[rhood]

At intersections with stop lights, if I have a green light and am turning left, I nearly always pull into the intersection and continue my turn when oncoming traffic has cleared. I think the green light gives me permission to enter the intersection.
Others have said I should wait until oncoming traffic has cleared before I enter the intersection. If you choose one or the other, please tell me why you do what you do.
Is there a FL statute that covers this? Thanks

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by rhood

At intersections with stop lights, if I have a green light and am turning left, I nearly always pull into the intersection and continue my turn when oncoming traffic has cleared. I think the green light gives me permission to enter the intersection.
Others have said I should wait until oncoming traffic has cleared before I enter the intersection. If you choose one or the other, please tell me why you do what you do.
Is there a FL statute that covers this? Thanks

Absolutely you have the option. Where the issue starts, is if there's never a "break" in the oncoming traffic, so you never get to make the left turn and you're stuck blocking the intersection.

It's a judgement call.

[Stu from NYC]

Many years ago living in NYC I was taught to always pull into the intersection and proceed when clear.

I do not understand why others sit and block the turning lane

[Bill14564]

316.075(1)(a)2 seems to allow a vehicle to enter an intersection and then yield to other traffic lawfully using the intersection. This means you should be allowed to enter the intersection to make a left turn and then wait until there is a break in oncoming traffic.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

Many years ago living in NYC I was taught to always pull into the intersection and proceed when clear.

I do not understand why others sit and block the turning lane

I remember being taught that I must not enter an intersection until it was clear for me to proceed. It appears that is/was not correct, at least in Florida.

The problem with this is it opens the possibility that a line of cars could enter the intersection on green but not be able to proceed when the light changes thus blocking the intersection for cross traffic.

[Davonu]

Originally Posted by rhood

At intersections with stop lights, if I have a green light and am turning left, I nearly always pull into the intersection and continue my turn when oncoming traffic has cleared. I think the green light gives me permission to enter the intersection.
Others have said I should wait until oncoming traffic has cleared before I enter the intersection. If you choose one or the other, please tell me why you do what you do.
Is there a FL statute that covers this? Thanks

Your actions are correct. Green ball means left turner enters intersection and waits on appropriate opening to complete turn.

Traffic engineering is what I did for a living as a Professional Engineer in the State of Florida. Florida Statute 316.122 covers left turns in the state.

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by Davonu

Your actions are correct. Green ball means left turner enters intersection and waits on appropriate opening to complete turn.

Traffic engineering is what I did for a living as a Professional Engineer in the State of Florida. Florida Statute 316.122 covers left turns in the state.

I think you're 100% right, but I have a Traffic Engineer question. I suspect the Highway Safety Manual, allows you to consider the space from the "stop" to the center of the intersection, a queue space? (maybe 1 or 2 cars?).

What's the solution when someone gets stuck blocking the intersection, because there's not sufficient break in the traffic for him to execute the turn?

[PJMac]

Until I recently moved to FL I would always move into the intersection on the green. In, FL that doesn’t work because of all the red light runners. It’s like the Wild West out there. Man how I wish there was some enforcement here.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by BrianL99

I think you're 100% right, but I have a Traffic Engineer question. I suspect the Highway Safety Manual, allows you to consider the space from the "stop" to the center of the intersection, a queue space? (maybe 1 or 2 cars?).

What's the solution when someone gets stuck blocking the intersection, because there's not sufficient break in the traffic for him to execute the turn?

When light changes finish the turn…….

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

When light changes finish the turn…….

Try that at the intersection of 466 & Rolling Acre road and you're dead.

[CarlR33]

The only disadvantage is if an emergency unit happens to come along while you’re sitting in the intersection. I normally get part way into the intersection not all the way.

[Laker14]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

I remember being taught that I must not enter an intersection until it was clear for me to proceed. It appears that is/was not correct, at least in Florida.

The problem with this is it opens the possibility that a line of cars could enter the intersection on green but not be able to proceed when the light changes thus blocking the intersection for cross traffic.

Cross traffic will (should) wait for you to make the left turn before proceeding.

Important point: When you are in the intersection waiting for oncoming traffic to stop, DO NOT turn your wheel left until you make the turn. If you get rear-ended, you want to get pushed straight forward, NOT into oncoming traffic.

Also, it's dicey because oncoming traffic may run their red light, so you have to be certain that it has stopped before making your turn. Depending upon how late and egregiously the oncoming traffic runs the light, you might momentarily inconvenience the cross traffic. Not YOUR fault. That is the fault of the oncoming car(s) that ran their red light.

[VApeople]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

I do not understand why others sit and block the turning lane

You don't have to understand. That is just how some of us like to drive.

When I am turning left at an intersection, I never pull forward until I can do the turn without stopping.

[jimhoward]

I think it depends on the region of the country. When I lived in the northeast, everybody pulled into the intersection and then turned either when traffic cleared and/or when the light turned stopping oncoming traffic.

When I lived in Tennessee it was the opposite. If you pulled into the intersection, and the light turned and then you completed the turn, you are liable to get a ticket. So people generally don't do that. It is probably also because so many people run red lights.

From what I have seen, Florida is more like the Northeast.

[Arctic Fox]

Originally Posted by BrianL99

I suspect the Highway Safety Manual, allows you to consider the space from the "stop" to the center of the intersection, a queue space? (maybe 1 or 2 cars?).

What's the solution when someone gets stuck blocking the intersection, because there's not sufficient break in the traffic for him to execute the turn?

How much time does it take for 1 or 2 cars to execute the turn? If you are paying attention, then as soon as the approaching traffic stops, off you go. The cross traffic will still be sitting at amber lights. Why would they choose to jump those and side-swipe you?