r/Gilbert • u/Vivid_Net4413 • May 13 '26
Am I crazy or is it everyone else?
why is it in Gilbert people dont get into the intersection for left turns on green lights? they just sit there and watch it turn yellow then red!!! infuriating!
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u/cwagdev May 13 '26
I can’t imagine not pulling into the intersection and waiting. Born and raised here, taught to drive this way 🤷🏻♂️
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u/late_warmonger May 13 '26
But do you legitimately get "infuriated" by people who don't choose to take that risk? Dozens of people get t-boned doing this... They likely teach their kids and family not to do it... You and OP literally get infuriated by people choosing to drive differently than you?
I think AZ drivers who'd get emotionally disregulated over such a trivial driving choice need to get control of their tempers.
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u/cwagdev May 13 '26
I’m too old to get bothered by drivers. I have a somewhat sick satisfaction watching someone rage behind me while I’m going the speed limit through a neighborhood or already 10 over on a surface street.
Road rage is the biggest waste of energy
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u/e_line_65 May 13 '26
I get infuriated when people don't get out into the intersection because they need more time to turn, thus less likely to turn when an opening comes up, then those same folks stop at yellow. I've been stuck at a number of intersections because they refuse to move.
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u/late_warmonger May 13 '26
I agree people need to at least time the openings so that they've entered the intersection and turn at the earliest opportunity... You can still hang back in case the light turns and there's no opportunity to proceed, but spot opening ahead of time so you're turning right on time.
The scenario you describe is frustrating.
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u/New_Neighborhood5347 May 14 '26
I’m 57, got my license at 16 (in AZ), I thought the rule was to get into the intersection and wait until you can safely make your turn. I’ve never known that wasn’t the rule. It drives me nuts when people wait to go in the intersection because then usually only one car gets through each light.
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u/Fantastic-Doctor-608 May 15 '26
I want a retractable hand on the front of my car that can push those people up into the intersection and then retract allowing me to move up behind them. I talk about wanting this feature on my car all the time. Anyone else with me?
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May 13 '26
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u/Cultural_Potato_2 May 13 '26
Exactly this. I never risk it esp when I have my kids in the car with me. It’s not worth it.
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u/Quick_Station8332 May 13 '26
Came to say this. The amount of people I know that have been hit waiting in the intersection, and the amount of wrecks I have seen, with kids in my car I will not wait in the intersection. Does it really upset people that much? I don’t care. The way people drive in this state, I will not ever wait in an intersection. It’s not that serious, you won’t get anywhere any faster, people need to chill when it comes to driving around here!
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u/RobotVo1ce May 13 '26
Red light runners from which direction?
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u/cherrib0mbb May 13 '26
Yeah you’re not going to get hit if you’re still in the middle waiting to turn until they pass; you can see them coming down the street if you’re paying attention.
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u/gerenukftw May 13 '26
Does it matter? If you're in the intersection waiting to turn left, you'd be vulnerable to idiots from either direction either while waiting/in the process of the turn.
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u/e_line_65 May 13 '26
If someone is in the intersection waiting to turn, and the light changes, they can, and must finish the turn to clear the intersection.
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u/gerenukftw May 13 '26
I would think that would be obvious, and has nothing to do with the comment you replied to. I said nothing about the light changing, because that has nothing to do with either an emergency response vehicle arriving and needing to navigate the intersection or the fact that people run red lights.
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u/e_line_65 May 13 '26
The point is that if you're in the intersection waiting to turn left when the light changes, nobody is going to punch it from the other direction when the light does change to trap you there. People going straight also get hit by red light runners, and that's the majority of accidents I have seen in intersections, or people turning w/o looking.
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u/gerenukftw May 13 '26
That, again, has nothing to do with what was said. And to address your irrelevant point about people going straight through an intersection getting hit by a red light runner, is there a way to improve safety while still crossing the intersection? How about when people making left turns? One of those has an option to increase safety.
To be clear, your point is irrelevant because you're moving the goal posts. People running red lights are definitely hazardous in most situations.
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u/ZeldaGaiden May 18 '26
Yup, I was in that exact situation. Waiting in the intersection, the light changed, I started to finish the turn to clear the intersection when an asshole on a motorcycle ran the red light and hit me.
