Question:
What should I do when making a left turn from a left turning lane?
Answer:
As mentioned last month in our review of left turns at lights, it is important to remember that left turns could be the most dangerous turns you will ever make! Be sure to focus, take your time, and ensure you make the turn safely!
When approaching an intersection with a left turning lane it is always a good idea to check your mirror, turn on your left indicator, and to shoulder check before transitioning into the left turning lane. This is especially important at intersections where the median before the left turn lane is yellow painted lines instead of a concrete median. People may drive on the median to get around traffic that has slowed down in the through lane, especially if there is a shorter line in the left turning lane. If you are the vehicle approaching the left turning lane and there is a back up of traffic in the straight through lane waiting to go, DON’T drive on the median to get around them, someone may pull out in front of you to get in to the turning lane!! Even when the median is made of painted lines rather than concrete, treat it as if it were a concrete median (would you drive over the concrete?).
Keep your indicator on even though you are in the left turning lane until you have completed your turn. If there is a green arrow and traffic in front of you is moving to get through the green arrow, be sure to check your mirror, shoulder check, check the oncoming traffic, eyes on your turn, and complete your turn as you enter the intersection, then turning in to the innermost lane.
If you are the first car at the stop line and you get the green arrow, be sure to SCAN the intersection before proceeding into it. Check your mirror, shoulder check, check the oncoming traffic, eyes on your turn, and complete your turn, turning in to the innermost lane.
Why is it important to scan the intersection? It is common for drivers to run yellow lights, or even red lights, so scanning to make sure cross-traffic has stopped and is not racing to beat the light is critical. In addition, oncoming cars may not be fully focused – they may notice that the cross-traffic has stopped and see the green of the green arrow, or see the vehicles in the left turning lane starting to move forward, and proceed straight through and directly in to your lane assuming they have a green light. Although you do have the right-of-way, be ready to yield in the event someone else does not, don’t assume those who are supposed to yield to you actually will!!
Why is it important to shoulder check on a left turn? Just as with drivers, pedestrians are not always focused and can walk out into the crosswalk when it is not their turn. This often happens with green arrows as the pedestrian sees the cross-traffic stop and then assumes it is their turn to go. You do not want to get surprised by a pedestrian in the crosswalk when making a left turn!
If the intersection does not have a green arrow, follow the same procedure as our Ask Kim in January for Left Turns at Lights.
I always tell my students “There are only 2 good drivers in this world – me and you, and sometimes I’m not so sure about you!!”. In other words, don’t assume everybody out there is focused on driving so take your time and STAY SAFE!
Left turns at lights should NOT be taken lightly, but instead with CONFIDENCE