To Turn or Not to Turn? Please settle this dilemma, Left on green

I suppose some examiners expect you to defy physics and simple math.

 

Maybe just ask the tester before you start
Tell them you have been told and taught both ways and would like to know how they feel about it
Might work??

But I assume if it was a deadly wreck situation that a lawyer would say any move on yellow or red is your fault
Yellow doesn’t mean hammer down but personally I always take the lane or you may never move as already stated by others but I’m not testing either

 

I think I found some good arguments for claiming and clearing the intersection. Hopefully this is right, the examiner sees it this way, and helps other people questioning this.

Indiana Drivers Manual
Turning through a Solid Red Light
“If you are facing a red light or arrow, your right of way has ended. If you are in the middle of an intersection, you may turn once oncoming traffic has stopped. If you are facing a red light or arrow, you may not enter the intersection until the light facing you turns green and the intersection is clear.
To turn right through an intersection with a red light or arrow, when permissible, you must come to a full stop, check to make sure that there are no vehicles and pedestrians in the path of your turn or about to enter the path of your turn, check that there is not a “No Turn on Red” sign and use the correct lane.

You may turn left through an intersection with a red light or arrow if you are turning from a one-way street onto a one-way street. You must also come to a full stop, check to make sure that there are no vehicles and pedestrians in the path of your turn or about to enter the path of your turn, check that there is not a “No Turn on Red” sign, and use the correct lanes.”

Indiana Code 9-21-8-30 - Intersections; vehicles approaching from opposite directions; yield of right-of-way

“A person who drives a vehicle within an intersection intending to turn to the left shall yield the right-of-way to a vehicle approaching from the opposite direction that is within the intersection or so close to the intersection as to constitute an immediate hazard. After yielding and giving a signal as required by this chapter, the person who drives the vehicle may make the left turn, and the persons who drive other vehicles approaching the intersection from the opposite direction shall yield the right-of-way to the vehicle making the left turn.”

I suppose I’ll make this a point before the test begins, and I’ll sleep better at night. Maybe people that failed for this reason aren’t telling the whole story.

 

The answer is no you do not go through a yellow or RED, if there is a lot of traffic it is much safer to just wait for the green light pull the truck forward when it changes green once you have passed the stop line then if the lights do change back to red you can proceed to make the turn think anyone that understands heavy traffic would give you some leeway.

 

Just when I thought this was settled. And this brings this back to a new blank drawing board. Real life scenarios aren’t the problem at the moment, it’s an examiner that will pass or fail you without telling you what they expect. Still confused about this.

 

You want an answer for CDL driving or you want an answer for passing the state test?

 

@gentleroger will know.

My vote is that as long as it's green, you may proceed to the intersection and turn when safe to do so.

 

I was trained to first don't follow traffic into intersection if anyone is in front of you making left turn also. Back to your question, I was trained you pull into the intersection on green light and wait for opening in traffic. If there is no opening like in you question. Then you wait for the other traffic to stop because they will get a red light. Now your in control of the entire intersection, because nobody can move until you finish your left turn on the red light.

I was also told it's legal in a big truck and the safest left turn you can make. Because you OWN the intersection at this point because nobody can move until you finish your turn. They used the word owning the intersection vs claiming.

 

I think by law you have to stop and wait. I'll at least wait 1 or 2 light cycles before saying screw it and claiming the intersection. Besides me waiting, there's also all the traffic behind you that wants to turn. At some point it will become a safety hazard when people get too impatient to wait and try to go around you to turn.

 

I would claim the intersection and turn when the other cars stopped for their red, Sometimes you have to big ### your way thru a situation