How and when did this become an unwritten law? It's very needed...it's pretty much the only way cars can make left turns at LA intersections. Does anyone know the history behind this?
2006-06-15 16:36:08 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Travel ➔ United States ➔ Los Angeles
I'm not referring to the turn lanes with the green arrows. If you are in a regular or left turn lane, when your light turns red, perpendicular traffic will allow two cars to turn left.
2006-06-15 16:50:22 · update #1
The rule is actually 'Two cars can turn left on a yellow', but only if at least two of their wheels have crossed over the crosswalk/white line before/as the light changes. But, because most on-coming traffic speeds up to get through the yellow light, the cars waiting to turn are forced to either make these left turns on red lights or sit in the middle of an intersection for another light change. That's why there's usually a second delay between a redlight and a green light for oncoming traffic.
2006-06-25 09:56:48 · answer #1 · answered by RC 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It probably has to do with the space between the middle of the intersection and the crosswalk. Generally, one car pulls out into the intersection and the next car gets about halfway into the intersection. Because we have so much traffic in the city, and people are always running yellow lights, those first two cars are usually the only ones able to make left turns before the light turns red and cross-traffic starts to bear down on them. Every now and then, a third car (usually me) jams in there to make the left, but it's the exception, not the rule. What really sucks is when the first car doesn't pull all the way out, and then doesn't go until the light's red, and s/he is the only one who gts to make a left. That pisses me off!
2006-06-16 03:19:03 · answer #2 · answered by bruindon 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most intersections do not have green arrows. Therefore, it's necessary to run the lights to turn left.
Someday LA will relieve the invention of the green arrow.
2006-06-16 00:05:15 · answer #3 · answered by retyull 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not sure if this is what your talking about but there are intersections that have two left turn lanes side by side....but we have had these for a really long time
2006-06-15 23:44:09 · answer #4 · answered by Haleiwa girl 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dude, in LA you just hafta pull out into traffic or you'll be sitting at the light until hell freezes over! Liberate yo-self and just do it!
2006-06-21 18:28:58 · answer #5 · answered by Samba Queen 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