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Mistake # 4: TURN LEFT

WHEN UNSAFE

  Turn left when you shouldn't, especially when the light turns to yellow, but even more especially when the light turns to red (forget about the oncoming drivers running the red first) and don't look for pedestrians before you turn the wheel! - Easy but dangerous; the most common accident at intersections. Can't wait, gotta go, the people behind me will be pissed off if I don't go now. Screw the rule, I got here first. Look out, I'm comin' through!
 
Read more below, and then go to Top 10 accident number 5
 

IF THE LEFT TURN RULE IS SO SIMPLE, WHY DO SO MANY PEOPLE CRASH?

It is doubtful that there is anyone who doesn't understand the left turn rule.

 
"ON-COMING GOES FIRST. DUH."
 
But there are other problems, namely pedestrians, yellow lights, and obstructed vision. Plus, the development of the left turn arrow, the one that disapears and changes into a ordinary green light while you weren't looking, (you must stop and wait for on-coming traffic at the green light, so look to see if the arrow is still on before you turn) also causes some confusion.
 
Solutions:
 

WAIT! Wait in the intersection (not illegal to wait in the intersection,) and do not turn the wheel until you have checked for:

  1. Traffic backed-up in the lane you want to go to

  2. Signs and signals (wait for the other cars to run the light first, even if the light turns to yellow or red, and then turn. You will not get a ticket if you go into the intersection when it's green and turn when it's red!)

  3. Pedestrians. Do not turn the wheel until you have checked for pedestrians first!

And do not turn the wheel if you can't see the on-coming cars, especially those coming around from behind the opposite car.

WAIT, WAIT, WAIT!

 

Remember: you do not have to turn immediately if the light turns to yellow. You do not have to turn immediately if the light turns to red. THE ON-COMING CARS GO FIRST NO MATTER WHAT COLOR THE LIGHT!

Of course, you must turn to the left, BUT NOT UNTIL THE ONCOMING CARS GO FIRST, NO MATTER WHAT COLOR THE LIGHT!

 

Remember these simple steps:
  1. Squeeze as far left as possible before you go into the intersection, but keep the wheel straight. Do not turn the wheel until you have looked to where you are going first. Remember, after you enter the intersection, you can't squeeze left. Do it before you go in. And yes, you may legally go into the intersection to wait, but you must squeeze left so you can see. But don't go into the intersection if traffic is backed up in the lane you want to go to.
  2. Read all of the signs and watch the light. If the arrow changes to solid green, a sign will tell you that you must wait.
  3. Look for pedestrians. Do not turn the wheel until you have looked for pedestrians first. Pedestrians go first.
  4. If you can't see oncoming traffic, do not turn the wheel. Wait! Don't worry about the people behind you. They will not pay for your car if you crash.
  5. If the light turns to yellow, do not turn the wheel until oncoming traffic has run the light first. You will not get a ticket or get hit by another car if you wait at the yellow.
  6. If the light turns to red, do not turn the wheel until oncoming traffic has run the light first. You will not get a ticket or get hit by another car if you wait when it's red. You must turn, but oncoming always gets to go first, no matter what color the light. It just takes an extra second.
  7. Turn the wheel to the left and push the gas quickly but carefully. Do not crash just because the light changed!

Quick review: squeeze left, go in, wheels straight, look for pedestrians, opposite cars, and watch the light. Wait for the cars, even if the light changes to red, then turn. Don't take any chances. If you can't see, don't go. If traffic is heavy, wait for the light to turn yellow, then turn.

 

 
  

 

One-way left turn.

 

Downtown driving is easy!

 

If you remember one simple rule:

"If you turn left on to a one-way, turn to the left side."

There are 3 ways to tell if it's a one-way: a) the sign, b) the lines are white, and c) all the cars are facing the same way.

Other than that, driving downtown is no different than driving in, say,  Forest Lawn for example. Except for the jay-walking bums.

 

The benefit of one-ways is that you don't have to wait for on-coming cars! Do wait if you are on a two way. (See following illustration for turning from a two-way.)

 

Sign says one-way. Turn to the left lane. Simple! (Don't forget, oncoming cars and pedestrians go first.)


Remember, it feels weird, but it is correct. Don't rely on your feelings when you drive. Rely on both feelings and your knowledge. What feels right is sometimes wrong, and what feels wrong is sometimes right. Think first, feel second.

One-way to one-way. Again, simple. If there is a one-way sign, turn to the left lane. Also turn from  the left lane if you are on a one-way, even if it is a parking lane.

 

Don't block traffic when you wait for a pedestrian because you were afraid to go into the left lane.

 

Simple Simon met a pie man. No one-way sign? Then don't go to the left side! Silly! But do turn from the left side if you are on a one-way.

 

 

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(one-way painting courtesy of R. Kenton Nelson)