# Do you really want to do that?? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 13, 2000, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-really-want-to-do-that/10422 "2000-04-13T22:14:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2000, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-really-want-to-do-that/10422/21 "2000-04-15T06:37:00Z")
The SOP in LA (where the car is king) for left turns is for as many cars as possible to creep into the intersection as the light turns green, this is normally 1-2 cars, but at some very big intersections three cars can make it. If it’s clear, the first car goes left and everybody else in line moves up. If you’re still in the intersection once the light turns red, then you complete your left turn to clear the intersection. Anticipating this, traffic engineers out here have timed nearly every signal to have about a 3 second period where there are red lights in every direction. I’ve very rarely seen Allandale’s system where the first car waiting to make a left turn goes before everyone else. People who do that out here are definitely not appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2000, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-really-want-to-do-that/10422/22 "2000-04-15T07:05:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by allanadale: > \*\*Got to tell ya, the q confused me, but I will relate this story: > I…crept out a little into the intersection to “declare my intentions,” if you will, to turn left ASAP. > > After I made the turn, the DMV lady informed me I had just broken a traffic law.\*\* In NYC this is referred to as **don’t block the box**. The ‘box’ is the intersection squared by the four crosswalk lines. In most states I know of, it’s illegal to stop in the intersection regardless of reason. As mentioned, if you don’t have a clear way through, you don’t go in at all. This is to stop grid lock and prevent accidents. If you’re sitting in the intersection waiting to turn left, what happens if the idiots coming the other way keep coming through, even through the yellow? Then, when your light turns red and the traffic is starting to come from the other direction, you’ll be caught in the box blocking traffic. IOW, don’t do it. Peace. ---
**Author:** ![bakka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@bakka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bakka)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2000, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-really-want-to-do-that/10422/23 "2000-04-16T01:28:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by bibliophage: > \*\*In some parts of the country, it is traditional (but not written into law) that after the light turns green the first left-turning car is expected to proceed before oncoming traffic starts to moves. If you’re not used to it, it can be very confusing and downright dangerous. So far I have experienced this phenomenon in Connecticut and around Pittsburgh. Does it occur anywhere else? > \*\* Here in Oregon at one time the law did say left turn goes first when the light turns green. I grew up in Washington. When my aunt would come visit us from Oregon she used to scare my mom when she drove because she would always turn in front of oncomingtraffic when the light turned green. Whenever my mother complained my aunt would say " That’s the way we do it in Oregon. It’s the law." This may still be the rule but no one seems to know that. Many intersections around town have signs that say “Left turn yield to oncoming traffic” . These signs are only at intersections that don’t have a seperate left turn lane. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-really-want-to-do-that/10422.md?page=1)