Is left turn on red now permitted?

[BarryK123]

Just back from my morning bike ride. Another first:

On Wadsworth, I saw a guy make a U-turn while the light was red. No wonder they call this the wild west!

[mysterymachinebl]

Originally Posted by BarryK123

Just back from my morning bike ride. Another first:

On Wadsworth, I saw a guy make a U-turn while the light was red. No wonder they call this the wild west!

I have seen this quite a few times, here and other cities.

[Mike from back east]

Originally Posted by BarryK123

Just back from my morning bike ride. Another first:

On Wadsworth, I saw a guy make a U-turn while the light was red. No wonder they call this the wild west!

I sometimes make a u-turn in the middle of a block and of course I check carefully for traffic.

For sheer wild west driving nothing beats the free-for-all on freeways in the Dallas - Fort Worth area.

[Count David]

Earlier this afternoon, I-70 westbound at Colorado.

Somebody exited Colorado from the middle lane.

[Wheatridger]

Originally Posted by TCHP

I thought you could tell us by the lack of turn signal use.



There's that signal thing again.

My daughter just completed driver's school and got her license a couple months ago. They were teaching that you do not pull into the intersection unless you either have a green arrow or a clear passage to complete the turn left. They did not endorse entering the intersection and sitting, although that has long been a tactic to ensure you get through because of the way the law requires oncoming traffic to yield to whoever holds the intersection.

I was taught, long ago and far away, that nosing into an intersection, getting trapped there, and turning as soon as oncoming traffic passes by is OK for left turns at intersections that do not have left turn arrows. This is the only way to make the turn at times of continuous traffic. But the same tactic becomes illegal and unsafe when you do it at larger intersections that do have a left turn arrow, which gives you a safe and sure way to turn left, if you'll just wait a %#*& minute!

Every day in Denver, you can see two or three late-left-turners doing an "excuse me" turn after the red light. It may not be the most dangerous form of red-light running, but it's a dick move that delays the progress of dozens of drivers in the through lane, who have waited their turn.

[Mach50]

Originally Posted by Wheatridger

Every day in Denver, you can see two or three late-left-turners doing an "excuse me" turn after the red light. It may not be the most dangerous form of red-light running, but it's a dick move that delays the progress of dozens of drivers in the through lane, who have waited their turn.

100% every day occurrence

[COJeff]

Originally Posted by BarryK123

While I was out biking yesterday morning, I saw 3 cars, all at different intersections, make a left turn on red. No green arrow. 2-way streets. What's up with that?

I wouldn't worry about it. I gun it when the light turns green and I have been awarded three new cars in the last five years.

Just don't worry about it as you will have no fault.

[whoisjongalt]

For the love of God if you have a GREEN LIGHT, pull into the intersection and wait for either an opening in the cross traffic or the light to change and then turn left. People in Colorado are terrified of left turns. I can't tell you how many times almost every day, I have to sit through another entire cycle of lights because some idiot will only turn if there is an arrow. I've literally had to back up and go around them to turn left when there was zero oncoming traffic. Is this something they taught back in the '70's in Driver's Ed?

[IndyRC]

Originally Posted by Count David

Earlier this afternoon, I-70 westbound at Colorado.

Somebody exited Colorado from the middle lane.

Wait until they start stopping in that middle lane because they cannot get over to exit, but refuse to pass it and turn around at the next exit.