Quote:
Originally Posted by Polar Bear
You are not erring on the side of safety. Making a left turn on a green ball at a properly designed intersection is perfectly safe. And it significantly increases the traffic handling capacity of an intersection...without compromising safety.
You are never 100% safe using any transportation system. But you are as safe making a left-turn-yield movement as you are anyplace else in the system. And that includes going past the stop bar as oncoming traffic approaches, then proceeding when a gap appears. Or if there is no gap, you wait for the signal to turn red...not yellow, red...and then complete your left turn while being aware of possible red-light-runners. You have plenty of time to safely complete the left turn in any case. And it is perfectly legal to complete your left turn on the red light as long as you were in the intersection PRIOR TO the light turning red.
By the way, "Don't Block the Box" refers to blocking an intersection such that you can't move after your light turns red. That keeps opposing traffic that has green from moving and in a worst case scenario causes gridlock. It does NOT refer to a left turner awaiting a gap or a signal change to complete a turn into an open lane.
Just for the record, I am a Professional Engineer in the State of Florida. I have a Masters Degree in Transportation Engineering from the University of Florida. I worked in the field for roughly thirty years before retiring.
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I was referring to those who creep out into the intersection waiting for the yellow so they can make a turn. And you damn sake better err on the side of safety when you drive.