# Pulling into the intersection to turn left on green **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 28, 2013, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pulling-into-the-intersection-to-turn-left-on-green/667394 "2013-08-28T12:51:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e8c25b/32.png) [@excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/excavating_for_a_mind)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2013, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pulling-into-the-intersection-to-turn-left-on-green/667394/61 "2013-09-01T02:25:07Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > I actually saw this in China. Xian, I think. We were in a tour van/bus waiting to turn left and got the green arrow at the same time the oncoming traffic got their green light. The driver moved into the intersection but didn’t turn until a gap. All the tourists looked at each other like “What the hell? We have the green arrow and the oncoming traffic has a green too?” I am not really sure that observations on driving in China are germane. As near as I could tell, you have to use “Wal\*Mart parking lot rules” to drive in China (which means, “don’t hit anyone, anything else is OK”) For example: On a four lane road (two in each direction), never drive in the right-hand lane. That lane is reserved for people driving the wrong way. Another, You want to turn left mid-block, start by crossing the double-yellow line into the opposing lane, they will stop. Once they stop, complete your turn (the people going the wrong way in the other lane will also stop). Oh, I almost forgot, Blow your horn. A lot. Their system works for millions of people, but you couldn’t pay me to drive in China. Fortunately, their taxis are cheap and if you have to be there for an extended time, drivers are cheap, abundant, and loyal. ---
**Author:** ![Learjeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/94ad74/32.png) [@Learjeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Learjeff)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pulling-into-the-intersection-to-turn-left-on-green/667394/62 "2013-09-02T16:57:34Z")
Never mind, my bad ---
**Author:** ![ekimssor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e95f7d/32.png) [@ekimssor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekimssor)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pulling-into-the-intersection-to-turn-left-on-green/667394/63 "2015-01-30T16:54:45Z")
> [@JBDivmstr](#): > > (bolding mine) > **One would think that ‘traffic’ engineers (or whatever they’re called) would realize this and change the system.** On a recent trip to Michigan (I live in CT now) I saw some intelligence coming to dedicated left turn lane signals in the metro Detroit area. After the left arrow’s green time expired the left arrow became flashing red. I thought this was brilliant! It allowed motorists to turn left once opposing traffic cleared, of course after exercising a full stop. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pulling-into-the-intersection-to-turn-left-on-green/667394/64 "2015-01-30T17:10:09Z")
Out of curiosity: When making a left turn at a simple crossroads, is it normal to pass in front of cars coming the other way, or behind them? This in the absence of any while lines to guide you. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pulling-into-the-intersection-to-turn-left-on-green/667394/65 "2015-01-30T18:34:36Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > Out of curiosity: When making a left turn at a simple crossroads, is it normal to pass in front of cars coming the other way, or behind them? This in the absence of any while lines to guide you. provide you are both making left turns. You turn in front. ---
**Author:** ![saje](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saje/32/3631_2.png) [@saje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saje)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pulling-into-the-intersection-to-turn-left-on-green/667394/66 "2015-01-30T20:17:46Z")
I grew up and learned to drive in CT, and I was taught to pull out. I was also taught to get the hell out of the way for emergency vehicles, and I would do that as safely as possible if I were faced with that situation. I’m 50+, been driving (and pulling out to turn left) since I was 16, and I have yet to have had that happen to me. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pulling-into-the-intersection-to-turn-left-on-green/667394/67 "2015-01-30T22:58:08Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > Out of curiosity: When making a left turn at a simple crossroads, is it normal to pass in front of cars coming the other way, or behind them? This in the absence of any while lines to guide you. It’s not a matter of in front or behind. You pass right-side to right-side so your path and the opposite direction path do not cross one another. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2015, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pulling-into-the-intersection-to-turn-left-on-green/667394/68 "2015-01-31T00:36:31Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > provide you are both making left turns. You turn in front. > [@LSLGuy](#): > > It’s not a matter of in front or behind. You pass right-side to right-side so your path and the opposite direction path do not cross one another. Interesting. If any of you guys drive here in the UK, you will find that the norm when making a right turn, is to pass driver’s side to driver’s side and then cross behind them. If you try to do it your way you will likely get a toot and a friendly wave from the other motorists. Comments like; “I say old chap - that’s not the right way to do it.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pulling-into-the-intersection-to-turn-left-on-green/667394.md?page=3)