How to make a left turn at an intersection (in the US)?

i am taking my drivers test soon and i am still confused about left turns at intersections. i understand when the light turns green, your supposed to move up. some people tell me, pull up Little bit past the light, and other people tell me to pull up all the way to the center

im so confused!! how far do i pull up?

also, if im making a left turn at an intersection, wont there also be cars trying to make a left on the OTHER side of traffic? so wouldn't we end up being stuck in the middle making our opposite left turns?

PLEASE HELP!

thud.fan

As an example, there is nothing in the Calif. driver's handbook stating where a driver should stop while waiting to make left turn on a green light. Logic says that waiting behind the limit line until the light turns yellow, I will never make the left. There may still be traffic in the intersection. But if I am already in the intersection - front wheels beyond the limit line - I have right-of-way to make a turn before cross traffic may proceed. The best compromise is to be about a third of the way into the intersection. I try to make enough room for the guy behind me to also make their turn. This way I am also giving opposing left turn traffic enough room to execute their turns. Keep an eye open for left turn guide lines on the road and use them.

Good luck and all the best.

UCANTCME

The correct way that it should be done is to wait behind the line and not in the intersection because this is where you can be hit if the light should chance and it would be your fault.

Wait and then turn if all is clear but never block the intersection...

joe

I'm staggered by the number of people that think you're supposed to wait behind the line when turning left. The law is simple: 1. Enter the intersection, there is no rule how far, but general rule of thumb is when completing a turn you're using a gradual semi-circle turn. So you would be pulling forward the natural amount you would on a normal (correct) left turn - generally 1/4-1/2way into the intersection. 2. Only one car enters the intersection for a left turn, if someone else is ahead of you making a left turn then you should wait at the line. 3. Once you are in the intersection you have the right of way once traffic clears enough that you can turn (even if the light has turned red in the meantime). 4. Keep your wheels straight until you actually turn. Many people have been killed by a minor rear-end collision that pushed their car into oncoming traffic.

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