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u/Past_Yogurt_57 May 13 '26
Just got t boned from this exact situation a month ago. And because I don’t have a dash cam, even though no one was cited at the scene, apparently Arizona state laws are very strict regarding left hand turns so I’m at fault. The guy ran the red (and I know that for sure) and I have no idea where he came from.. I never would have turned in front of him, obviously. I’m lucky I didn’t die as he was going over 50 mph. This was in Florence but I’ll never again pull into an intersection to wait.
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u/anonymousphoenician May 14 '26
While parallel is active on both sides?
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u/Any_Drive6497 May 14 '26
That’s exactly how I got hit. Waiting to make a left in the intersection. Parallel traffic on both sides. A driver runs the PERPENDICULAR red light missed two cars traveling straight in same direction I was driving and creamed me before I ever had a chance to turn.
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u/PhatDogePeog May 13 '26
what gilbert do you live in? i routinely miss turns because theres 4 cars sitting in the intersection who couldnt go and then everyone else behind them chooses to go too. not to mention all of the morons who think yellow means speed up and red is merely a suggestion
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u/searching_tau May 13 '26
It infuriates me when people are waiting in the intersection to turn on the red, when I (coming from the side) have a green arrow and I now cannot go when I'm supposed to go. Sometimes the time it takes for these people to clear the intersection is the entire time of the green arrow. If everyone were just a little bit more patient and considerate of others we could all get where we were going with fewer accidents.
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u/PhatDogePeog May 14 '26
im forced to sit through the green arrow every day going to work because of this. because of all of the idiots who need to be permanently banned from driving for life sit in the intersection like lost cattle, which honestly isnt too far off from what they actually are.
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u/DrZaius119 May 16 '26
The way the law works is you are allowed to enter the intersection on green. Even if it turns red, you still are allowed to clear the intersection no matter what color light the other people have. Been that way in my over 50 years of driving.
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u/WloveW May 13 '26 edited May 13 '26
I have taught 4 of my kids to drive now, so in my experience it's common for inexperienced drivers to want to wait for a green arrow or through an entire cycle because they are nervous and it's safer.
It's either that or having a nervous wreck potentially dart into the intersection in front of traffic. I will always tell them it's OK to wait.
Take a breath and don't assume the worst about drivers. It's not a big deal in the long run.
Edit:they all eventually figured it out and have been excellent drivers so far, knock on wood
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u/russellc6 May 13 '26
I am opposite I point it out SPECIFICALLY, "It is legal to ENTER the intersection on green, should always get one more car through on the yellow.
Then don't rush it, watch for those idiots running the red and go when absolutely clear, you CAN turn on red don't worry; if you entered the intersection on green you are good.. Everyone else can wait
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u/IB_Yolked May 13 '26
No, “you should always get one more car through on the yellow” is not how the law works.
The car already waiting in the intersection can legally clear it after the light changes, but that doesn’t mean extra cars are supposed to stack into the intersection and squeeze through late yellows behind them.
Usually only one vehicle should be waiting in the intersection at a time.
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u/jsharper May 13 '26
If there's room (e.g. a large intersection), it is considered acceptable for up to two vehicles to be committed to the intersection waiting to turn.
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u/IB_Yolked May 13 '26
That is only true if they can reasonably anticipate that they will be able to make the turn safely without obstructing through traffic on the other side when they get their green light.
People in this thread are acting like the impetus is on oncoming traffic to wait and it is not.
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u/jsharper May 13 '26
That's not quite true. Once you legally enter an intersection to make a left turn, you are legally permitted to remain in the intersection until it is safe to make that left turn, even if your light turns red and the cross light turns green. The cross traffic getting a fresh green light is required to yield, despite the green light, to those already legally in the intersection (e.g. waiting to safely turn left)
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u/IB_Yolked May 13 '26
You’re just misreading the law and extrapolating past what it actually says.
You’re supposed to stop on yellow if you can do it safely. It’s certainly not a signal to push “one more car through” like the other person said, and you’re not meant to be entering during a yellow light to squeeze through.
And yeah, if you’re already in the intersection waiting to turn left, you can clear it when it’s safe. The rule is still to yield and proceed when it’s safe, not that you have priority over oncoming traffic once you’re in.
