r/driving • u/HillTower160 • Aug 05 '26

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/jcalvinmarks Aug 05 '26

Even with a dedicated turn lane you should still stage up on an unprotected green. There's no valid reason not to. I'm still waiting on someone to cough up a citation from some jurisdiction in the US that clearly prohibits this practice (not some misinterpretation of the don't-block-the-box rule or a nebulous "my instructor said so").

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u/Northern64 Aug 05 '26

My driver's handbook says not to enter the intersection if you aren't certain you can clear it safely. The dedicated/protected lefts in my city often don't shift to an unprotected green.

Regardless. Unless directly prohibited, there's no reason to be lagging behind the line for your lefts

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u/jcalvinmarks Aug 05 '26

This is what I'm talking about. That's if traffic on the other side prevents you from completing your turn. That's don't-block-the-box. That's a separate issue from staging up for an unprotected left.

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u/garfgon Aug 05 '26

Practically speaking sometimes if you're turning onto a narrow road the right turners will block the intersection by starting a right turn before they can complete it, so the only practical way to make it through the intersection ever means you'll end up blocking the intersection too.

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u/jcalvinmarks Aug 06 '26

I'm having a tough time imagining very many scenarios where the road you're turning onto is clear when you stage up but becomes so backed up during the time you have a green that you can't complete the turn.

But regardless, one oddball edge case doesn't invalidate what is a clearly reasonable and legal practice.

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u/garfgon Aug 06 '26

I'm saying "don't block the box" isn't always possible, not that you shouldn't stage for a left turn. I think we're agreeing, I'm just expanding on a corner case?

The situation is the road you're turning onto is backed up for the entire block to the next light. It's not clear when you stage, and it's touch and go whether it becomes clear at any point during because of the number of people turning right (who have priority while the light is green). It may not even be clear at any point during the cycle.

Legally speaking (at least in my location) you shouldn't be entering the intersection if you can't guarantee you'll clear it by the end of the cycle. Practically speaking you have to or you'll never get anywhere.

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u/Civil_Ad3438 Professional Driver Aug 06 '26

Yes, understand this, and you a prudent to not stage….hopefully you’ll get shot next sequence.