My California Traffic Laws booklet doesn’t include this scenario, which I come across every day right by my house:
Green light, two cars approaching the signal from opposite directions, no other cars around, no median, one lane in either direction.
Me: Approaching the green light, preparing to turn right with my signal on.
Other guy: Approaching the green light from the other direction, preparing to turn left with his signal on.
In this situation, since I could be going straight and therefore the other guy would have to yield, I always assume I get to turn first. However, the turning left guy always acts like he should get to go first and starts to pull into the intersection, then acts all pissy b/c I won’t slow down to let him turn in front of me.
Who has the right of way? I’d hate to find out I’ve been the a-hole for all these years. (Wouldn’t be the first time: When I first moved to CA, I couldn’t believe all the motorcycles that tried to “lane split”, so I until I was told it was legal, I always honked and moved over to block them…:()
According to the rules of the road I learned way back when in New York, you have the right of way as SavageNarce says. Traffic laws do vary somewhat from state to state, though.
You’d have the right of way in Quebec and Ontario, too. Since his turn requires that he enter your lane, he is at most risk, and therefore should yeild to oncoming traffic. And in this case, “oncoming” includes you, since it’s your lane, whether you go straight or not.
Certainly not in practice, but what I always learned was that the first one into the intersection had the right of way. As is stated by everyone else this is not what happens in every day practice, but I have always thought it unfair that if I am at a light and it turns green, I have to wait for 10 cars to go straight before I can turn.
[sup]the above post is made in the apprehension of zillions of pile-ons[/sup]
First to the intersection has right of way when you’re dealing with STOP signs. Otherwise, as stated above.
kniz has addressed a second question, what to do if you’re stopped at a light when it turns green. In eastern Pennsylvania and Jersey, the first car in the left turn lane gets to go, but the ten cars behind have to wait until it’s clear. I don’t think this is written anywhere, merely custom. Most other places, it’s bad form and dangerous to assume right of way turning left when the light changes. However, unless laws vary on this from one state to the next, you should pull into the intersection to await this left turn. This way you won’t have to wait for the next cycle.
“When you turn left, give the right-of-way to all vehicles on the same road coming from the opposite direction close enough to be dangerous. Turn only when you can see that it is safe.”
What don’t ask said. I think you’ll find that in every state making a left turn requires yielding to any traffic in the intersection or approaching the intersection close enough to be in it before you can complete the turn. For a left-turner to expect the right of way strikes me as ignorant and/or nervy. It’s also dangerous. And stupid.
In Western Pennsylvania this behavior is referred to as a “Pittsburgh left” but I’m pretty sure it’s not law or custom; it’s just that guy cutting in front of the oncoming traffic.
In B.C., anyone in the intersection has the right of way. So if this guy has already started his turn, you are required to stop for him.
However, at a green light anyone turning left must yield to oncoming traffic and wait for a safe gap to turn.
So if he’s waiting, he has to keep waiting. If he’s moving, he gets to keep moving, even if he’s a twit who can’t judge when it’s safe to turn in front of oncoming traffic.
This brings up one of my pet peeves: Those idiots that won’t get out in the intersection thus cutting down the amount of space between oncoming cars needed to make a turn. Often it also means they miss their chance to turn when the light changes.
Oncoming traffic must vear right before making their turn. Once right turn is initiated they must obey a Yield sign before merging into the new perpendicular lane. Problem is, the merge area is very short and places them in the direct path of the vehicle attempting to complete a left turn.
You would think the vehicle turning left has the right-of-way (oncoming right-turn lane has a Yield sign). However, before the the oncoming car intiates their right turn, they have the right-of-way ! Only after they attempt to enter the perpendicular lane are they required to Yield.
Based on the information in this thread, I would say the vehicle turning left has right-of-way since they never have to cross an oncoming lane.
This is a continued source of confusion for everyone in the area driving on said road… Many fingers have been waved at this intersection, one at a time.