4 ms·
This custom is prevalent in places other than Pittsburgh. It can also get you a citation if a cop sees it.
by forgotmypw 8y ago
This custom is prevalent in places other than Pittsburgh. It can also get you a citation if a cop sees it.
- bsder 8y agoIt depends. Most cities whose road network predates cars have "local customs" which are essential to keep traffic flowing. These "local customs" may not be strictly legal, but you rarely will wind up with a ticket for it.
- megablast 8y agoAs it should, what a ridiculous thing to do.
- chcknsammich 8y agoSays the person who has never seen the ridiculous thing that is single lane road deadlock.
- lttlrck 8y agoIndeed. When I first came to the US I lived in Boston and this happens quite frequently inside the I95. It used to drive me crazy, I hated it, I though it was dangerous and uncivilized :-) it didn’t take long for me to understand why it was necessary and to start doing it myself.
- forgotmypw 8y agoFor a responsible driver, it is a test to see if you are paying attention. A careful driver will see this about to happen, anticipate it, and allow the turning driver to make his impatient left safely.
- dabbledash 8y agoPull into the intersection and go when it’s clear (on yellow or red). Gunning it so you can cut off oncoming traffic is ridiculous.
- Izkata 8y agoThat doesn't solve it at all, you're thinking of a different problem. I got clued in from another comment that only mentioned it offhand, but this is the problem the "Pittsburgh left" tries to solve: The traffic is a single lane, and you want to turn left. Light turns green, and you wait for the oncoming traffic to clear. All traffic behind you is stopped on a green because they can't get around you.
- c22 8y agoEven with multiple lanes this can be an issue as people behind you try to merge right to pass you which in busy traffic increases the chance of accidents and causes slowdowns.
- dabbledash 8y agoThanks, that’s a great point. That really is a terrible situation. And I’m sure the risks associated with the “Pittsburg left” are significantly mitigated when everyone expects it.
- yosito 8y agoIf single lane road deadlock is a problem, the city's urban planners should (and probably will) install a left turn signal to solve it. A better solution than reckless driving is to report the deadlock to the city.
- jhauris 8y agoMany of the roads in the city of Pittsburgh are carved into the mountain, sometimes with shops or houses on either side between the road and cliff face. The terrain there is not a trivial thing to engineer around.
- deleted 8y ago[deleted]
- ericpauley 8y agoYou clearly have never been to Pittsburgh. There is simply no room at some intersections for a left turn lane, and a left turn signal would needlessly block traffic going the other way even when nobody wants to turn left.
- intrasight 8y agoAs a long-time but not native Pittsburgher, I have to agree. The "Pittsburgh Left" is dangerous . There are arguments here that it eases traffic flow by "crowd-sourcing" a left-turn light or that without it there'd be a backup of traffic. What rubbish. A left turn light allows several (dozens at some intersections) make a left. A "Pittsburgh Left" only allows one reckless, impatient driver make this left. And I see it more often on four lane roads than on two lane roads so I discount the eases traffic flow argument. It's a moving violation with a heavy fine and points on your license - as it should be.