Left Turn Yield on Green... (San Antonio, West: military, legal, safety)

[tekka-maki]

...does not mean left turn on arrow only. If it's green and there are no cars coming, it's o.k. to turn. I think it's worth mentioning ever so often and on signs in the city because people get confused a lot; West turning South at Bandera and 410 is one prime example.

Although maybe this is a good thing from a safety stand point. I remember before moving here; folks would turn on yellow (which I do too) and continue turning 4-5 seconds into a red light at busy intersections, lol. Sooner than later, it becomes the norm, unless there's a cop sitting at the intersection.

[TexHwyMan]

Originally Posted by tekka-maki

...does not mean left turn on arrow only. If it's green and there are no cars coming, it's o.k. to turn. I think it's worth mentioning ever so often and on signs in the city because people get confused a lot; West turning South at Bandera and 410 is one prime example.

Although maybe this is a good thing from a safety stand point. I remember before moving here; folks would turn on yellow (which I do too) and continue turning 4-5 seconds into a red light at busy intersections, lol. Sooner than later, it becomes the norm, unless there's a cop sitting at the intersection.

And another thing... if you have a green light but can't turn left because of oncoming traffic, you should wait 1/4th to 1/3rd of the way into the intersection. If you're still sitting there when the light turns red, wait for oncoming traffic to stop, then make your turn. (Never ever back out of the intersection!) In many cases, two or even three cars can wait out in the intersection and turn when the light turns red. And it's perfectly legal and helps improve efficiency at the intersection.

[TXRose]

Originally Posted by TexHwyMan

And another thing... if you have a green light but can't turn left because of oncoming traffic, you should wait 1/4th to 1/3rd of the way into the intersection. If you're still sitting there when the light turns red, wait for oncoming traffic to stop, then make your turn. (Never ever back out of the intersection!) In many cases, two or even three cars can wait out in the intersection and turn when the light turns red. And it's perfectly legal and helps improve efficiency at the intersection.

Yes! My dad taught me this when I was learning to drive. It always annoys me when I sit through a light (or two, or three) because the person in front of me doesn't do this.

[tekka-maki]

Originally Posted by TexHwyMan

And another thing... if you have a green light but can't turn left because of oncoming traffic, you should wait 1/4th to 1/3rd of the way into the intersection. If you're still sitting there when the light turns red, wait for oncoming traffic to stop, then make your turn. (Never ever back out of the intersection!) In many cases, two or even three cars can wait out in the intersection and turn when the light turns red. And it's perfectly legal and helps improve efficiency at the intersection.

Yes, you are absolutely right TexHwyMan. That's the same thing that happens at Bandera and 410 (probably many other intersections) as a result of folks thinking it is not o.k. to turn on solid green (as opposed to arrow). They wait at the intersection stop line. That turn is far to long to be able to turn at yellow from this line. That is why I always approach from the right turn lane because people simply will not go.

Usually, the only time you can not turn on solid green is when you have a dedicated light for your turn lane (but, I've even questioned that a time or two asking myself, if it weren't o.k. to turn on, then what point are the signs that say explicitly 'turn on arrow only'). Nevertheless, when it's all green, it's all goooood.

[centaur1]

Another thing is that the city needs to get rid of most of the dedicated left turn signal lights. "Left turn - Yield on Green" would help traffic flow. There are countless times when I am driving around that I see cars sitting there waiting on the green light with absolutely no oncoming traffic. Wasting gasoline, polluting the air, and increasing commute times.

[wehotex]

Originally Posted by TXRose

Yes! My dad taught me this when I was learning to drive. It always annoys me when I sit through a light (or two, or three) because the person in front of me doesn't do this.

i've wondered if this was actually something taught back in tx drivers ed, cause i sure never remembered it. i also don't see very many drivers using solid green light for left turns here. this leads me to believe that most don't know about it. i didn't start using this trick until i was "forced to" in los angeles. my dallas friend turned angeleno taught me how to make the infamous left turn on green light. in city of los angeles, there is NO such thing as a protected left turn except in rare cases, so every left turn is one where you MUST pull your car out to the middle of the intersection to turn and wait for oncoming traffic to cease. i was scared at first, but soon mastered it. in los angeles, they do make it easier however by having a traffic light to the left in addition to the one hanging overhead. this makes it far easier to see. the intersections at fredericksburg & huebner, medical are bad for ppl not using the solid green light to their advantage.

[SanAntoQT]

Originally Posted by wehotex

i've wondered if this was actually something taught back in tx drivers ed, cause i sure never remembered it. i also don't see very many drivers using solid green light for left turns here. this leads me to believe that most don't know about it. i didn't start using this trick until i was "forced to" in los angeles. my dallas friend turned angeleno taught me how to make the infamous left turn on green light. in city of los angeles, there is NO such thing as a protected left turn except in rare cases, so every left turn is one where you MUST pull your car out to the middle of the intersection to turn and wait for oncoming traffic to cease. i was scared at first, but soon mastered it. in los angeles, they do make it easier however by having a traffic light to the left in addition to the one hanging overhead. this makes it far easier to see. the intersections at fredericksburg & huebner, medical are bad for ppl not using the solid green light to their advantage.

I don't remember learning this in driver's ed, either, but have always done it. What I don't like is when you have a line of cars waiting to turn and they're all waiting in the intersection.

A good example is the intersection of Logwood and SW Military Drive...especially on a Saturday afternoon. It's a short distance from the light at Logwood/SW Military going west to the light at I-35/Military. When I-35 is red, traffic backs up to Logwood very quickly. People turning left on SW Military from Logwood will proceed if their light turns green, even if there's no room to pull in behind cars going west on Military! The other "lemmings" behind them just follow and end up clogging the intersection! Morons!

[dangeruscurves]

Originally Posted by wehotex

i've wondered if this was actually something taught back in tx drivers ed, cause i sure never remembered it. i also don't see very many drivers using solid green light for left turns here. this leads me to believe that most don't know about it. i didn't start using this trick until i was "forced to" in los angeles. my dallas friend turned angeleno taught me how to make the infamous left turn on green light. in city of los angeles, there is NO such thing as a protected left turn except in rare cases, so every left turn is one where you MUST pull your car out to the middle of the intersection to turn and wait for oncoming traffic to cease. i was scared at first, but soon mastered it. in los angeles, they do make it easier however by having a traffic light to the left in addition to the one hanging overhead. this makes it far easier to see. the intersections at fredericksburg & huebner, medical are bad for ppl not using the solid green light to their advantage.

I actually learned this in Driver's Ed. Of course I just took the course seven years ago.

[SanAntoQT]

Originally Posted by dangeruscurves

I actually learned this in Driver's Ed. Of course I just took the course seven years ago.

I took driver's ed back in the horse and buggy days, when the city only had maybe one or two traffic lights!

[tekka-maki]

Originally Posted by centaur1

Another thing is that the city needs to get rid of most of the dedicated left turn signal lights. "Left turn - Yield on Green" would help traffic flow. There are countless times when I am driving around that I see cars sitting there waiting on the green light with absolutely no oncoming traffic. Wasting gasoline, polluting the air, and increasing commute times.

It is intended for turns where line of sight is impeded such as a turn or embankment. It is badly misused in San Antonio on intersections that don't warrant it (e.g. Culebra and 36th)