# Being waved on for left-hand turns when light is green **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 20, 2017, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-waved-on-for-left-hand-turns-when-light-is-green/796838 "2017-09-20T23:23:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DummyGladHands](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/49beb7/32.png) [@DummyGladHands](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DummyGladHands)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2017, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-waved-on-for-left-hand-turns-when-light-is-green/796838/21 "2017-09-21T12:40:20Z")
Never ever turn. She may be stopped and waving but the asshole behind her who will jump into the bike lan3 and T-bone you won’t stop. And guess what, you’re liable. And ticketed. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2017, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-waved-on-for-left-hand-turns-when-light-is-green/796838/22 "2017-09-21T15:31:58Z")
Related to this is the bizarre practice in some small, backwards parts of the country where the oncoming traffic allows the \*first \*car in the left turn lane to go. It’s like the norm. Strangest thing I have heard of. Since no one else does this, it makes for interesting traffic interactions when people not familiar with this “courtesy” travel there, and downright dangerous when those people travel to the rest of the country. I think I’ve seen it in actual traffic - someone screaming through a left turn on green when the light changes, making oncoming traffic slam on their brakes. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2017, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-waved-on-for-left-hand-turns-when-light-is-green/796838/23 "2017-09-21T15:42:39Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Related to this is the bizarre practice in some small, backwards parts of the country where the oncoming traffic allows the \*first \*car in the left turn lane to go. It’s like the norm. Strangest thing I have heard of. Since no one else does this, it makes for interesting traffic interactions when people not familiar with this “courtesy” travel there, and downright dangerous when those people travel to the rest of the country. I think I’ve seen it in actual traffic - someone screaming through a left turn on green when the light changes, making oncoming traffic slam on their brakes. Ah, the Pittsburgh left! ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2017, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-waved-on-for-left-hand-turns-when-light-is-green/796838/24 "2017-09-21T16:53:23Z")
There are better ways to be polite. For example, on two-lane, wide open straightaways when there’s no oncoming traffic, I’ve seen the guy in front of me get into the wrong lane to make a left turn so that I didn’t have to slow from 60 down to 25 just for him. Same when there are wide shoulders and the guy ahead of me is turning right. Also, sometimes a wave is nice at four-way stops when we both get to the intersection at the same time. I know the rule is to yield to your right, but sometimes I thought we stopped at the same time, but they thought I stopped first, so their wave is helpful in clarifying. But usually the safest course is to follow the rules of the road to the letter, not “allowing” someone to do something dangerous and unpredictable out of a mistaken sense of politeness. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2017, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-waved-on-for-left-hand-turns-when-light-is-green/796838/25 "2017-09-21T16:56:05Z")
> [@md2000](#): > > (I almost got creamed like that, closest I came to a serious accident on my motorcycle. Some idiot stopped in front of me on the road… For some reason people like to wave me through in this situation. I hate it and will NOT go through. I’ve almost had two or three accidents from someone coming from behind and just going around them. Once on a one lane road the other person just blew past them on the left right at me. I’ve had people get mad and start yelling at me for not taking their ‘politeness’, I don’t know why, I’m not the one being dangerous. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2017, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-waved-on-for-left-hand-turns-when-light-is-green/796838/26 "2017-09-21T16:56:52Z")
> [@DrCube](#): > > There are better ways to be polite. For example, on two-lane, wide open straightaways when there’s no oncoming traffic, I’ve seen the guy in front of me get into the wrong lane to make a left turn so that I didn’t have to slow from 60 down to 25 just for him. Same when there are wide shoulders and the guy ahead of me is turning right. > > Also, sometimes a wave is nice at four-way stops when we both get to the intersection at the same time. I know the rule is to yield to your right, but sometimes I thought we stopped at the same time, but they thought I stopped first, so their wave is helpful in clarifying. > > But usually the safest course is to follow the rules of the road to the letter, not “allowing” someone to do something dangerous and unpredictable out of a mistaken sense of politeness. Four way stops are the one place I generally don’t get too peeved about people yielding right of way. Here, the signal is a flash of the brights (or a wave.) If I get it, I just take it, even if they technically have the right of way by being to the right of me or having arrived to the intersection slightly faster. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2017, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-waved-on-for-left-hand-turns-when-light-is-green/796838/27 "2017-09-21T17:32:17Z")