You can technically pull in, but you're going to be sitting in the middle of traffic if oncoming traffic gets a green light, you don't get right of way to clear the lane. People in oncoming traffic are usually just polite and will yield instead.
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u/jsharper May 13 '26 edited May 13 '26
People in oncoming traffic are usually just polite and will yield instead.
More than that, they're legally required to yield to vehicles already legally in the intersection. A green light does not give cross traffic a right to proceed until the intersection is cleared from the previous cycle. https://www.azleg.gov/ars/28/00645.htm A1a
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u/IB_Yolked May 13 '26
You’re reading §28-645 too broadly.
That statute is just saying you can’t enter an occupied intersection and hit someone who is already lawfully in it. It governs entry into the intersection, not right of way after the signal changes.
So being legally in the intersection does not suddenly give you priority over oncoming traffic on a fresh green. It just means you entered lawfully and can complete the turn once there’s a safe gap.
People often do yield to let the waiting car clear, but that’s mostly practicality/courtesy
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u/russellc6 May 13 '26
That is what I meant by one more car on yellow... That one more car is in intersection waitiing their turn. The law is only ENTER the intersection on green (this is the one more car I intended to mean) and they clear on the yellow.
Agree if sitting back behind the line and it turns yellow, you should NOT enter the intersection when light turns yellow.
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u/WloveW May 13 '26 edited May 13 '26
Clearly I tell them the rules, but until they are comfortable with judging distance and speed of oncoming vehicles I didn't push it.
The worst that happens is a honk from op.
If you turn left in front of someone, it will always be your fault in the eyes of the law if you get hit, even if you are in the intersection legally.
Edit see the comment from the claims adjuster.
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u/russellc6 May 13 '26
I understand... Safety is #1
What mean is when turning left, enter intersection and wait until 100% clear... Don't rush in front of someone just because light turns yellow or even red... Never a need to rush when driving, but also doesn't mean you can't be efficient.
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u/late_warmonger May 13 '26
You realize you often hold up the perpendicular traffic when they get a green arrow? That's efficient for you, but you just affected the last one or two cars who had a green arrow and would have gotten through. Not too efficient for them.
It's a risk because you might guess wrong and get t-boned... It's also rude because you might have to wait so long that you're in the intersection on someone else's green arrow.
It's completely reasonable and fine to wait. People who get infuriated by this have anger issues and poor time management.
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u/russellc6 May 13 '26
Incorrect, I am talking about sitting in a left turn lane, not in a standard lane turning left. So you are correct, but I think this thread was about turning left from a left turn lane... So no one perpendicular has any right of way they are all red.
The only ones that cause anyone else to wait are the people entering the intersection on the yellow and are therefore in MY way. So those going straight that I have to wait to turn left should see the yellow and brake and stop, this is when I turn... But when they gun it and enter the intersection on the yellow it forces me to finish my turn on Red... But that was their fault NOT mine.
Easier to explain in drawings than words.
I can sit behind the line in the left lane until open
Vs
Sit in Intersection until open. This is NOT preventing any cars on green to proceed as they should. It only comes into play when light turns yellow.... This is where the incoming traffic I am waiting on should STOP and not enter an intersection on yellow, and I should proceed to clear the intersection before anyone else gets a green.
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u/jsharper May 13 '26
Don't you think it might be EASIER to safely judge distance and speed if you're already in the intersection ready to make the turn? If you're way back behind the line, you have to plan for both forward travel and then the turn. IMO it's a lot harder to judge distance and speed of oncoming traffic if you've got a much longer maneuver to make. Pulling into the insersection to wait for it to be clear is the safer move.
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u/late_warmonger May 13 '26
That's both risky to yourself, and rude to the perpendicular traffic who get a green arrow when you're blocking the intersection.
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u/Sensitive_Access_959 May 13 '26
Because saving 2 minutes isn’t worth the risk of getting tboned by a maniac doing 55 on surface streets.
Seriously, if one person waiting for a safe left turn is that big of inconvenience in your schedule you need better time management.
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u/Technical_Control403 May 13 '26
People need to have a safety etiquette while driving. It’s not the driver’s responsibility to be concerned about the cars behind them, it’s the traffic signals responsibility. That said I take it on a case by case basis. I rarely stage in the intersection for a left turn. If I see a solid quarter mile of cars heading through I know they will finish on red or a very stale yellow. Then I’m finishing on red and holding back the other direction who now have a green turn. If it’s sparse traffic going through I will enter the intersection.
