3 ms·

Of course, the vast majority of drivers would do so (including me). That would just be incredibly inefficient to do otherwise. Nevertheless, in my home town, it

by kalenx 8y ago

Of course, the vast majority of drivers would do so (including me). That would just be incredibly inefficient to do otherwise. Nevertheless, in my home town, it is against the law (Ontario btw, so I confess I cannot speak for the US). Same thing goes for the left turn on yellow light. If there is a gapless traffic coming from the other direction, you will probably just creep in the intersection and turn at the end of the yellow, when the other cars have stopped. Nevertheless, by doing so, you are doing two illegal things: 1) going further than the stop line and 2) passing on a yellow (or even a red) when you could have stopped (easily, you were already stopped). Is it a bad thing that people (again, including me) do this? Probably not, doing otherwise would be a huge loss of time for everyone and it does not really increase the accident rate. Yet, it is against the law.

mattkrause 8y ago
Here's the text of Ontario's Highway Traffic Act: https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90h08#BK232 https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90h08#BK232 “The driver or operator of a vehicle upon a highway, before turning to the left or right at any intersection or into a private road or driveway or from one lane for traffic to another lane for traffic or to leave the roadway, shall first see that the movement can be made in safety, and, if the operation of any other vehicle may be affected by the movement, SHALL GIVE A SIGNAL PLAINLY VISIBLE TO THE DRIVER OR OPERATOR OF THE OTHER VEHICLE OF THE INTENTION TO MAKE THE MOVEMENT." I guess one reading of this suggests that you must first check if it would be safe to make a maneuver, and if so, then and only then, must you use a turn signal. I think you could also read this as requiring safety checks and indicating (in either order) before turning, but I'm not a lawyer. I can't imagine that people are actually prosecuted for signaling out-of-order though. The driving handbook, however, tells you to check your mirrors, then "Signal that you want to move left or right." (here: https://www.ontario.ca/document/official-mto-drivers-handbook/changing-positions https://www.ontario.ca/document/official-mto-drivers-handboo...) which seems to suggest some level of intention-indicating is okay.
blahedo 8y ago
>If there is a gapless traffic coming from the other direction, you will probably just creep in the intersection and turn at the end of the yellow, when the other cars have stopped. While this is illegal in some states, it is not in others. Furthermore, the general rule on reds (again, this might vary by state) is not that you should not be in the intersection, but that you cannot enter the intersection. If you are in the intersection, when it turns red, you clear the intersection.

by kalenx 8y ago

mattkrause 8y ago

Here's the text of Ontario's Highway Traffic Act: https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90h08#BK232 https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90h08#BK232 “The driver or operator of a vehicle upon a highway, before turning to the left or right at any intersection or into a private road or driveway or from one lane for traffic to another lane for traffic or to leave the roadway, shall first see that the movement can be made in safety, and, if the operation of any other vehicle may be affected by the movement, SHALL GIVE A SIGNAL PLAINLY VISIBLE TO THE DRIVER OR OPERATOR OF THE OTHER VEHICLE OF THE INTENTION TO MAKE THE MOVEMENT." I guess one reading of this suggests that you must first check if it would be safe to make a maneuver, and if so, then and only then, must you use a turn signal. I think you could also read this as requiring safety checks and indicating (in either order) before turning, but I'm not a lawyer. I can't imagine that people are actually prosecuted for signaling out-of-order though. The driving handbook, however, tells you to check your mirrors, then "Signal that you want to move left or right." (here: https://www.ontario.ca/document/official-mto-drivers-handbook/changing-positions https://www.ontario.ca/document/official-mto-drivers-handboo...) which seems to suggest some level of intention-indicating is okay.

blahedo 8y ago

>If there is a gapless traffic coming from the other direction, you will probably just creep in the intersection and turn at the end of the yellow, when the other cars have stopped. While this is illegal in some states, it is not in others. Furthermore, the general rule on reds (again, this might vary by state) is not that you should not be in the intersection, but that you cannot enter the intersection. If you are in the intersection, when it turns red, you clear the intersection.