The way people stop these days it’s quite hard to tell who was first. Did the car over there stop behind the stop line then roll forward a bit to have a better look and stop again? Which stop counts? Quite often a first car will stop well past a stop line and a second car can stop at the stop line. Some drivers think that counts as their stop. Other drivers assume we should alternate regardless. Fortunately no one is usually going too fast when starting up so it’s easy to correct. ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2017, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-waved-on-for-left-hand-turns-when-light-is-green/796838/28 "2017-09-21T17:45:47Z")
IMO, 80% of the respondents are not aware of their surroundings for any of the scenarios they are complaining about. They are not actually looking nor trying to keep the flow working. 4 way stops in slick conditions are a great example. If no one comes to a complete stop, but just pays attention, no one gets stuck, slid into or bends anything. Actually had a case like this where two LEO’s were giving tickets to the ‘oh so safe’ people who were stopping while going up hill and causing mass fender benders because they insisted on coming to a full stop. Bawahahahaha The human brain is amazingly willing to die because being ‘right’ is more important than being alive. I’ve seen it in pilots, ground based drivers, people steering boats etc… ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2017, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-waved-on-for-left-hand-turns-when-light-is-green/796838/29 "2017-09-21T17:55:34Z")
> [@GusNSpot](#): > > IMO, 80% of the respondents are not aware of their surroundings for any of the scenarios they are complaining about. They are not actually looking nor trying to keep the flow working. 4 way stops in slick conditions are a great example. If no one comes to a complete stop, but just pays attention, no one gets stuck, slid into or bends anything. Actually had a case like this where two LEO’s were giving tickets to the ‘oh so safe’ people who were stopping while going up hill and causing mass fender benders because they insisted on coming to a full stop. Bawahahahaha > > The human brain is amazingly willing to die because being ‘right’ is more important than being alive. I’ve seen it in pilots, ground based drivers, people steering boats etc… I have no idea what you’re on about here. Those of us asking to stick to the law are the ones who want to be “alive” not “right” or “polite.” ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2017, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-waved-on-for-left-hand-turns-when-light-is-green/796838/30 "2017-09-21T18:07:22Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I have no idea what you’re on about here. Those of us asking to stick to the law are the ones who want to be “alive” not “right” or “polite.” And that is exactly what I am ‘on’ about. Dogged thinking that ‘the rules will protect me’ is why … "I do not need to care about his failed brakes because I have the right of way so I go just like the law says I can. There is ‘right.’ And there is ‘dead right.’ ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2017, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-waved-on-for-left-hand-turns-when-light-is-green/796838/31 "2017-09-21T18:13:24Z")
> [@GusNSpot](#): > > And that is exactly what I am ‘on’ about. Dogged thinking that ‘the rules will protect me’ is why … "I do not need to care about his failed brakes because I have the right of way so I go just like the law says I can. You do realize that that’s not the sort of situation that the thread is about? We’re talking about when a driver “violates” the rules on right-of-way in an effort to be courteous, and thus is behaving in an unpredictable manner (and possibly encouraging the other driver into a hazardous situation). And, the other posters in this thread are saying, “please _don’t_ be ‘courteous’ like this, because it’s confusing and can create problems.'” This has nothing whatsoever to do with “sticking doggedly to the rules in the face of an emergency.” ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2017, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-waved-on-for-left-hand-turns-when-light-is-green/796838/32 "2017-09-21T18:14:29Z")
> [@GusNSpot](#): > > IMO, 80% of the respondents are not aware of their surroundings for any of the scenarios they are complaining about. They are not actually looking nor trying to keep the flow working. 4 way stops in slick conditions are a great example. If no one comes to a complete stop, but just pays attention, no one gets stuck, slid into or bends anything. Actually had a case like this where two LEO’s were giving tickets to the ‘oh so safe’ people who were stopping while going up hill and causing mass fender benders because they insisted on coming to a full stop. Bawahahahaha I’d love to see the Arkansas law that says laws about stopping at stop signs no longer apply in the rain. And I’d love to see a cop explaining to a judge why he gave a ticket for obeying the law. If there are slick conditions, and no one really stops, it is harder for either car to brake and avoid an accident. There is a stop sign in front of my house, across from an elementary school. If half the drivers actually stop at it, it is a miracle. I’m sure they all have great excuses. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2017, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-waved-on-for-left-hand-turns-when-light-is-green/796838/33 "2017-09-21T18:24:06Z")
> [@GusNSpot](#): > > And that is exactly what I am ‘on’ about. Dogged thinking that ‘the rules will protect me’ is why … "I do not need to care about his failed brakes because I have the right of way so I go just like the law says I can. > > There is ‘right.’ > And there is ‘dead right.’ Once again, I have no frickin’ clue what you’re on about here. I agree with all the above. But that’s not what is in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2017, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-waved-on-for-left-hand-turns-when-light-is-green/796838/34 "2017-09-21T18:34:54Z")