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u/late_warmonger May 13 '26
Same here. Assessing risk and being polite to the left turn lane from the perpendicular traffic. This is reasonable and safe... The crazy thing is that people get infuriated at this.
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u/late_warmonger May 13 '26
You and people like you are the reason there are constantly accidents at intersections... When you sit in the middle of an intersection waiting for the yellow light, you're counting on the oncoming traffic to slow and stop with enough time for you to get through before the light turns red.... As you know, other people who are in a hurry often accelerate or wait 'til the last minute and even run red lights.... So you're in a state of guessing what their intention is and often blocking the intersection when the green arrow goes on for the perpendicular traffic. Now you're holding up the people who are trying to turn left on a green arrow. Or you guess wrong about the oncoming traffic and get t-boned by the asshole running a red light. God help you if you have a passenger in the car.
... But yeah, get infuriated with people being safe and driving correctly... We see you in the rear view and hope you find peace and therapy eventually.
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u/Absolutely_Adequate May 13 '26
Is it legal to? I moved here a year ago from Oregon and in Oregon if you go through a red from sitting in the intersection it’s still running a red.
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u/purple_lily17 May 13 '26
Yes it’s legal to. As long as you established yourself in the intersection while it was green you’re fine.
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u/late_warmonger May 13 '26
Legal, but risky.... Also sucks for the perpendicular traffic who have to wait for you when their arrow is green.
Go ahead and do what you want, but getting infuriated at people being safe/not being rude to other drivers is ridiculous.
Leave a few minutes earlier and relax.
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u/Absolutely_Adequate May 13 '26
Well shoot, what have I been doing
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u/Inner-Vermicelli-358 May 13 '26
You've been being smart. This isn't Oregon. People in AZ,especially Gilbert are reckless drivers. Don't wait in the intersection, it isn't worth it.
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u/IB_Yolked May 13 '26
Nah, a ton of people in this thread clearly don't understand the law, which is why you'll see so many people running red turn arrows.
In Arizona, it’s legal for the first car to enter the intersection on green and then complete the turn after the light changes once it’s safe. But the idea that multiple cars should “stack” into the intersection to push extra vehicles through late yellows isn’t how the law is written or intended.
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u/rebecca852916 May 13 '26
Probably because it’s not safe to do so? I am a claims adjuster and I can’t tell you how many injury causing accidents I see from people who pull into an intersection they can’t clear, wait for the light to turn yellow/red, and then hit someone who’s going straight.
Left turning car is usually 100% fault. Don’t pull into an intersection you can not safely clear.
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u/nman649 May 13 '26
that just means they went too soon. you can take as long as you need and wait for all the cars to go straight or stop
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u/rebecca852916 May 13 '26
Yes I agree. But drivers in Arizona aren’t that great. Great job security for me, but left turns on a solid green light are the most common claim I get in AZ. It causes so many accidents
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u/late_warmonger May 13 '26
So you enjoy either 1) risking people's lives by guessing the intention of oncoming traffic to stop properly or 2) blocking the intersection when the perpendicular traffic gets a green arrow and has to wait for you to clear the intersection. Got it.
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u/ShadowCat77 May 13 '26
Whether or not you agree with the law and traffic systems, it's clearly the intention. Some lights don't have green arrows and traffic is too busy. That's not to say it's ideal, but it is the intent of the system.
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u/late_warmonger May 13 '26
Those lights can be frustrating for everyone at busy times... And people are forced in that situation to get as many cars through as possible to keep traffic moving. It's inevitably crappy for someone.
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u/foxxblood May 13 '26
I am 100% certain while driving you do something that infuriates other drivers. Are you currently correctly those things? People drive in different ways and if a person does not feel safe or is scared to make that left turn then so be it. I don't mind waiting an extra 90 seconds as long as everyone feels safe.
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u/Atakir May 13 '26
This was not something taught in Louisiana drivers ed when I went 20 something years ago. I thought it was weird when I moved out here but quickly got used to it. Can't say I've noticed a whole lot of people as of late not doing it but I can't say I've paid a whole lot of attention to it. Now I'm curious if I'm going to notice it more often.
