Delaware permits right turns on red after a full stop, unless prohibited by signs or a steady red arrow, with no changes in the 2026 traffic code updates. This rule under 21 Del. C. §4108 remains standard, emphasizing caution and yielding to pedestrians/ oncoming traffic.
Rule Essentials
Drivers facing a steady circular red must stop at the limit line, then yield before turning right onto any road or left from one-way to one-way. Steady red arrows ban all turns, including on red—no exceptions without signs permitting it.
Key Requirements
- Full stop mandatory: Treat like a stop sign.​
- Yield priority: To cross traffic, pedestrians, cyclists in crosswalks.​
- Prohibitions: Obey “No Turn on Red” (R10-11) signs or lane-specific markers.​
No 2026 amendments alter this; recent MUTCD alignments reinforce signage clarity.​
Signal Scenarios
Penalties
Failure to yield on right-on-red: $75–$230 fine; running red adds $115+ points. Repeat offenses escalate to $575 max.
Common Mistakes
Drivers often miss yield to U-turns—installations of “Yield to U-Turn” signs (R10-30) address this. Pedestrian right-of-way violations spike in urban areas like Wilmington.
Best Practices
Scan right/left twice post-stop; use mirrors for cyclists. In rain/ice, avoid if unsafe. Delaware Defensive Driving courses stress this for insurance discounts.
SOURCES:
- https://delcode.delaware.gov/title21/c041/sc02/index.html
- https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/delaware/2-Del-Admin-Code-SS-2B.54
