway...must make the left turn so as to leave the intersection in a lane lawfully available to traffic moving in such direction upon the roadway being entered.

-------------------------------------------

This is unlike a right turn, where you must end up in the right lane:

(1)(a) Right turn.—The driver of a vehicle intending to turn right at an intersection onto a highway, public or private roadway, or driveway must:
1. Make both the approach for a right turn and a right turn as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway.

Case closed.

Link Statutes & Constitution
:View Statutes
:

Online Sunshine

It's good that they specify the right turner is supposed to stay in the right lane. Now if they would only correct it so the left turner has to stay in the left lane all would be hunky dory.

Were you a cop in FL? Traffic laws differ by state...

Exactly where is "entitlement" being displayed in this thread?

Incorrect. Period.

Incorrect. Read the FL law posted earlier in the thread...

The entire point of this thread is that the OP was making a left turn with a GREEN ARROW. This means the other driver WAS making a RIGHT TURN ON RED...

right turners on red HAVE to yield, that means don’t pull out in front of traffic. Why is it so hard people don’t know what yield means.

Unfortunately, more than a few posters are making this complicated. They wand to be "right" rather than be correct...

Your understanding is wrong.

Read the entire thread. It explains why you are incorrect...

Bizarre, innit?

No, the car making the "right in red" still has to yield to the legal left turn on a green arrow...

Whomever has the right of way does not mitigate the requirement to use judgement and care. Also, timing could affect the result. The car turning right does not have a view of the arrow for the car turning left. Mr. Right Turn, stops, sees no impediment, and executes his start of right turn. Mr. Left Turn's light changes and he starts his turn simultaneously. Mr Left Turn now has the best visibility and should yield to the car ahead.

Timing and speed affect the outcome. Fortunately, no harm was done. If an accident did occur, both parties would have their story, but I would think the judgement would more likely put the blame on the car that was behind or made a sudden change into the lane closest to the gas station entrance.
If I was Mr. Left Turn, in this situation, I would have chosen to avoid the quick double lane switch to get into the Gas station. Right or wrong is not worth the trouble to get it resolved and get the vehicle repaired. Remember the advice, Drive Defensively.

The most obnoxious driver has the right of way.

The OP was going to the gas station. He was in the correct lane to turn into the drive where the gas station driveway was located. He had the green arrow. The other car had a red light. The OP did everything correctly. The guy at the red light was wrong. This isn't even a Florida thing. It's a thing pretty much everywhere. Green light = go. Red light = stop.

Sounds reasonable, BUT, this is Florida and things in Florida are not always the way some think they should be. Goes for some of the folks here as well. Take your time. Be patient. Stay safe.

You scare me! 😮😯😲😖

The original post is flawed. It does not clarify if the OP had a green light or a green arrow. This fact makes all the difference in who had the right-of-way.