Driving question - help!

[HeadDeskk]

I'm a fairly new driver. I've had my license for about a year.

A few months ago, the city put up new traffic lights at the entrance of my neighbourhood. One of the new lights gives a solid green for the left lane. The other light gives a right green turn arrow for the turn-only lane.

To turn right, I've been driving into the turn lane up to the white line, which sits by a KEEP CLEAR area. Then I wait until the red light turns into a green turn arrow before I turn.

This is a long light. There are often large breaks in traffic that allow me to turn safely, but I've been assuming that I must wait at the red light and can't move until I get the green arrow.

But now I've been honked at THREE times by drivers behind me. They seem impatient and want me to turn when there are breaks in traffic, even though the light is red.

Is it legal to turn right during a break in traffic even though your lane has a red light?

I hope this makes sense! Please see my diagram! (I'm in the blue car in this picture, waiting at the red light and wanting to turn right).

Am I misunderstanding the setup? Am I allowed to turn right when there are breaks in traffic when I have a red light? Why are drivers honking at me? Help!!!

You are right to wait as the right turn lane has its own light. If it didn't you could go at a gap in the traffic.

I too think you are right to wait if the light is red. Great diagram btw

I would do as you are, but the way you have drawn it, it looks as though right turn is okay despite the red light given that you're further forward than a solid white stop line should be if that makes sense?

I have been honked for waiting at the keep clear hatching, but I ignore.

I would continue to wait until the green arrow. If it was a free for all right turn, you would have a round green traffic light too as well as a green arrow.

You're doing the right thing

You are doing it right. The other drivers are idiots.

You are right. when the green light comes on, does it have an arrow pointing to the right? if so , that means you are definitely correct to wait.

sorry- see you said it had an arrow.

Is it a complicated junction where traffic from the right turn (road you want to access) is allowed to proceed and turn right at the lights?
I assume so and the keep clear is for you to allow that. If you crept forward waiting to turn right, you would block access for cars coming from the road (I assume they can move forward while you are waiting.)

You are right to wait for the arrow.

If the right filter light is red then you cannot proceed.

I have a similar junction and I too have been beeped at. But they’re the ones in the wrong.

Red light means stop. Ignore the beepers.