# What to do turning left with a solid yellow left turn arrow **URL:** \ **Category:** Driving/Drivers\ **Created:** [January 3, 2022, 5:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-to-do-turning-left-with-a-solid-yellow-left-turn-arrow/181623 "2022-01-03T17:29:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![TheWonderful90s](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/thewonderful90s/32/29584_2.png) [@TheWonderful90s](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TheWonderful90s)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2022, 10:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-to-do-turning-left-with-a-solid-yellow-left-turn-arrow/181623/21 "2022-01-03T22:00:06Z")
> [@bing](#): > > You enter an intersection at your peril. Let’s get rid of all traffic signals and just use common sense then. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s-Me](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/it_s-me/32/12660_2.png) [@It\_s-Me](https://community.cartalk.com/u/It_s-Me)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2022, 10:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-to-do-turning-left-with-a-solid-yellow-left-turn-arrow/181623/22 "2022-01-03T22:00:28Z")
> [@TheWonderful90s](#): > > and you weren’t paying attention to what it was Why weren’t you paying attention ? Distracted driving is against the law in most states. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2022, 10:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-to-do-turning-left-with-a-solid-yellow-left-turn-arrow/181623/23 "2022-01-03T22:04:44Z")
> [@TheWonderful90s](#): > > Let’s get rid of all traffic signals and just use common sense then. When the signal lights malfunction, they just set up four way stop signs. Traffic seems to flow pretty good and what do they cost? Maybe a couple hundred dollars versus $80,000 with the pretty lights. ---
**Author:** ![sestivers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@sestivers](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sestivers)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2022, 10:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-to-do-turning-left-with-a-solid-yellow-left-turn-arrow/181623/24 "2022-01-03T22:06:45Z")
> [@It\_s-Me](#): > > > [@TheWonderful90s](#): > > > > and you weren’t paying attention to what it was > > Why weren’t you paying attention ? > > Distracted driving is against the law in most states. Agreed. When you are driving and intending to turn left, I would think the two most important priorities are paying attention to what the signal controlling the intersection is doing, and looking for things that could collide with you while turning left. ---
**Author:** ![davepsinbox\_157004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@davepsinbox\_157004](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davepsinbox_157004)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2022, 10:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-to-do-turning-left-with-a-solid-yellow-left-turn-arrow/181623/25 "2022-01-03T22:26:12Z")
> [@TheWonderful90s](#): > > I’m driving in the left turn lane with my left blinker on at 30 MPH and I am 1 second from crossing the line to enter the intersection to make a left turn. At that point, you have 44 feet to stop. Call it 2 1/2 car lengths. That’s not enough time to try to stop unless you really need to avoid a collision. But why are you still going 30mph while approaching a situation when you might need to yield to other traffic? Any time I need to turn left, I reduce speed for exactly that reason. ---
**Author:** ![TheWonderful90s](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/thewonderful90s/32/29584_2.png) [@TheWonderful90s](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TheWonderful90s)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2022, 10:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-to-do-turning-left-with-a-solid-yellow-left-turn-arrow/181623/26 "2022-01-03T22:39:59Z")
> [@davepsinbox\_157004](#): > > But why are you still going 30mph while approaching a situation when you might need to yield to other traffic? It’s a big intersection and the planned place to stop is in the middle, so that’s another 30 or 40 feet and there is enough time to stop. But the driver sees the solid yellow arrow illuminate just before entering. The driver is trained from years of driving in a place that doesn’t have flashing yellow arrows and solid yellow following it, where a yellow arrow only came on after a solid green arrow. So the driver assumes the green arrow is broken and turns left on the solid yellow and does not yield. ---
**Author:** ![weekend-warrior](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/weekend-warrior/32/26122_2.png) [@weekend-warrior](https://community.cartalk.com/u/weekend-warrior)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2022, 10:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-to-do-turning-left-with-a-solid-yellow-left-turn-arrow/181623/27 "2022-01-03T22:45:38Z")
I think the Wonderful90s is the driver, he got into an accident and now is trying to justify why he was in the right. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/48514_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2022, 10:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-to-do-turning-left-with-a-solid-yellow-left-turn-arrow/181623/28 "2022-01-03T22:45:45Z")
> [@TheWonderful90s](#): > > the planned place to stop is in the middle Sometimes, life produces situations that don’t conform to “plans”. 🤔 ---
**Author:** ![TheWonderful90s](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/thewonderful90s/32/29584_2.png) [@TheWonderful90s](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TheWonderful90s)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2022, 10:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-to-do-turning-left-with-a-solid-yellow-left-turn-arrow/181623/29 "2022-01-03T22:49:15Z")
The issue is why on earth would they add a flashing yellow arrow and a solid yellow arrow when the EXACT SAME INFORMATION can be obtained by looking at the regular red, yellow and green lights. It creates a hazard for drivers who don’t know what it means or get confused and does not add any benefit. Who in the world doesn’t know that you can make a left on a green? Having the yellow flash while the light is red is a separate issue that does increase the traffic flow in the intersection. ---
