I asked a cop about this very situation because I dealt with it a on a regular

Sep 13, 2024
10:26:42am

MurrayCoug Contributor

basis on my way home from work. He told me that I had the right of way even though I was turning left because I got there first. That was 20 years ago though so maybe the law has changed.

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MurrayCoug

Bio page: MurrayCoug
Joined: Sep 5, 2002
Last login: Sep 19, 2024
Total posts: 415 (0 FO)

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Messages

Author

Time

Am I wrong about this common driving scenario

Forbidden Fruit

Sep 13, 7:42am

Car turning left goes first

Yes

Sep 13, 7:44am

You're wrong.

kccougar

Sep 13, 7:49am

Flat out, no less.

blueaussie

Sep 13, 8:06am

Car first at intersection goes first no matter which direction of travel.

kalifi

Sep 13, 7:50am

At a 4-way stop or an intersection with no stop signs. This is a two-way stop.

Submariner

Sep 13, 9:27am

Yes you are wrong. Otherwise one car turning left

cougarfann888

Sep 13, 7:51am

So if I understand correctly, you arrive after them but both of you have to be at a complete stop and wait for other...

Tokolosh

Sep 13, 7:52am

Yes, correct and I choose your response

Forbidden Fruit

Sep 13, 7:53am

But all these replies show you the problem. Codes support left turn yielding... if there is an accident

Tokolosh

Sep 13, 7:56am

Left turn arrows going first before regular green lights have corrupted common sense at stop signs.

valcorger

Sep 13, 8:36am

Correct - If there is no cross traffic, then the person who arrived first goes first.

Skeptical Optimist

Sep 13, 8:17am

This is the correct answer. Most here are treating this as a 4-way stop

Submariner

Sep 13, 9:21am

You're out here causing accidents man..

Yes

Sep 13, 7:52am

He got there first.

Longseason

Sep 13, 7:53am

Whelp. I’m wrong.

Longseason

Sep 13, 7:59am

The rest of you. Shame.

Forbidden Fruit

Sep 13, 8:00am

Maybe you should check the source.

2ndTrombone

Sep 13, 8:07am

That isn't code, that is defensive driving. If both were to go and an accident happened the left turner would be cited.

Tokolosh

Sep 13, 8:13am

We aren't talking about if both decide to go. We are talking about who should go

2ndTrombone

Sep 13, 8:20am

Left turner has to yield. It isn't about courtesy, it is about being predictable and efficient.

Tokolosh

Sep 13, 8:25am

I'm not arguing that. Of course left turn yields to a car in the intersection.

2ndTrombone

Sep 13, 8:31am

Doesn't change the answer. Straight has the right of way. If they both go and there is an accident the left turner...

Tokolosh

Sep 13, 8:34am

Again, this is about them being stopped and deciding who should go.

2ndTrombone

Sep 13, 8:37am

Dude, that's what he's saying. Order of arrival doesn't matter if you have to wait for traffic to clear. think of it as

jaromp

Sep 13, 11:42am

If there is an accident in this scenario then both drivers should be cited

kalifi

Sep 13, 8:38am

Maybe so, but they generally won't be. The left turner will get the ticket.

Tokolosh

Sep 13, 8:40am

Insurance will find both at fault. It’s preventable.

kalifi

Sep 13, 8:43am

For efficiency, this makes the most sense. Which is also why the car on the

RobAdams

Sep 13, 8:33am

100% this! People being "polite" to let others go when they don't have the right

morningcalmcougar

Sep 13, 8:35am

Lol. ChatGPT tells you what you want to hear. I played "paper rock scissors" with it once and it conceded defeat

Bert609

Sep 13, 8:10am

But in this case ChatGPT is right. Codes support its conclusion.

Tokolosh

Sep 13, 8:13am

This is what ChatGPT told me:

Bert609

Sep 13, 8:15am

Great post. Mind if I copy and paste it to another thread from this morning?

John Doe

Sep 13, 8:14am

This is why we can't have roundabouts.

maYbe

Sep 13, 7:56am

Not sure what you mean by that. Roundabouts help solve this problem.

RobAdams

Sep 13, 8:20am

He was there first. Not sure of the law, but I vote for the first guy.

Ragnar Danneskjold

Sep 13, 7:57am

You're thinking of the tie-breaker.

2ndTrombone

Sep 13, 8:01am

RE: You're thinking of the tie-breaker.

Forbidden Fruit

Sep 13, 8:02am

Please cite your sources.

2ndTrombone

Sep 13, 8:12am

No. Tie-breaker always goes to the car on the right.

TRUE_BLUE_COUGY

Sep 13, 8:28am

There is no car to the right. They are across from each other.

kalifi

Sep 13, 8:34am

Ah, I misread it. My bad.

TRUE_BLUE_COUGY

Sep 13, 8:38am

Tiebreaker has nothing to do with this. The left turning driver must yield to

Adwight

Sep 13, 8:47am

waiting for traffic to clear initiates the tie-breaker because when cross-traffic clears you're both already there

jaromp

Sep 13, 11:45am

This made me think of the law in new Zealand, or at least how it was explained

Longseason

Sep 13, 8:06am

Here’s another thread on this

Forbidden Fruit

Sep 13, 8:11am

<< Deleted >>

spinner

Sep 13, 8:14am

Here’s the actual law on this from my state (WA). You are correct here, and I

Salami Karate

Sep 13, 8:22am

Within the intersection is not the same thing as both stopped

2ndTrombone

Sep 13, 8:23am

What does “approaching from the opposite direction” mean?

Salami Karate

Sep 13, 8:24am

Orientation of the vehicles.

2ndTrombone

Sep 13, 8:26am

I don’t know what you mean. I think my link is lawspeak for the situation in OP.

Salami Karate

Sep 13, 8:28am

Your link addresses the situation where one of the cars has entered

2ndTrombone

Sep 13, 8:33am

It says the opposite car has entered the intersection “or so close thereto,”

Salami Karate

Sep 13, 8:37am

That implies to me that it is moving, but you're not sure if it crossed yet.

2ndTrombone

Sep 13, 8:38am

Your quoted text is the scenario at a green light and you are turning left. You may have entered the intersection first

Bert609

Sep 13, 8:36am

Oh I can see that. That makes sense, thanks.

Salami Karate

Sep 13, 8:38am

Bruh... how old are you?

TRUE_BLUE_COUGY

Sep 13, 8:27am

I’m 89, why?

Forbidden Fruit

Sep 13, 9:07am

The bigger rig goes first. At least it did when I drove an F250 in high school:)

morningcalmcougar

Sep 13, 8:32am

Car turning left must yield to the car going straight. Every time. No matter

Adwight

Sep 13, 8:45am

I asked a cop about this very situation because I dealt with it a on a regular

MurrayCoug

Sep 13, 10:26am

Here's from the Utah Drivers handbook:

notaboy

Sep 13, 8:48am

Driver at the intersection before you is listed first. Hahahaha

kalifi

Sep 13, 8:51am

But pedestrians are listed last, so if that is a list in order, the

Submariner

Sep 13, 9:25am

Whoever got there first since that’s what you’d do if there was no cross traffic

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