# Driving Don'ts **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 10, 2019, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-donts/829269 "2019-02-10T03:59:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2019, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-donts/829269/121 "2019-02-13T04:24:57Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > Ever read “The World According To Garp” by John Irving? Oral sex can have dire consequences I for one had not thought about before reading a certain scene. Ouch! I still remember reading the book with great pleasure and warmly recommend it. I was so angry when I rented the DVD and discovered they’d removed the phrase “…in a Buick” from the Lithgow character’s line. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2019, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-donts/829269/122 "2019-02-13T08:16:25Z")
If there’s a turning lane, USE IT. There’s a major busy street near me with a turning lane. I don’t know how many times I’ve been stuck behind someone who’s trying to turn left from the thru lane. That’s when I use my horn, but the oblivious driver doesn’t get it. And if you’re turning left at a light, in most states, you should pull into the intersection and wait for a break in the oncoming traffic, or for the light to change. You won’t be in anyone’s way. And if you’re on a side street and you need to show down or pull over for any reason, use your signal. The driver behind you isn’t a mind reader, and has no idea why you’re slowing down or pulling over. And if you’re turning right on red, but the car in front of you is going straight, it’s not ok to lay on your horn just because you don’t feel like waiting. A teenager did that to me, and I just sat there waiting for the light to change. He impatiently drove over the curb and through a field, causing one of his tires to go flat. Instant karma. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2019, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-donts/829269/123 "2019-02-13T14:07:35Z")
When you are turning left at an intersection, stop behind the wide white line. Do not stop a car length in front of that line. Yes, it is set back from the intersection, and you are saving precious seconds by having already crossed those few feet, but it is set back so that people turning left from your right can turn into the lane next to you. When you are up that far, instead, they have to go past your car before they then can swing way out to make the turn. And, not only does it slow down the traffic trying to turn left, but it slows you down as well. Are you sitting on the sensor that turns the light? No, you are 15 feet in front of it. You will sit there until someone else pulls up behind you and triggers the light. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2019, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-donts/829269/124 "2019-02-13T18:11:25Z")
> [@JohnGalt](#): > > My pet peeve is people who DO use their turn signals, but turn them on way too damn early. They’re obviously thinking “Hey, there’s my turn up there two blocks ahead, I’d better start signalling!” In the meantime, someone only one block ahead might see that they are signalling to turn (right) and pull out in front of them. DON’T SIGNAL until it’s close to where you are going to turn. Yeah, the ideal use of turn signals, which any low-grade nitwit could master (thus being largely out of reach of many of the drivers I observe) is to turn them on _as early as possible_ **once you have passed any other exits/turns that might confuse people**. The moment you pass the point that might cause other drivers to misunderstand, like the last driveway before your intended right turn, turn on your signal. You know exactly where that point is and where those potentially-confusable drivers are because you are paying some damned attention to your driving. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2019, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-donts/829269/125 "2019-02-13T19:25:56Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > And if you’re turning left at a light, in most states, you should pull into the intersection and wait for a break in the oncoming traffic, or for the light to change. You won’t be in anyone’s way. In most cases, you should _not_ do this. Generally, it is against the traffic code to pull into an intersection to turn across oncoming traffic, and if the light is changing you are not supposed to begin a turn. If you can see a break in the traffic coming, it’s fine. ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2019, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-donts/829269/126 "2019-02-13T20:58:01Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > In most cases, you should _not_ do this. Generally, it is against the traffic code to pull into an intersection to turn across oncoming traffic, and if the light is changing you are not supposed to begin a turn. If you can see a break in the traffic coming, it’s fine. If you _don’t_ pull into an intersection during a green light to wait to turn left in Chicago other drivers will wonder what the hell is wrong with you. And maybe honk. Most likely swear at you too. We actually have left turn arrows at some intersections that are red when you are not supposed to do this. ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2019, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-donts/829269/127 "2019-02-13T21:09:01Z")
I think it comes into play when traffic volume is at a certain level such as in big cities especially during commuting hours. If there is no left turn arrow, and you don’t enter the intersection during green to begin the turn, you may sit there forever because there may never be a break in traffic coming the other way, or at least for a very long time. Sometimes the only way for a car or two to sneak through going left is when the light is changing. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2019, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-donts/829269/128 "2019-02-13T21:20:46Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > In most cases, you should _not_ do this. Generally, it is against the traffic code to pull into an intersection to turn across oncoming traffic, and if the light is changing you are not supposed to begin a turn. If you can see a break in the traffic coming, it’s fine. If you cannot complete your turn once traffic is clear, that is correct. However, controlling the intersection is certainly legal in Ohio, and I am sure quite a number of states. A quick googling comes up with several driver’s ed websites for several states that specifically say to do so. [For instance](https://www.springfieldmo.gov/426/Being-in-Control-of-the-Intersection) > [@](#): > > Being in Control of the Intersection > Left Turns at Intersections > Vehicles that legally enter a signalized intersection have the right to be there until they can safely clear the intersection. This is commonly referred to as being “in control of the intersection.” This means if you are making a left turn at an intersection that has a solid green light for the turn lane and you are in the intersection before the light turns red, you are still required to yield to approaching vehicles, but you are allowed to make the turn in safety after the light turns red. You do not have to be out of the intersection before the light turns red. As this is pretty much the exact opposite of what you said, can you find anything that supports what you said? > [@Airbeck](#): > > I think it comes into play when traffic volume is at a certain level such as in big cities especially during commuting hours. If there is no left turn arrow, and you don’t enter the intersection during green to begin the turn, you may sit there forever because there may never be a break in traffic coming the other way, or at least for a very long time. Sometimes the only way for a car or two to sneak through going left is when the light is changing. Or from following the law. ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2019, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-donts/829269/129 "2019-02-13T21:23:45Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2019, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-donts/829269/130 "2019-02-13T21:28:56Z")
> [@Airbeck](#): > > I think it comes into play when traffic volume is at a certain level such as in big cities especially during commuting hours. If there is no left turn arrow, and you don’t enter the intersection during green to begin the turn, you may sit there forever because there may never be a break in traffic coming the other way, or at least for a very long time. Sometimes the only way for a car or two to sneak through going left is when the light is changing. Yep for sure. Also - you need to pull up as far as you can to see properly and take opportunity of a break in traffic. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-donts/829269.md?page=6)