Left turn in intersection - Legal or Not Legal? (CA)?

Tom-SJ

CA law says you must pull up to and wait behind the limit line until is safe to make your turn.

It is best to keep your wheels pointed straight in case someone slams into your car from behind. That way, you won't get t-boned by oncoming traffic.

Page 27 of the DMV handbook under Left Turns.
< www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/dl600.pdf >
(page 39 of the pdf doc.)

Ryan R

I don't know why you couldn't look the law up like I did.

Anyway, you are allowed to proceed into the intersection. In fact, this is taught in driver education classes. Otherwise, you're going to be there for a long time.

The law is as follows:

21451. (a) A driver facing a circular green signal shall proceed straight through or turn right or left or make a U-turn unless a sign prohibits a U-turn. Any driver, including one turning, shall yield the right-of-way to other traffic and to pedestrians lawfully within the intersection or an adjacent crosswalk.

(b) A driver facing a green arrow signal, shown alone or in combination with another indication, shall enter the intersection only to make the movement indicated by that green arrow or any other movement that is permitted by other indications shown at the same time. A driver facing a left green arrow may also make a U-turn unless prohibited by a sign. A driver shall yield the right-of-way to other traffic and to pedestrians lawfully within the intersection or an adjacent crosswalk.

(c) A pedestrian facing a circular green signal, unless prohibited by sign or otherwise directed by a pedestrian control signal as provided in Section 21456, may proceed across the roadway within any marked or unmarked crosswalk, but shall yield the right-of-way to vehicles lawfully within the intersection at the time that signal is first shown.

The driver's manual referred to by another poster refers to an intersection with a stop sign, not a turn with a green light.

Angelicious05

You pull into the intersection, because when i took my license test when i turned 16, and this situation arose, i waited behind the line but the tester told me to pull up ( he was nice enough to tell me this so i would pass)

grace m

in Australia we pull to the middle

rouschkateer

You ARE NOT allowed to block the intersection unless you KNOW that you will have a chance to turn BEFORE the light turns yellow.

pilot

In most states (probably all) you are required to wait at the line until the way is clear. However, it is possible to be caught beyond the line and still be in compliance if you wait at the position where you were unexpectedly caught until the way is clear to procede. If you have a left turn arrow of course no need to wait at all - you have the right of way.

pay2368

I would just drive into traffice like a driver in Jamica

vincent c

stop sign behind the line, if two way middle, the guy making the left has to yield

tpbthigb

You should call the DMV and ask. I know you have to make an appointment but if you are persistent you can eventually get through to a live person.

doug b

you are supposed to wait at the line till it is safe to do a complete turn,as we all know no one does

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