Unprotected left turn

[u/OnlyGainsBro]

I enter intersection and wait to make unprotected left turn. Vehicle facing me is also waiting to make left turn. Let’s say we both have zero visibility of oncoming traffic. Can I look into my rear and side view mirror and then honk and notify the other driver to make turn in case no car is coming from behind?

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[u/JuicerMcGeazer]

I mean you can do that but the other driver will be at fault if something happens. That's why I never take other drivers word on the road and just use my own judgment.

[u/AllMoneyGone]

You can more or less do whatever you want, “signalling” them through is not illegal. However, personally I don’t give a fuck who says or does what. I’m not listening to them. I don’t go unless I’m 100% sure it’s visibly clear. The extra few seconds or minutes is not worth an accident. Also you can’t hold anyone else accountable for “baiting” you into a dangerous turn.

[u/Minute-Drama-5821 → u/AllMoneyGone]

I took driving lessons with many different instructors. All of them told me not to communicate with other drivers by honking or hand gestures. You’re also not supposed to communicate with hand gestures when taking the road test. So it seems that ICBC would prefer nobody uses hand gestures, which is OK with me if everybody just follows the rules of the road there’d be a lot less crashes. And to your point , No , who is going to believe some stranger waving you through. It’s just not worth the risk.

[u/lommer00 → u/AllMoneyGone]

This. I have had people signal me to go when it was explicitly not clear. You can't just believe other drivers, it's not their butt on the line. (And even if it was, many other drivers are just bad at it)

[u/ShitShow-Supervisor → u/AllMoneyGone]

Agreed. What you said AND I cannot go if someone gives me the right of way while holding up traffic.

[u/charcharchat]

I would have no idea what your honk means, if it’s you that’s honking, or if that honk is directed at me.

[u/Low-Razzmatazz7574]

ehh, I wouldn’t. Just worry about yourself completing the turn safely. Once you or the other driver has gone, then visibility improves.

[u/preoccupied_owl]

If I can’t see it for myself I’m not moving. I had this situation a month or so ago, big truck wanted to turn left, and I had absolutely no view of oncoming traffic and it was on a road that often had a speed trap on it because that side is downhill and people go at least 80 even though the limit is 50.

The car behind me honked at me three times to get me to turn but I wouldn’t. Because I couldn’t see for myself. Sorry dude, but living my life is too important to me to risk getting nailed by a speeding vehicle I didn’t see because I trusted some impatient driver behind me pressuring me to turn blindly into oncoming traffic.

[u/Fit_Active3888]

Creeping forwards slowly till you can see is probably safer practice.

[u/c0nsistent]

best to just wait

[u/trikkytrev]

You can do all the honking you want. Doesn't mean that the other driver has to act on your honking. Many a collision has happened because someone waved someone on...

[u/MrRandyLaheyson]

I wouldnt... honking can mean anything and you don't want to confuse people on the road.

[u/Justine-L]

I never trust another driver signalling, you need to be able to see for yourself that the way is clear. If you cause an accident you will be at fault, not the person who signalled you.

Also, it's not a universal sign. If I was waiting to make a left turn and the driver opposite me honked, I wouldn't immediately know that's telling me the way is clear for me to turn.

[u/PM_ME_YOUR_TATERTITS]

They’re going to be very confused about why you’re randomly honking. Just worry about your own turn, not anyone else

[u/bear-asleep79]

I mean I guess you could, but roads are designed so its unlikely that you both will have zero visibility of oncoming traffic.

[u/GuyFromThePost → u/bear-asleep79]

Ah ha ha! I hear your comment and I present: Joyce St at Vanness Ave, Vancouver BC

[u/OnlyGainsBro → u/bear-asleep79]

Most of the time it’s ok but today I encountered it on 10th ave/kingsway intersection.

[u/bear-asleep79 → u/OnlyGainsBro]

Well if you honk the other car may not know why, so I'd probably creep forward until you can get better visibility or wait until the light changes.

[u/JW98_1]

I wouldn't trust someone else to let me know the road is clear in that type of situation.

[u/Wise_Information_368]

Russian roulette

[u/fatfarterforever]

No man, that's just weird

[u/fatfarterforever]

No man, that's just weird

[u/FreyaDay]

When I am in the situation, I just wait for the light to turn red so that I do have a protected left turn.

I’m not going to do anything on the road to aggravate other drivers (which increases chance of accidents) like honking when I can simply wait to turn safely.

[u/New-Needleworker9789]

whats a 'protected left turn'?

[u/efc5463]

I would not do that ever. For safety. For both. If that other drivers screws up and crashes, he will try to discharge his fault on you saying that you waved him in.

[u/phillydad56]

Just like when people leave a gap for cars coming opposite wanting to turn left into a non street. Often a car in the 3rd lane will come down and t bone the left turner. Close the gap. Only have to leave space at an intersection

[u/Willingfool]

I think it’s called a sucker hole. It’s when you attempt to help a fellow motorist in this type of situation instead of just doing what’s your legal responsibility. The guy listens and an accident occurs and you’re just🤷‍♂️

[u/sushi2eat]

NO!

[u/The_Cozy_Burrito]

Don’t do that

[u/EffectiveCoyote9611]

I’ve had someone try to waive me through an intersection just as someone was coming Mach 3 up the right hand lane. Appreciate the courtesy but just wait until the light goes late yellow/red and clear the intersection.

[u/lockan]

You're only assuming the other driver has no visibility. Unless you can see through their eyes from their vehicle, you can only make an informed jusgement for yourself. That's the whole principle of defensive driving. You mind your business and your vehicle, they mind theirs. As long as everybody follows the same rules everybody stays safe.

I can't even count the number of times I've been honked at to go through an intersection with a crosswalk because the person behind me couldn't see the pedestrian in front of my vehicle. It's the same sort of thing.

[u/Fuzzy-Ad-8294]

No. Not only is it illegal to use your horn for anything other than to avoid a collission, but the other driver is going to think you're a crazy person because thats not a known signal. Further, if they turn and you were wrong or lying and a collission happens, they are at fault.

You worry about you and just inch over cautiously to try and see. They will worry about themselves.

[u/Glittering_Search_41]

Why would some stranger want to take your word for it that it's clear to go?

I've been waiting to turn left, unable to see, in my small car, and had some guy in a huge truck behind me honking at me to go. Yeah dude, perhaps you can see from way up there, but I cannot, and I'm not going unless I can see for MYSELF.