When turning left at an intersection with oncoming traffic, what must you do?

• A. Speed up to finish the turn before traffic arrives.
• B. Yield to oncoming vehicles and pedestrians before completing the turn.
• C. Move quickly into the oncoming lane to cut the corner.
• D. Turn immediately without regard to traffic signals.

Answer: (B)

Turning left at an intersection requires giving right of way to any traffic that could conflict with your path. You should wait for a safe gap in oncoming vehicles and for pedestrians in the crosswalk to clear before completing the turn. This keeps you from entering the path of cars traveling toward you and protects pedestrians crossing the street you’re turning into. If you have a dedicated left-turn signal (a green arrow), you may turn when it’s lit, but otherwise you must wait for the oncoming traffic to be clear. Rushing the turn, moving into the oncoming lane to cut the corner, or turning immediately without regard to signals is unsafe and breaks traffic rules.