Question

Difficulty: HardTurning Procedures and Signaling

When preparing to execute a left turn from a two-way street onto a multi-lane roadway at a signalized intersection without a dedicated green turn arrow, a driver must execute a sequence of actions. In what order should the driver perform the following procedural steps, from first to last?

  1. 1Activate the left turn signal continuously at least 100 feet before reaching the intersection.
  2. 2Position the vehicle smoothly in the designated left-turn lane or closest to the center line.
  3. 3Decelerate and yield the right-of-way to oncoming straight-through vehicles and crossing pedestrians.
  4. 4Steer into the left-most lane traveling in the intended direction of the target roadway.
  5. 5Cancel the turn signal indicator and accelerate smoothly to match traffic speed.

Answer

The correct procedural sequence is: 1) Activate the left turn signal continuously at least 100 feet before reaching the intersection; 2) Position the vehicle smoothly in the designated left-turn lane or closest to the center line; 3) Decelerate and yield the right-of-way to oncoming straight-through vehicles and crossing pedestrians; 4) Steer into the left-most lane traveling in the intended direction of the target roadway; 5) Cancel the turn signal indicator and accelerate smoothly to match traffic speed.
The correct procedural order requires signaling intent at least 100 feet ahead of time, moving into the appropriate left-turn lane, yielding right-of-way to oncoming traffic and crosswalk users at the intersection, steering into the left-most lane of the target roadway, and finally deactivating the turn signal while bringing the vehicle up to traffic speed.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Signal driver intent early
Activate turn indicator at least 100 feet prior to the intersection.
Traffic law specifies signaling intent before initiating lateral maneuvers or speed changes to give adequate notice to trailing traffic.
2
Establish turning position
Guide the vehicle into the left-turn pocket or lane closest to the road center line.
Proper lane positioning prevents blocking non-turning traffic and sets up the correct entry path.
3
Evaluate right-of-way
Slow down and yield to oncoming vehicles proceeding straight and pedestrians in the crosswalk.
Unprotected left turns require yielding to all conflicting oncoming traffic and crosswalk traffic before entering the path of travel.
4
Execute lane-constrained turning arc
Complete the turn maneuver into the innermost (left-most) available lane of the destination roadway.
Standard DMV rules prohibit cutting across lanes during a turn; drivers must enter the corresponding lane closest to the median.
5
Post-turn stabilization
Turn off the signal light and accelerate to surrounding traffic speed.
Deactivating the signal prevents miscommunication with downstream traffic once the turn maneuver is finished.

Key Concept

Sequential execution of left-turn procedures, lane positioning, and right-of-way yielding
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