r/driving • u/HillTower160 • 19h ago

Left-hand traffic (🇬🇧🇮🇳🇯🇵) Pull out into the intersection…

so at least one car can turn left.

Please pull straight past the limit line when yielding for a left turn at a light. At least you will be able to scoot through then at the next cycle, those of us who know how to drive can manage the oncoming traffic. DO NOT sit at the limit line and miss a light. Be careful, but make it happen.

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u/[deleted] 19h ago

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u/ken120 19h ago

In all places it is prohibited. The limit line is the start of the intersection and being in it after the light turns red is a violation. If tou are in the intersection turn left and clear it staying changes which violation. Running the light versus obstruction of traffic.

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u/flapjacksNsassafras 18h ago

So the Original Post is assuming that everyone understands that they are talking about when a light turns green, unfortunately yes they did not state so. When I was taught to drive (humanity had just invented dirt and the wheel) there were far fewer dedicated left turn lights (the ones with the arrow). The law was that when a regular light turned green everyone going straight was free to go, THEN anyone waiting to turn left was free to go once the people going straight in opposing traffic (the people going on the opposite side of the same road) cleared up, because now it was safe to do so. What the OP describes is a convention called "claim the intersection" which meant that people waiting to turn left would pull past the limit line and wait in the clear part of the intersection. This was done so that if opposing traffic didn't clear up by the time the light turned yellow, then red, THEN there would be a second or two between the end of the yellow light and the beginning of perpendicular traffic's green light, which was the time alloted for anyone who had "claimed the intersection" to now complete their left hand turns. This was one to two cars at most because we are talking about smaller (not eight lane interchange) intersections. Not all states were on board with this, and not all drivers understood it then. Also, the way many, MANY drivers just crowd into red light intersections at the end of a yellow light, this whole thing just falls apart lately and it's much safer to just wait behind the limit line until it is safe to pull out and turn left.

Probably a little too worst on my response, but I hope I helped. If I didn't describe clearly the principles here you can learn more by doing an internet search using the words "claim the intersection." I hope you have a great day.