Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill14564
I'm surprised the LEO officer advised you to enter an intersection when it wasn't clear to proceed.
Crossing the solid white line when there are oncoming cars means you are stuck sitting in the middle of the intersection. If you are fortunate and the oncoming traffic ends before the light changes, great. However, if there are enough oncoming cars then the light could change and you would be making an illegal left on red. Worse, the oncoming traffic may run their red light (seen this many times) and hit you while you are trying to make your left on red.
The only safe way to proceed is to wait behind the white line until the intersection is actually clear.
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The law enforcement officer was conveying the correct way to make left turns at a signalized intersection.
When the light is a green ball or flashing yellow arrow, you absolutely are supposed to proceed beyond the stop bar (white line) into the intersection, keeping sight of the signal. There is no danger. The opposing traffic have red lights. The oncoming traffic proceeds until the light turns yellow. At that time, you prepare to make your left turn, of course after carefully watching that the approaching traffic is stopping. There is even a clearance phase, where all signals are red for a second or two after a change. Part of its purpose is specifically to allow left-turners to clear the intersection.
And this is very important...when you do as I described above, you are NOT making an illegal left turn on red. You are simply clearing the intersection. You entered into the intersection on green, which is perfectly legal. Completing your turn after the signal change is not only legal, it is the proper way to handle your turn.
Only because of the topic of this thread, I will state (as I've done in other such threads) that I have a Masters Degree in Transportation Engineering from the University of Florida and spent my entire career as a Professional Engineer in the State of Florida in the field of traffic engineering.
Please do your own homework and look up the proper way to handle left turns at a signalized intersection to verify what I've conveyed above.
Stay safe out there...both inside and outside your vehicle.