> [@GusNSpot](#): > > And that is exactly what I am ‘on’ about. Dogged thinking that ‘the rules will protect me’ is why … "I do not need to care about his failed brakes because I have the right of way so I go just like the law says I can. > > There is ‘right.’ > And there is ‘dead right.’ Basically, what we’re saying here is be careful of the “polite” driver who let’s you through because that “polite” driver might not be situationally aware enough to realize that there’s some asshole right behind him, getting impatient, and getting ready to gun across the intersection, straight into YOU who the “polite” driver just waved on. I would think given your “right” vs “dead right” worldview (which I agree with), you would also agree with there’s “polite” and, accepting that politeness, possibly being “dead polite.” This is not at all some sort of smarmy bookworminess “rules are rules” horseshit like people who camp out in the left lane at the speed limit. These are situations where what is perceived as courtesy and politeness by some drivers actually makes things more unpredictable and dangerous for others. ---
**Author:** ![dstarfire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dstarfire/32/5762_2.png) [@dstarfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dstarfire)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2017, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-waved-on-for-left-hand-turns-when-light-is-green/796838/35 "2017-09-21T22:58:41Z")
Yes, it most definitely IS legal. Any driver (or pedestrian, for that matter) may voluntarily yield the right-of-way to another driver/pedestrian. Whether or not it’s smart depends entirely on the situation (type of road, level of traffic, etc.). Your best course of action is to accept the right of way and make your turn as quickly and safely as possible (e.g. turn into the inner lane rather than the outside one if there’s more than one lane in each direction). Those of you scared about the possibility of an idiot behind the nice driver either live in a really sh\*tty area (trafficwise, at least) , or need to study probability (specifically risk-assessment). ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2017, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-waved-on-for-left-hand-turns-when-light-is-green/796838/36 "2017-09-21T23:45:00Z")
> [@dstarfire](#): > > Your best course of action is to accept the right of way and make your turn as quickly and safely as possible (e.g. turn into the inner lane rather than the outside one if there’s more than one lane in each direction). Explain, please, in what sense this is the best course of action. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-waved-on-for-left-hand-turns-when-light-is-green/796838/37 "2017-09-22T00:08:28Z")
> [@dstarfire](#): > > Those of you scared about the possibility of an idiot behind the nice driver either live in a really sh\*tty area (trafficwise, at least) . You got it in one! ---
**Author:** ![TSBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-waved-on-for-left-hand-turns-when-light-is-green/796838/38 "2017-09-22T03:04:21Z")
Right of way at 4-way stops is tricky. I know what the rules are, but there are a lot of drivers who don’t. I’ll yield right of way with a wave/light flash if I don’t like the look of the other driver. Example: just tonight I arrived at the stop slightly before the driver coming in the opposite direction. I’m making a left. But I don’t like the way he approached the intersection–jammed on the brakes late, rolled forward a bit after “stopping.” I flashed my lights and let him through first. Not to mention the jackasses at a four-way who don’t signal a turn when cars are lined up at all four stops. Part of learning to be a good driver is sniffing out the assholes and knowing when it’s better to wait. That said, I agree about yielding to a left turn on green. It’s dangerous, I don’t do it, and don’t take the opportunity when invited. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-waved-on-for-left-hand-turns-when-light-is-green/796838/39 "2017-09-22T17:10:12Z")
Someone did that for my sister. Unfortunately the car in the other oncoming lane was coming up fast and didn’t see what was going on their vision being blocked by traffic. My sister’s Blazer got tboned and rolled 3 times. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-waved-on-for-left-hand-turns-when-light-is-green/796838/40 "2017-09-22T17:57:23Z")
> [@edwardcoast](#): > > You are driving in the US and come to an intersection and your signal light is green. You put on your signal to make a left-hand turn. The on-coming traffic continues to flow but someone stops and waves you to make a left-hand turn. (post shortened) It depends on why the on-coming vehicle stopped. Did they stop because traffic in their lane was very slow, or backed up, and they may have thought that they may not clear the intersection before the light turns red? Maybe they didn’t want to risk blocking the intersection? On a 2-lane road, I would make a left turn. On a 4-lane road, I would not proceed until the light changed, or there was a sufficiently large gap in the on-coming traffic. OTOH, if someone simply stopped their vehicle while they had a clear road ahead, or at least a good chance to clear the intersection, I would assume the other driver was not paying attention/did not know the rules of the road/had a medical emergency. I doubt that I would make a left turn in front of such a driver. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-waved-on-for-left-hand-turns-when-light-is-green/796838.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-waved-on-for-left-hand-turns-when-light-is-green/796838.md?page=3)