Seems to me that when I toook driver's ed (about 26 years ago)that we were taught to get into the middle of the intersection to make a left turn. That way, if the light turns red, you can still make it through the turn. I've been doing that ever since and have never been ticketed for it. I've seen police do it, too. I always thought it was normal. That's one reason I thought red light cameras would only picture you if you enter the intersection after it turns red, not if you are still in it. I don't know, I will certainly be aware of where those cameras are and ensure I don't get caught in the intersection.

 

RE left turns. I'd have to look up the vehicle code but it seems to me:

--if you are in the intersection on the green, you are ok to complete your turn

--left MUST yield to oncoming traffic, even if the other guy is running the red.
(would not apply where green arrow for left turn exists)

--you must not enter an intersection if you know you can't clear it, which is directed at stopping gridlock in heavy traffic situations, not left turns where you have to wait and yield.

Thus, there were mentions of left turn exemptions in those links I posted earlier. But, since I just plain avoid the redlight intersections or make the left on the arrow and do not make free right turns at them, and, of course, plan ahead don't run or even come close to running them, it's sort of academic to me. Except if you are not due a ticket in a left turn situation, then you should research and fight it.

 

on page 48 of the 2005 tennessee driver's handbook, it just states not to block the intersection, and if you are in the intersection when the light turns yellow, proceed through the intersection.

it also says even if the light is green, cars must yield to people and cars still in the intersection.

 

I'd be scared of red light cameras in a red light district.

 

Just a note for those that sit in the interection waiting to turn left.
Whatever you do DON'T crank your wheels to the left..keep them aimed straight until you move to turn.

I will pull into the interection to turn left if traffic is heavy (rush hour) to allow as many vehicles as possible to turn as well.


If it is light traffic I will wait until I can almost go and turn without stopping in the intersection.

 

I completely agree.....we are taught that and cops do it, hell everyone does it, however if a cop wants they can push the law, I have never known it to be pushed , I have known insurance companies to push it ………….to get out of paying after a wreck and winning because of it.

Seems, not to be fare.

 

Yeah i didnt know that it was illegal to sit in the intersection when you were turning left either. I was taught that by a driver instructor when I was 16, and by a truck driving instructor when i went for my truck drivers licence. They both called it taking control of the intersection.

Ya learn something new everyday!

 

Sheldon, they have different traffic laws down there. Up here, there's only 1 car allowed in the intersection at a time. If you're the first one out of the light to turn left, pull out, and wait. There should NOT be anyone behind you in the intersection. They are supposed to wait behind the stop line for you to proceed before they do so themselves. You and I both know that just doesn't happen though.

 

WOW that really would...never happen.....big inter sections I have seen three stacked up...
Amazing how different the laws are in each state, when we should all be on the same page....IMO

 

We should all be on the same page your right.

Thanks for clearing that up for me too bigrigfixer, I kinda thought that was the way it was, up here!

 

Not over here in Roanoke. We have a handfull of red light cameras, but I've never seen a sign for them.

 

Same here. No signs about the red light cameras posted.
Maybe there should be one that says, "Smile. You're on Candid Camera. Now pay up sucka".

 

Well, yeah, I have seen 3 stacked up also. Everybody does it, including me. As the rule goes, once you are IN the intersection, you MUST clear it. So after the first guy goes, another joins to become the "third". That's why we have the problem of everybody waiting for the "idiots" to turn left so everyone else on the green going the other way can finally go. But then, the "one car only" rule gets ignored, because then the left turn lane would get backed up if only one car turned at a time.

What cops have done in this situation is they let the first stacked 3 cars go, because they are already in the intersection. Remember, they MUST clear it. But anyone else entering the intersection on the yellow could possibly get pulled over, depending on how yellow it is. And if there are 2 or 3 light beaters, well, the last one gets it, unless the cop is really on his game and gets 2 at the same time.

But regarding the red light cameras here, they aren't aimed at the left turners. They only go for the blatant red light runners. And even then, since a camera shot at an angle from the back can't tell you who the driver is, there are no points assessed to go against your insurance premiums. The owner gets the ticket, and it's up to the owner to pass it on to whomever was driving.

We had photo radar for a few years, our provincial government made it a promise to get rid of it if they were elected. They were elected, and no more photo radar. But it was basically the same as a red light ticket. No proof of who was driving, so no points. But then the fine was dependant on the violation. There was speeding, excessive speeding, and reckless endangerment, depending on how fast your car was going when it got caught.

 

From the Canadian Highway Traffic Act.

