Alabama Law on turning right on green signal (Hoover, Pelham: attorney, move)

[Jack_Tauson_Sr]

Could anyone tell me what's the law in Alabama for the following scenario? I mean I am wondering if I would have to yield while turning right?

Scenario:

Assumption: There are no pedestrians on the crosswalks. No cars on the left of my lane (Must turn right lane).

Suppose there's a green signal, I have to turn right, do I need to yield to the cars turning left(oncoming traffic)? What does Alabama traffic law say on this? Sometimes I have seen people yielding to the people turning left (oncoming traffic) and sometimes not and hence wondering what's the law.

[oceangaia]

Idk about Alabama but I can't imagine any state not imposing the yield on the car turning left across an oncoming lane of traffic. But if they have already begun their turn, they need to complete it and clear the intersection so I would let them go.

[Jack_Tauson_Sr]

Originally Posted by oceangaia

Idk about Alabama but I can't imagine any state not imposing the yield on the car turning left across an oncoming lane of traffic. But if they have already begun their turn, they need to complete it and clear the intersection so I would let them go.

Thanks. Yeah, I believe that law(yield on the car turning left across an oncoming lane of traffic) is in each and every state.

[preguntas]

You might notice that on a two lane road, sometimes a person turning right will attempt to defer to the car turning left because they have about fifty cars behind them that would then be free to proceed straight through. I have done this before but I don't think it is a good practice because 'entitled' people will begin to take advantage of it and treat it as a given that you are going to do this and suddenly turn in front of you.


This usually occurs on roads that are so overburdened that they are scheduled for new turn lanes and or more lanes in general.

[harry chickpea]

Cars turning left have to yield, but there is something called "owning the intersection." A car in the intersection that has attempted to turn left on green but been unable "owns" the intersection when the lights change to green for the crossways traffic "owns" it. Other traffic is supposed to yield to that car in the intersection before proceeding. In more aggressive traffic areas, this may be the only way that left turn lanes get properly cleared.

Another law that drivers sometimes miss is that when turning left onto a four-lane road, the left turning drivers are required to turn into the LEFT lane of the four-lane, and only move over to the right or slow lane once it is apparent that merging is safe.

[Jack_Tauson_Sr]

Ok. Thanks everyone !

[Blazin65]

Originally Posted by harry chickpea

Cars turning left have to yield, but there is something called "owning the intersection." A car in the intersection that has attempted to turn left on green but been unable "owns" the intersection when the lights change to green for the crossways traffic "owns" it. Other traffic is supposed to yield to that car in the intersection before proceeding.

I can think of plenty of places around Hoover and Pelham that this applies to. But what if there is a clear sign saying don't block the intersection? Does the driver who turned left and blocks the intersection, when a sign says not to, still own the intersection.

People turning left from Hwy 31 North onto Hwy 261 in Pelham prime example. If I'm not mistaken Pelham PD will ticket the drivers turning left if they block the intersection. So in this case, they do not "own it".

[Blazin65]

Originally Posted by preguntas

This usually occurs on roads that are so overburdened that they are scheduled for new turn lanes and or more lanes in general.

And they never get updated. Goes on for years and years and years before they get new turn lanes or more lanes.

[harry chickpea]

Originally Posted by Blazin65

I can think of plenty of places around Hoover and Pelham that this applies to. But what if there is a clear sign saying don't block the intersection? Does the driver who turned left and blocks the intersection, when a sign says not to, still own the intersection.

People turning left from Hwy 31 North onto Hwy 261 in Pelham prime example. If I'm not mistaken Pelham PD will ticket the drivers turning left if they block the intersection. So in this case, they do not "own it".

I'd have to see the intersection to understand exactly what is going on. Short answer is that I don't know, but if the issue relates more to traffic light timing and poor highway design creating gridlock, a decent attorney could contest those tickets. Complain in writing to ALDOT. Corrections are made based upon the number of reported accidents and complaints. No complaints? No action.

[Blazin65]

Originally Posted by harry chickpea

I'd have to see the intersection to understand exactly what is going on. Short answer is that I don't know, but if the issue relates more to traffic light timing and poor highway design creating gridlock, a decent attorney could contest those tickets. Complain in writing to ALDOT. Corrections are made based upon the number of reported accidents and complaints. No complaints? No action.

Yea. I've done that.

I just don't see how someone who turns left and stops in the intersection "owns the intersection". I can't see that at all. Some of these drivers are turning on yellow or even red, so saying they all of a sudden own the intersection seems far fetched to me.