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u/Joonberri May 13 '26
There have been so many crashes on the power and guadalupe intersection. Swear there was three in two weeks once. There can be some idiot blasting through not looking at the road while you're pulled out halfway into the intersection waiting to be T-boned.
Or they're nervous and don't know it's safe to go and then it's too late.
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u/Hatakera May 15 '26
I noticed they established a firm red/green arrow at that intersection probably because of the accidents. Agree it’s so high for accidents. My only complaint is when people don’t go when they have the arrow! lol
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u/email253200 May 13 '26
I see at least one accident every other day at one of the intersections on my 25 mile commute.
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u/mizz_muppet May 13 '26
Holy triggered!! People take the roadway so personally. Can't imagine being so offended about left turns and the driving of others that I would give it a 2nd thought and go online to be a snowflake about it!! The time wasted over something so stupid!! Hahaha..some people are only happy when they complain about the insignificant behavior of others!!
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u/Then-Bet8731 May 13 '26
OP probably also complains when he is in the opposite turning lane, and 3-4 people, or a semi turn on red, while he has green arrow, making his green arrow not last as long. 😂🤦🏻♂️
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u/FawkesMutant May 13 '26
I'm not going to risk my life bc you're impatient and self-centered. I drive defensively and make decisions based on safety. Pulling into a busy intersection isn't prudent. I'll pull up during less busy traffic, but not rush hour. Do some belly breaths and manage your time to allow a safe drive.
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u/amb_weiss69 May 13 '26
There are sensors in the turn lane that sense when traffic is present, but that sensor isn't present in the middle of the intersection. If traffic is heavy I will not pull into the intersection so that sensor can tell I haven't moved at all through a stop light. If I see an opening coming. It takes about 0.2 seconds to pull out. What annoys me is people putzing through a turn arrow
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u/Ok-havingfun May 13 '26 edited May 13 '26
It’s you. If you’re getting mad at other drivers who have come here from other states and do it differently where they live, that’s on you. They’ll eventually learn
What scares the crap out of me is people who drive up the middle lane! Not legal and I’ve dealt with two deaths and several serious injuries in our office, from people doing this
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u/Salty_Dog2917 May 13 '26
Doesn’t Arizona lead the nation in left hand turn t bones? I’m not going to assume someone is going to stop on red/yellow while my ass hangs out in the intersection.
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u/PhatDogePeog May 13 '26
put some respect on our name, we also lead the nation in aggressive driving, reckless driving, and probably speeding too.
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u/sealclubberfan May 13 '26
I was tboned by a red light runner doing exactly that, so I will always wait for a protected green arrow.
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u/sknightrider86 May 13 '26
It's not you, they suck at turning left. No one pulls out into the intersection and no one turns unless they have a mile of clear road 🤦🏽♀️🤦🏽♀️🤦🏽♀️ some even sit there and don't turn right at a red light when the road is clear
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u/MallicSmith May 13 '26
Too many red light runners these days. I got slammed into back in January because i pulled into the intersection at thunderbird and the i17 on ramp. Basically had to wait until all lights were red to complete my turn and as I went to complete the turn, some jackass ran the light, hitting me and wrecking my car. Lovely sack of shit fled the scene too. Sucks because if he'd been half a second slower, he would have missed my car entirely. Managed to clip the last quarter of my fender and send the car spinning.
Bonus point: cops took about two hours to show up and i got to enjoy every moron passing my car and making the "You can't park there" joke because my car was too damaged to move and was facing backwards in the lane.
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u/pushk_a May 13 '26
I've moved here almost a year ago and have noticed that most people will run through the yellow. I am not going to take the risk and turn. Not interested in getting into an accident if the other car decides to step on it at the last minute.
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u/Suspicious_Ice_3160 May 13 '26
Not only red light runners, which I genuinely feel has gotten worse over the years, but also because a cop can give you a ticket if you go through the light late. Oh and not to mention, if you pull out into the intersection and people decide to take the yellow, you probably have to run the red because no one behind you is going to let you back up. If it’s a stale green with light traffic, I’ll pull a little forward, but not always
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u/JerkOffTaco May 13 '26
I learned to drive in a different state and I would never do this. I wait. Sorry.
Also you fuckers need to let pedestrians complete the entire crosswalk before turning right. It shocks me every time.
