Why is it so hard for people to turn left at a traffic light?

[Anonymous]

When there's no left turn arrow, you pull out into the intersection when it turns green, and turn when there's a space in the traffic or the light turns yellow.

Yet time after time, people sit behind the line and don't move forward, and when the light changes they stay there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When there's no left turn arrow, you pull out into the intersection when it turns green, and turn when there's a space in the traffic or the light turns yellow.

Yet time after time, people sit behind the line and don't move forward, and when the light changes they stay there.

I know and its infuriating. I know someone will get on here and argue that its "dangerous to pull into the middle of the intersection and wait" but that is what you are supposed to do people!

[Anonymous]

That's how I was taught. Just like not blocking an intersection, even though the light is green - you stay behind the line. People getting caught in the middle of the roadway does not help traffic - it makes it worse, and I'm not interested in contributing to the problem.

[Anonymous]

I have no trouble with this, but I thought you can get a ticket for being in the middle when the light turns red. Also, a lot of times even after the light turns red, the right turn lane never clears and you can't turn left into the road you wanted.

[Anonymous]

Agree OP.

Also adding to "drivers who suck at turning left" are when they pull almost into the next lane/cross over the turn lane to make this gigantic swing to turn left. I almost got side-swiped by this moron the other day doing it. And he had a BMW, a car that turns on a dime. Why did he need so much room to turn left!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When there's no left turn arrow, you pull out into the intersection when it turns green, and turn when there's a space in the traffic or the light turns yellow.

Yet time after time, people sit behind the line and don't move forward, and when the light changes they stay there.

I know and its infuriating. I know someone will get on here and argue that its "dangerous to pull into the middle of the intersection and wait" but that is what you are supposed to do people!

+1, drives me bananas. It seems like some people don’t know how to turn left without an arrow or an engraved invitation. I’ve had to honk at cars in front of me waiting to turn left, not pulled into the intersection, with zero visible oncoming traffic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When there's no left turn arrow, you pull out into the intersection when it turns green, and turn when there's a space in the traffic or the light turns yellow.

Yet time after time, people sit behind the line and don't move forward, and when the light changes they stay there.

I know and its infuriating. I know someone will get on here and argue that its "dangerous to pull into the middle of the intersection and wait" but that is what you are supposed to do people!

+1, drives me bananas. It seems like some people don’t know how to turn left without an arrow or an engraved invitation. I’ve had to honk at cars in front of me waiting to turn left, not pulled into the intersection, with zero visible oncoming traffic.

+2

Let's not forget those who won't turn left into the left-hand lane when other drivers are turning right into the right-hand lane. Georgia/Eastern Ave intersection, I'm looking at you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When there's no left turn arrow, you pull out into the intersection when it turns green, and turn when there's a space in the traffic or the light turns yellow.

Yet time after time, people sit behind the line and don't move forward, and when the light changes they stay there.

I know and its infuriating. I know someone will get on here and argue that its "dangerous to pull into the middle of the intersection and wait" but that is what you are supposed to do people!

No, it's not. I will turn left when I think it's safe for me to turn left, with respect to oncoming traffic and pedestrians in the crosswalk. And honking at me (if you're behind me and think that I should turn left) is not going to make me turn left any sooner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

+1, drives me bananas. It seems like some people don’t know how to turn left without an arrow or an engraved invitation. I’ve had to honk at cars in front of me waiting to turn left, not pulled into the intersection, with zero visible oncoming traffic.

That's because they're on their phones. Put your phones in the trunk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When there's no left turn arrow, you pull out into the intersection when it turns green, and turn when there's a space in the traffic or the light turns yellow.

Yet time after time, people sit behind the line and don't move forward, and when the light changes they stay there.

I know and its infuriating. I know someone will get on here and argue that its "dangerous to pull into the middle of the intersection and wait" but that is what you are supposed to do people!

