Why can't most people make a left turn properly?

KingofNicotine · Jul 22, 2012

Most traffic lights put the green arrow and then afterwards all lights turn green and you have the right to wait under the intersection and cross at the first chance you get.

The problem is most people don't do this, even with the green light on they wait behind the stop bar and don't cross even if there are no cars coming.

Does anyone know what I mean? Does anyone else hate these idiots?

RenoChazz · Jul 22, 2012

It sounds like the stop lights are retarded where you're from. I've never seen one like that here. The turn is either protected or it isn't or the green arrow turns to a flashing yellow which means to yield until it's clear to turn.

KingofNicotine · Jul 23, 2012

What? Most light have a green arrow to let people make the left turns, then it fades out but the light stays green. When they don't want you to turn left they have a red arrow and the only time you can turn is when it turns green.

bigbet1234 · Jul 23, 2012

i know what you're saying KoN. drivers in general usually baffle me on a daily basis

mr21 · Jul 23, 2012

How about people stopping at a yield sign when there is no traffic on the road/street they are merging onto?

quantumleap · Jul 23, 2012

I've heard that in some states the law says you should stay behind the stop lines until it's clear to proceed. I think that sucks if it's true.

In some places the green left-turn light turns red after a certain amount of time while the light for the lanes going straight ahead stays green. In which case I turn left anyway unless there is a sign that says "left turn on green arrow only".

Some cities have the green left-turn light come on after the green light goes on for the lanes going straight ahead instead of before. I turn left anyway if the coast is clear.

texansfan · Jul 23, 2012

KingofNicotine said:
What? Most light have a green arrow to let people make the left turns, then it fades out but the light stays green. When they don't want you to turn left they have a red arrow and the only time you can turn is when it turns green.

They're like that here as well. Also, if you're on a one-way street you can turn left on red onto a one-way street.

celticGreen+ · Jul 23, 2012

funny, thought this was thread was going to be about the mechanics of the left turn... One lane road, and people just sit there while everyone behind them waits... and then, when they do finally turn, they nearly take the front off the car perpendicular to their left...

KingofNicotine · Jul 23, 2012

texansfan said:
They're like that here as well. Also, if you're on a one-way street you can turn left on red onto a one-way street.

I saw a woman wait even though there were no cars. She just waited there like an idiot. If I'm behind someone like that I usually get in front of them and show them how it's done but I doubt they even realize what they're doing wrong.

celticGreen+ · Jul 23, 2012

RenoChazz said:
It sounds like the stop lights are retarded where you're from. I've never seen one like that here. The turn is either protected or it isn't or the green arrow turns to a flashing yellow which means to yield until it's clear to turn.

honestly never seen that - weird how states can be so different

charliebrown · Jul 23, 2012

UPS actually routes their drivers so they don't have to make left turns. They've researched this and found its way more safe and time efficient to make as few left turns as possible.

KingofNicotine · Jul 23, 2012

charliebrown said:
UPS actually routes their drivers so they don't have to make left turns. They've researched this and found its way more safe and time efficient to make as few left turns as possible.

That makes sense I suppose. This and 4 way stops is something humanity will never master.

kidman232 · Jul 23, 2012

i think people are afraid of of getting stuck in the intersection when its a flashing light if the other side is really busy. ill go out into the intersection if the straight lanes are not busy, but if its rush hr type traffic ill stay behind the line and wait. you can normally still make the turn even if your in the intersection when the other side goes red and the 2-3 sec delay before it switches to green for the other side, but you have lots of people that basically run reds bc they are tired of waiting and dont want to sit as the first car at the light for 3-4 mins. so your trying to get out of the intersection and make your left before the other side is coming at you and they are trying to get through the intersection to avoid sitting at another light.

Buster · Jul 23, 2012

RenoChazz said:
It sounds like the stop lights are retarded where you're from. I've never seen one like that here. The turn is either protected or it isn't or the green arrow turns to a flashing yellow which means to yield until it's clear to turn.

flashing yellow here too...

just like celtic green says...

the people i hate the most are the ones that don't square their turns and come within inches of my front left bumper...i'll throw them a loud blow from horn and scare some of them....

Doug · Jul 23, 2012

KingofNicotine said:
Most traffic lights put the green arrow and then afterwards all lights turn green and you have the right to wait under the intersection and cross at the first chance you get.

The problem is most people don't do this, even with the green light on they wait behind the stop bar and don't cross even if there are no cars coming.

Does anyone know what I mean? Does anyone else hate these idiots?

I stop at the stop bar if the street is at all busy, but I will advance if I see like one car coming ( followed by a gap)....then I can see I'll easy make the turn.

I don't want to be hung out in the intersection ( esp. if on two wheels) while 3 cars run the red light.

The laws seem to vary by state as well. If I were driving on a vacation through numerous states, I'd assume you have to stop at the bar in an unfamiliar state.

What are the laws in various states ?

Waiting To Turn Left In An Intersection

In some states it is legal to enter an intersection in order to make a left turn and then wait in the intersection until there is a gap in the traffic in the opposite direction, or the traffic lights change to red and stop the traffic in the opposite direction, subject to the following two conditions:

If there is a traffic light then it must be green (either a green circle or a green arrow). If there is a separate signal for left turns then that signal applies. You must never enter an intersection for any reason on a red light.
The road into which you are turning must be clear. You must not enter an intersection for any reason if the traffic in the road you are entering is backed up to the intersection.

This rule seems to vary from state to state. For example, the Oct-98 printed edition of the Illinois Driver's Manual "Rules Of The Road" says: "If you enter an intersection when the light is green, you may finish your turn even though the light turns red" (Chapter Three: Traffic Laws - Right-Of-Way). On the other hand the California Driver Handbook 2002 (external link verified Jul-02) says: "Do not enter an intersection, even when the light is green, unless you can get completely across before the light turns red. If you block the intersection, you can be cited." (Laws And Rules Of The Road - Traffic Control At Intersections; checked Jul-02).

festeringZit · Jul 23, 2012

My pet peeve deals with right hand turns.

I can't stand it when there is one (or multiple) lane to go straight, and a lane for going straight or turning right. Assholes will drive up to a red light going straight, and sit in the right-turn lane, stopping everyone behind them from going right on red. I'll honk my horn at them every fucking time.

slapshot · Jul 23, 2012

and how many turn in the wrong lane its fun to turn right on red when they have a left arrow onto a 2 lane street as they have to take the first lane

KingofNicotine · Jul 23, 2012

slapshot said:
and how many turn in the wrong lane its fun to turn right on red when they have a left arrow onto a 2 lane street as they have to take the first lane

Hate that too. People are just dumb. I've seen people wait for the light to turn green when making a right turn as well. You can make a right turn any time unless it specifically says "No right turn on red."

halekulani · Jul 23, 2012

people who stop at flashing yellows instead of yielding annoy me
people who take turns one at a time at 4 way stops also annoy me (2 cars should go at a time, person turning left always yields. taking turns one at a time is too fucking slow and u are incredibly retarded if you can't figure out how much more efficient it is for 2 cars to go at a time)

Doug · Jul 23, 2012

Since when are two cars allowed to go at the same time at a 4 way stop ?

Is that an LA thing ?

How many cars are supposed to go after the light turns red in Ca ?

three ?

Why can't most people make a left turn properly?

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