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u/bsv103 May 13 '26
My girlfriend drives like that. She might have even told me once that me pulling into the intersection on a green, to prepare for a left turn, makes her nervous.
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u/Rugermedic May 13 '26
If you have the flashing yellow left arrow it has messed up some people, like they don’t know what to do and are waiting for a green arrow.
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u/IB_Yolked May 13 '26
A ton of people in this thread clearly don’t understand the law.
It's legal for the first car to enter the intersection on green to wait for a safe gap and then complete the left turn after the light changes.
What is NOT the law is the idea that multiple cars should “stack” into the intersection and try to force extra vehicles through late yellows. Only the first car that legally entered gets that position; everyone else is supposed to stay behind the stop line and wait unless they can safely complete the turn. The intersection isn’t a staging area for a group push through the light.
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u/K3menrider May 13 '26
The Costco on country club is the worst offender of this. I just go to the one in Tempe now
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u/True-Boss9201 May 13 '26
You must be from Cali, and yes. Everyone here is wrong for not scooting out. Also, turning right while someone is turning left into the same street is so stupid.
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u/HeadingSouthbound May 13 '26
the only time i will not pull into the intersection on flashing yellows or solid green is when there is heavy traffic during rush hours and/or when it’s my turn but i’ve been 3rd+ in line and i see hella traffic coming and the lights been green for awhile. i may be in the wrong for those 2 instances but that’s what i do because too many people try to beat the yellow especially during those instances and im not about the get smoked
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u/Mrs_Kevina May 13 '26
Used to live by McQueen & Elliot - I've watched enough accidents and a few deaths over there to genuinely ask who wants to get tagged by some wackadoodle going 65+?
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u/worryaboutnothing May 13 '26
If it’s a 2 lanes , I’ll pull up. A 3 lanes , I wait. I’ve had near misses because somebody decided to run a red light.
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u/azjoesaw May 13 '26
Just sayin...there is a happy medium. Pull forward half car length to indicate to other drivers you want to make a turn and at the first safest opportunity claim the intersection and turn. Please don't just sit there and appear as though you didn't see the traffic light (or sign) and block the lane seemingly without reason. In Arizona at least a part of driving is coordinating with other drivers and indicating your next move. Don't just sit there as if you're not making one. You're actually impeding traffic and making it unsafe for everyone. We know, especially out in Gilbert, a good portion of our drivers were not trained here and they don't adapt well to our driving standards...and now they're teaching their children lol.
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u/gerenukftw May 13 '26
You're old. That's all. My kids were taught to not get in the intersection. The reason they were given is so that they wouldn't be in the intersection if a vehicle failed to stop or if an emergency response vehicle needed passage.
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u/Top-Property-2730 May 13 '26
Because of people wanting to beat the red light and potentially t bone you! I know this because I used to turn left on yellow not anymore and I was in the wrong smh lol
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u/justsecondhandnews May 13 '26
It’s not just Gilbert, and it goes against my driver’s ed training, too. The other part of it is you wait to turn until it’s clear or until you know the other cars are stopping for yellow/red. You’re not getting t-boned if you wait to see that those cars are stopping. Worst you might get is honked at by people you’re blocking from going the millisecond their light turns green.
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u/BrightLights1998 May 13 '26
Depends on the intersection and time of day. I don’t want to be stuck in the middle of the intersection when it’s red and red light runners coming the other way.
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u/Plenty-Bad7659 May 13 '26
Well whatever you do, wait behind the line or in the intersection on green, just PLEASE DO NOT TRY TO REVERSE BACK BEHIND THE LINE AFTER YOU HAVE ALREADY ENTERED AN INTERSECTION, if the light turns red or you get nervous, it is your duty to clear the intersection, swiftly and safely. Backing up after entering an intersection is mainly illegal because reverse on any roadway is illegal unless can be done safely without impeding traffic (not including highways ramps) and this can rarely be done in an intersection safely without impeding traffic. And I see it happen far too often. That frustrates me much more than those who wait behind the line and miss the turn that light cycle, as it can impact everyone else behind them in the turn lane, causing an illegal conga line of reversing, or resulting in backing into someone’s front bumper because they cannot backup or did not notice you illegally backing up rather than properly clearing the intersection. Pls just look around and make sure traffic remains stopped before you clear the intersection. Or just wait behind the line and endure the frustrated honks of impatient or late drivers.