Division 12
Traffic Lights

Green traffic lights

52(1) When, at an intersection, a green light alone is shown by a traffic control signal, a person driving a vehicle that is facing the green light

(a) may drive the vehicle straight through the intersection, or

(b) may drive the vehicle into the intersection and on entering the intersection turn the vehicle left or right, subject to any sign or signal prohibiting a left or right turn, or both, or designating that the turning movement is permitted,

but shall yield the right of way

(c) to any pedestrians that are lawfully within the intersection or an adjacent crosswalk at the time that the green light is shown, and

(d) to any other vehicles that are lawfully within the intersection at the time that the green light is shown.

(2) When, at a place other than an intersection, a green light alone is shown by a traffic control signal, a person driving a vehicle that is facing the green light

(a) may drive the vehicle past the signal, but

(b) shall yield the right of way to any pedestrian that is still in the roadway or within a crosswalk in the vicinity of the signal at the time that the green light is shown.

(3) When, at an intersection, a green arrow is shown by a traffic control signal, a person driving a vehicle that is facing the green arrow

(a) may drive the vehicle into the intersection, and

(b) on entering the intersection, shall make only the movement that is indicated by the green arrow,

but shall yield the right of way

(c) to any pedestrians that are lawfully within the intersection or within an adjacent crosswalk, and

(d) to any other vehicles that are lawfully within the intersection.

(4) When, at an intersection, a green arrow and a red light are shown at the same time by a traffic control signal, a person driving a vehicle that is approaching the intersection and facing the green arrow and red light

(a) may, without stopping, cautiously drive the vehicle into the intersection, and

(b) on entering the intersection shall make only the movement indicated by the green arrow,

but shall yield the right of way

(c) to any pedestrians that are lawfully within the intersection or within an adjacent crosswalk, and

(d) to any other vehicles that are lawfully within the intersection.

(5) When, at an intersection, rapid intermittent flashes of green light are shown by a traffic control signal, a person driving a vehicle that is facing the flashes of green light has the right of way over any vehicles that are facing that person from across the intersection and that person

(a) may drive the vehicle into the intersection and on entering the intersection turn left while the light is flashing, or

(b) may drive the vehicle straight through the intersection or turn right while the light is flashing,

but shall yield the right of way

(c) to any pedestrians that are lawfully within the intersection or within an adjacent crosswalk at the time the flashing green light is shown, and

(d) to any other vehicles that are lawfully within the intersection at the time the flashing green light is shown.

(6) This section does not apply so as to prohibit a person driving a bus that forms part of the municipal bus system of a municipality from turning the bus at an intersection in the direction determined by the transportation officials of the municipality.

Yellow traffic lights

53(1) When, at an intersection, a yellow light is shown by a traffic control signal at the same time as or following the showing of a green light, a person driving a vehicle that is approaching the intersection and facing the yellow light shall stop the vehicle before entering

(a) the marked crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or

(b) if there is not any marked crosswalk, the intersection,

unless the stopping of that vehicle cannot be made in safety.

(2) When, at a place other than an intersection, a yellow light is shown by a traffic control signal at the same time as or following the showing of a green light, a person driving a vehicle that is approaching the signal shall stop the vehicle before reaching the closer of

(a) the area that is subject to the signal, or

(b) the nearest crosswalk that is in the vicinity of the signal,

unless the stopping of the vehicle cannot be made in safety.

(3) When, at an intersection, rapid intermittent flashes of yellow light are shown by a traffic control signal, a person driving a vehicle that is facing the flashes of yellow light may drive the vehicle into the intersection but shall only proceed to do so with caution and shall yield the right of way

(a) to any pedestrians that are lawfully within the intersection or an adjacent crosswalk, and

(b) to any other vehicles that are lawfully within the intersection.

(4) When, at a place other than an intersection, rapid intermittent flashes of yellow light are shown by a traffic control signal, a person driving a vehicle that is approaching the signal

(a) may, with caution, drive the vehicle past the signal, but

(b) shall yield the right of way to any pedestrians that are in the roadway or on a crosswalk that is in the vicinity of the signal.

(5) When, at an intersection or other place, rapid intermittent flashes of yellow light are shown together with a sign reading or symbol indicating “school zone”, “playground zone”, “school crossing”, “pedestrian crossing”, “pedestrian zone” or other wording or symbol indicating a pedestrian hazard, a person driving a vehicle that is approaching the signal may, with caution, drive the vehicle

(a) across the intersection, or

(b) if at a place other than an intersection, past the sign,

but when so doing

(c) shall not drive the vehicle across the intersection or past the sign at a rate of speed that is greater than 30 kilometres per hour, and

(d) shall yield the right of way to any pedestrians that are in the intersection or on the roadway that is in the vicinity of the sign or signal.