How to Yield When Turning Left, Right, or Going Straight?
4 Answers
When turning left, yield to oncoming vehicles going straight. When turning right, yield to vehicles turning left from the opposite direction and those going straight on the left side. Generally, turning vehicles should yield to those going straight. The following explains driving straight from a left-turn lane: 1. Driving straight from a left-turn lane is a traffic violation: Vehicles must strictly adhere to traffic signals and road markings when passing through intersections. Driving straight through an intersection from a left-turn lane will be penalized as "failing to drive in the designated lane." 2. According to traffic regulations: This behavior is classified as "failing to drive in the prescribed lane" and penalties vary depending on the road type. On highways or urban expressways, drivers will receive 3 demerit points and a fine for not driving in the designated lane.
Having driven for over a decade, I've learned that yielding at intersections boils down to three key things: Turning vehicles must yield to those going straight—especially when making a left turn against oncoming traffic; you must wait patiently. When turning right and encountering a left-turning vehicle from the opposite direction, even if they're moving slowly, let them go first since crossing lanes is riskier for them. Another easily overlooked scenario is at uncontrolled intersections (no traffic lights)—always yield to vehicles suddenly appearing from your right, following the "right-hand rule." Of course, extra caution is needed for pedestrians and cyclists, particularly at night with poor visibility. I used to be impatient too, nearly sideswiping a taxi going straight once. Now I’ve wised up—I’d rather wait ten extra seconds than rush those three.
When I first got my driver's license, my instructor would always recite the yielding mantra: 'Left turns yield to straight traffic, right turns yield to left turns, and at intersections without traffic lights, look to the right.' In actual driving, the most common situation is yielding to left-turning vehicles when making a right turn. Many people think whoever is faster goes first, but that’s incorrect—even if the oncoming left-turning car is far away, you still have to wait for it to complete its turn. Everyone understands that straight traffic has the right of way, but it’s easy to get confused during rush hour, especially when traffic is backed up at intersections and straight-moving cars keep coming, forcing left-turning drivers to find gaps to merge. Another critical scenario is making a right turn near schools—always yield to students crossing the street. Once, I didn’t notice a child running while making a right turn and had to slam on the brakes. That experience taught me to pay closer attention to pedestrian activity at crosswalks.
According to traffic regulations, it is mandatory to yield to oncoming vehicles going straight when making a left turn; when turning right, you must yield to oncoming vehicles that are turning left, as left-turning vehicles require more time to pass through the intersection. Additionally, at any intersection without traffic signals, you must yield to vehicles coming from the right. Special attention should also be paid to giving unconditional right of way to emergency vehicles such as ambulances and fire trucks. Pedestrians and non-motorized vehicles must be given the right of way when crossing at zebra crossings. Violating these rules and causing an accident will result in bearing the primary responsibility. In practical operation, it is recommended to remember the three observations at intersections: observe the straight flow, observe oncoming turns, and observe vehicles from the right.
