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The rule has nothing to do with the handedness of the traffic. The rule comes down to 'do not enter an intersection unless you are 100% sure you will clear it b

The rule has nothing to do with the handedness of the traffic. The rule comes down to 'do not enter an intersection unless you are 100% sure you will clear it before the lights change'. If you enter an intersection so late that it's about to turn red while another car is waiting to turn, you're at fault, not the car in front of you for not turning sooner. The red light transition timing is set to allow one and only one car to exit the intersection before the other side has a green light to enter. The rule exists to prevent intersections from getting blocked by idiot drivers who enter too late and get stuck, which if not immediately cleared will cause gridlock to begin forming. I find it a bit hard to believe that such a rule doesn't exist in America.

mattbreeden 8y ago
> The rule comes down to 'do not enter an intersection unless you are 100% sure you will clear it before the lights change'. Yes, that is how it's supposed to work here. But when you enter because there isn't any traffic coming and you assume the waymo vehicle will do the obvious and turn left, and then it just stops, it's very easy to get stuck out in the intersection behind it - in a situation that wouldn't happen with any human driver.
- Operyl 8y ago
  Might I introduce you to South Florida then. Overly cautious 80+ year old drivers that cause accidents for being just too cautious/slow to react. That’s what the Waymo cars sound like right now.
PakG1 8y ago
Seeing is believing. For example: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-drive/culture/commuting/when-turning-left-should-i-pull-into-the-intersection-to-wait-my-turn/article14205344/ https://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-drive/culture/commutin... https://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-drive/culture/commuting/is-it-illegal-for-two-cars-to-wait-in-an-intersection-to-make-a-left-turn/article29936809/ https://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-drive/culture/commutin... In Ontario, the law doesn't say where cars should wait when waiting to turn left at a green light. Apparently, that silence means a queue is allowed. In an e-mail, Ontario's Ministry of Transportation (MTO) tells Globe Drive that "more than one car is allowed to enter an intersection on a green light to line up to make a left turn, provided that the car's turn signal is on before it enters the intersection." But, beware of local bylaws. If an intersection has a sign that says "Do not block intersection," you shouldn't be waiting inside it to turn, police say. When I was driving (I don't really drive anymore), I found it common practice to queue in the intersection while waiting for a left turn. Although, I suppose counterexamples exist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdNWP6tmJHw&t=1m23s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdNWP6tmJHw&t=1m23s
Animats 8y ago
It's a local option in the US. Large cities are stricter about it. Some large cities paint a big box on intersections and ticket people for blocking the box.

mattbreeden 8y ago

> The rule comes down to 'do not enter an intersection unless you are 100% sure you will clear it before the lights change'. Yes, that is how it's supposed to work here. But when you enter because there isn't any traffic coming and you assume the waymo vehicle will do the obvious and turn left, and then it just stops, it's very easy to get stuck out in the intersection behind it - in a situation that wouldn't happen with any human driver.

Operyl 8y ago
Might I introduce you to South Florida then. Overly cautious 80+ year old drivers that cause accidents for being just too cautious/slow to react. That’s what the Waymo cars sound like right now.

PakG1 8y ago

Seeing is believing. For example: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-drive/culture/commuting/when-turning-left-should-i-pull-into-the-intersection-to-wait-my-turn/article14205344/ https://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-drive/culture/commutin... https://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-drive/culture/commuting/is-it-illegal-for-two-cars-to-wait-in-an-intersection-to-make-a-left-turn/article29936809/ https://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-drive/culture/commutin... In Ontario, the law doesn't say where cars should wait when waiting to turn left at a green light. Apparently, that silence means a queue is allowed. In an e-mail, Ontario's Ministry of Transportation (MTO) tells Globe Drive that "more than one car is allowed to enter an intersection on a green light to line up to make a left turn, provided that the car's turn signal is on before it enters the intersection." But, beware of local bylaws. If an intersection has a sign that says "Do not block intersection," you shouldn't be waiting inside it to turn, police say. When I was driving (I don't really drive anymore), I found it common practice to queue in the intersection while waiting for a left turn. Although, I suppose counterexamples exist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdNWP6tmJHw&t=1m23s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdNWP6tmJHw&t=1m23s

Animats 8y ago

It's a local option in the US. Large cities are stricter about it. Some large cities paint a big box on intersections and ticket people for blocking the box.