**Author:** ![davepsinbox\_157004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@davepsinbox\_157004](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davepsinbox_157004)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2022, 10:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-to-do-turning-left-with-a-solid-yellow-left-turn-arrow/181623/30 "2022-01-03T22:49:57Z")
> [@TheWonderful90s](#): > > the planned place to stop is in the middle No. The “planned place to stop” is before you enter the intersection. If you “planned” to stop in the middle of an intersection, you planned badly. If you mean the _stopping line_ is somewhere in the middle of the intersection, you should have said that in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![TheWonderful90s](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/thewonderful90s/32/29584_2.png) [@TheWonderful90s](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TheWonderful90s)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2022, 10:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-to-do-turning-left-with-a-solid-yellow-left-turn-arrow/181623/31 "2022-01-03T22:51:24Z")
> [@davepsinbox\_157004](#): > > No. The “planned place to stop” is before you enter the intersection. In most States you’re supposed to enter the intersection before you turn left if you have to yield. That’s how it used to be in all States. ---
**Author:** ![weekend-warrior](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/weekend-warrior/32/26122_2.png) [@weekend-warrior](https://community.cartalk.com/u/weekend-warrior)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2022, 10:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-to-do-turning-left-with-a-solid-yellow-left-turn-arrow/181623/32 "2022-01-03T22:57:16Z")
you are supposed to stop before the line in a turning lane. then when traffic allows, you enter the intersection to turn left. otherwise, you could be in the middle of the intersection waiting for the traffic to be clear and the light turns red on you while sitting there. ---
**Author:** ![davepsinbox\_157004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@davepsinbox\_157004](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davepsinbox_157004)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2022, 11:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-to-do-turning-left-with-a-solid-yellow-left-turn-arrow/181623/33 "2022-01-03T23:06:03Z")
Here’s an example from the California DMV. [Turns - California DMV](https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/handbook/california-driver-handbook/turns/) “Stop behind the limit line.” That means stop before you enter the intersection. There’s even a picture to show you. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2022, 11:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-to-do-turning-left-with-a-solid-yellow-left-turn-arrow/181623/34 "2022-01-03T23:06:06Z")
Time to stop feeding the Troll . Snowman has his mind closed to all thoughts but his. ---
**Author:** ![TheWonderful90s](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/thewonderful90s/32/29584_2.png) [@TheWonderful90s](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TheWonderful90s)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2022, 11:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-to-do-turning-left-with-a-solid-yellow-left-turn-arrow/181623/35 "2022-01-03T23:11:20Z")
> [@davepsinbox\_157004](#): > > Here’s an example from the California DMV. [Turns - California DMV](https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/handbook/california-driver-handbook/turns/) > “Stop behind the limit line.” According to that, it would appear that they want you to stop even if there is a green arrow to the left. Surely hardly anyone actually does that? ---
**Author:** ![davepsinbox\_157004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@davepsinbox\_157004](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davepsinbox_157004)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2022, 11:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-to-do-turning-left-with-a-solid-yellow-left-turn-arrow/181623/36 "2022-01-03T23:15:23Z")
I doubt it too but if you _need_ to stop, for example if you have a yellow arrow or if you need to yield to traffic that’s already in the intersection, you’re supposed to stop clear of the intersection. ---
**Author:** ![Renegade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Renegade](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Renegade)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2022, 11:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-to-do-turning-left-with-a-solid-yellow-left-turn-arrow/181623/37 "2022-01-03T23:57:54Z")
> [@weekend-warrior](#): > > I think the Wonderful90s is the driver, he got into an accident and now is trying to justify why he was in the right. I think you may be right, ---
**Author:** ![Renegade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Renegade](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Renegade)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2022, 12:01am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-to-do-turning-left-with-a-solid-yellow-left-turn-arrow/181623/38 "2022-01-04T00:01:18Z")
> [@VOLVO-V70](#): > > Time to stop feeding the Troll Maye you need to BAT SINGAL Carolyn that it is time to shut this down. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2022, 12:45am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-to-do-turning-left-with-a-solid-yellow-left-turn-arrow/181623/39 "2022-01-04T00:45:25Z")
> [@TheWonderful90s](#): > > t creates a hazard for drivers who don’t know what it means or get confused and does not add any benefit. It’s been a while since I took my test in 1965 so I admit I was confused when the blinking yellow was first encountered. But I looked it up to see what it meant. Now I like it. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s-Me](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/it_s-me/32/12660_2.png) [@It\_s-Me](https://community.cartalk.com/u/It_s-Me)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2022, 1:00am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-to-do-turning-left-with-a-solid-yellow-left-turn-arrow/181623/40 "2022-01-04T01:00:44Z")
> [@TheWonderful90s](#): > > I’m driving in the left turn lane with my left blinker on at 30 MPH and I am 1 second from crossing the line to enter the intersection to make a left turn. At this exact moment, the left arrow on the traffic signal becomes solid yellow. Isn’t that a lot faster than you should be going knowing you may have to stop so you can yield to oncoming traffic ? And I’m done feeding the troll, I will just start muting all of his threads. [Previous page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-to-do-turning-left-with-a-solid-yellow-left-turn-arrow/181623.md?page=1) [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-to-do-turning-left-with-a-solid-yellow-left-turn-arrow/181623.md?page=3)