As of 2025, Missouri’s right turn on red rule remains much the same as in previous years, reflecting a traffic regulation designed to balance driver convenience, roadway efficiency, and the safety of all road users. Missouri law permits a driver to make a right turn at a red light, but only after they have made a full and complete stop at the marked stop line, before entering the crosswalk, or before entering the intersection if there is no line or crosswalk. This provision has become a facet of everyday driving in Missouri and around the nation, but it comes with important limitations and requirements that every driver should understand.
The fundamental premise of the right turn on red rule in Missouri centers on safety. Before making a turn, the driver must stop completely and must yield the right-of-way to all pedestrians lawfully using the crosswalk, as well as to all oncoming and cross traffic that may constitute an immediate hazard. It is never permissible to treat a red light as a simple yield sign; a rolling stop or failing to pause entirely at the intersection is a clear violation of state law. Only when the way is completely clear and there are no signs expressly prohibiting the maneuver can a driver make the right turn.
Missouri law attaches significant importance to posted signage at intersections. If an intersection has a sign reading “No Turn on Red” or any similar instruction, drivers must obey that signal without exception. Such a sign overrides the general rule statewide. These restrictions are most common at intersections with heavy foot traffic, complex signal patterns, limited sight lines, or documented accident histories. At these locations, drivers must wait for a green light signal before executing a right turn, regardless of how clear the way may otherwise seem.
In practice, the right turn on red rule contributes to improved traffic flow during times when it is safe to do so, reducing wait times at intersections and easing congestion on busier urban routes. However, it is essential for all motorists to remember that this convenience does not outweigh the obligation to protect pedestrians and other road users. Failing to yield to someone lawfully in the crosswalk or misjudging the speed and distance of oncoming vehicles are common causes of crashes and legal violations at red-light intersections.
Missouri’s law on right turns at red lights applies to most intersections across the state, both in urban and rural areas. Nevertheless, local governments have the authority to introduce further restrictions if warranted, typically using supplemental signage. Any deviation from the general rule must be clearly posted so that drivers are aware of the unique requirements at that specific location.
No significant updates or changes have been introduced to this rule as part of Missouri’s 2025 traffic regulations. The standard for a full stop, careful yielding, and attention to signage continues as it has for several years. There is also no allowance, as is the case in some other states, for left turns on red from a one-way street onto another one-way street; Missouri law does not permit this maneuver.
As drivers navigate Missouri roadways in 2025, the rule stands as follows: a right turn on red is permitted everywhere unless a sign prohibits it, but only after the driver comes to a full stop, yields to all pedestrians and cross-traffic, and ensures that the turn can be made safely. Understanding and respecting these regulations is essential for the safety of everyone on the road and for avoiding citations or more severe consequences.
Sources
[1] https://www.drivinglaws.org/resources/traffic-tickets/moving-violations/running-red-lights-and-stop-23
[2] https://becklawmo.com/blog/missouri-right-of-way-laws/
[3] https://law.justia.com/codes/missouri/title-xix/chapter-300/section-300-155/
[4] https://roachlawoffice.com/blog/right-of-way-laws-in-missouri/
[5] https://www.springfieldmo.gov/407/Right-Turns-on-Red