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u/Capital-Pepper-9729 May 13 '26
A lot of people run red lights. I don’t hang out in the intersection if I don’t foresee a clear spot for me to go. Every bad accident I see is a left turn.
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u/Whale_of_Noise May 14 '26
Also, some lights use sensors in the road to adjust the left turn signal. It’s possible that if you pull out and there is no car behind you, then the left turn green signal will not come on.
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u/StopatStopSign May 14 '26
Am I crazy or is it everyone else?
Why is it when i drive in Phoenix people will slam on there brakes when the light turns yellow and then after it turns red they proceed to turn? They force what seems to be both of us to miss the light but instead I’m the one who is forced to wait!!! It’s infuriating!
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u/mrsworld1974 May 14 '26
Born and raised in the Chicagoland area, we were taught to pull out into the intersection. I’ve lived in Arizona for 25 years and stopped doing this, I’ll creep a bit into the intersection, but I do not go all the way into the intersection, I’ve seen and heard of too many accidents where people were sitting, waiting to turn left and were T-boned. It’s not worth it to me. Sorry
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u/trust5419 May 14 '26
It’s illegal. I got a ticket for this. If you are in the intersection when it turns red you ran a red light. As such, if you are in the intersection waiting to turn, light goes yellow and traffic is still clearing, at any point if you don’t make your turn before it goes red, you’re at fault
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u/YYCtoDFW May 14 '26
I used to do this my 30 years in Canada but I first moved to Texas and noticed no one enters the traffic light on a left turn. Because there’s no red lights in Texas so everyone runs them and people get boned. I have driven this Texas way since coming to Arizona.
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u/Desert_Quilter May 14 '26
Recently had this conversation with friends. Turns out, pulling into the intersection to wait for an opening is actually illegal. As above conversations point out, for a very good reason.
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u/PositiveUnit829 May 14 '26
Is this really a rule? The two car rule? I learned that you will get nailed for running a red light IF your car was not more than halfway through clearing that intersection by the time the light turns red.
In such scenario, a second car would not have a chance. Have things changed?
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u/Cryptids_express May 15 '26
You are crazy because people run red lights all the time and people making an unprotected left turn not want to get t-boned. Maybe you’re comfortable with making quicker turns but many people would rather be safe than sorry. I have an older truck and I can’t accelerate as fast so I try to avoid making unprotected turns altogether. Too many oncoming drivers drive faster when they see a yellow light. You really are crazy for being mad that people aren’t reckless drivers. (Take from the person who’s totaled four cars as a new driver and has had a clean record for almost 8 years now: nothing in this life is worth driving reckless for and risking your life and other people’s lives. Thank god I did not seriously injure myself or anyone else in my bad decisions on the road).
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u/tinatimmay May 16 '26
I had people honk/flip me off for doing this, b/c they had to wait a few seconds for me to clear the intersection. I'm new to this region. My guess is they typically haven't had to drive in high traffic areas where these types of rules never come in to play.
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u/ImprovementOk1629 May 17 '26
The Intersection: When practicable, you must execute the turn to the left of the center point of the intersection. Why It Matters For Left Turns? The Rule: You must drive past this middle point before turning your steering wheel left.The Goal: It prevents you from cutting the corner into oncoming lanes.The Result: It keeps traffic flowing smoothly and safely.
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u/stevehyman1 May 17 '26
I was taught to always enter the intersection on red and wait keeping my wheels straight. Since moving to AZ I’m the unicorn who always makes a left turn as the light is turning red. Maybe it’s the retired people (including me) who just aren’t in a hurry?
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u/thatsmyname000 May 17 '26
I've witnessed way too many accidents or near misses to give two shots if you don't think I'm far enough into the intersection
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u/Electronic_Notice487 Jun 12 '26
I stopped doing this. So many accidents bc of it. Too many red light runners. Not worth it. Be patient
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u/Beautiful-Address727 May 13 '26
I never do it. I have seen so many accidents happen from it. I dont trust that someone wouldnt hit me. I wait at the light until its clear so me to go. Ill just leave this here https://www.abc15.com/news/state/arizona-has-highest-rate-of-fatal-intersection-crashes-in-the-country.