No, it's not. I will turn left when I think it's safe for me to turn left, with respect to oncoming traffic and pedestrians in the crosswalk. And honking at me (if you're behind me and think that I should turn left) is not going to make me turn left any sooner.

Well, you probably go 55 MPH in the left lane, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When there's no left turn arrow, you pull out into the intersection when it turns green, and turn when there's a space in the traffic or the light turns yellow.

Yet time after time, people sit behind the line and don't move forward, and when the light changes they stay there.

I know and its infuriating. I know someone will get on here and argue that its "dangerous to pull into the middle of the intersection and wait" but that is what you are supposed to do people!

+1, drives me bananas. It seems like some people don’t know how to turn left without an arrow or an engraved invitation. I’ve had to honk at cars in front of me waiting to turn left, not pulled into the intersection, with zero visible oncoming traffic.

What is visible to them and what is visible to you sitting behind them are not the same things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have no trouble with this, but I thought you can get a ticket for being in the middle when the light turns red. Also, a lot of times even after the light turns red, the right turn lane never clears and you can't turn left into the road you wanted.

Lifelong Washingtonian here. Back in the 70s, 80s and early 90s, the remaining left-turner could always count on turning on the yellow light. The cars from the other direction slowed down at the yellow, leaving time and space for the left-turner to go.

Fast forward to today, and cars coming from the other direction are busy pushing their way through the intersection up until the second the light turns from yellow to red. The left-turner often has to make that turn after the light has already changed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no trouble with this, but I thought you can get a ticket for being in the middle when the light turns red. Also, a lot of times even after the light turns red, the right turn lane never clears and you can't turn left into the road you wanted.

Lifelong Washingtonian here. Back in the 70s, 80s and early 90s, the remaining left-turner could always count on turning on the yellow light. The cars from the other direction slowed down at the yellow, leaving time and space for the left-turner to go.

Fast forward to today, and cars coming from the other direction are busy pushing their way through the intersection up until the second the light turns from yellow to red. The left-turner often has to make that turn after the light has already changed.

Agreed. And this is when a cop can ticket you. I also worry a lot in DC about getting a ticket from a red light camera so there's no way I'm pulling forward in DC. (But I'm a good driver and pay close attention. I'm not the 55mph in the left lane poster above)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When there's no left turn arrow, you pull out into the intersection when it turns green, and turn when there's a space in the traffic or the light turns yellow.

Yet time after time, people sit behind the line and don't move forward, and when the light changes they stay there.

I know and its infuriating. I know someone will get on here and argue that its "dangerous to pull into the middle of the intersection and wait" but that is what you are supposed to do people!

No, it's not. I will turn left when I think it's safe for me to turn left, with respect to oncoming traffic and pedestrians in the crosswalk. And honking at me (if you're behind me and think that I should turn left) is not going to make me turn left any sooner.

NP. It's absolutely what you are supposed to do. No one is saying that you should turn before it is safe to do so, but you're supposed to pull into the intersection and wait THERE to make your turn. Maybe people behind you are honking to get you to move up, not because they necessarily want to you complete the turn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no trouble with this, but I thought you can get a ticket for being in the middle when the light turns red. Also, a lot of times even after the light turns red, the right turn lane never clears and you can't turn left into the road you wanted.

Lifelong Washingtonian here. Back in the 70s, 80s and early 90s, the remaining left-turner could always count on turning on the yellow light. The cars from the other direction slowed down at the yellow, leaving time and space for the left-turner to go.

Fast forward to today, and cars coming from the other direction are busy pushing their way through the intersection up until the second the light turns from yellow to red. The left-turner often has to make that turn after the light has already changed.

Agreed. And this is when a cop can ticket you. I also worry a lot in DC about getting a ticket from a red light camera so there's no way I'm pulling forward in DC. (But I'm a good driver and pay close attention. I'm not the 55mph in the left lane poster above)

Pull forward into the intersection while it’s still green and there won’t be a problem finishing your turn without getting a ticket.