Is It Mandatory to Enter the Left-Turn Waiting Area?

[Rhonda]

At intersections with left-turn waiting areas, it is not considered a violation if left-turning vehicles do not enter the left-turn waiting area when the straight-through signal is green. Below are relevant details about left-turn waiting areas: Precautions for Left Turns: The left-turn waiting area is an extension of the left-turn lane into the intersection, marked with white dashed lines. Vehicles intending to turn left can only enter this area when the straight-through signal is green and must wait until the left-turn signal turns green before proceeding, thereby improving intersection efficiency. Specific Practices: When the straight-through signal is red, entering the waiting area will result in penalty points, and vehicles must stop behind the left-turn stop line. When the straight-through signal ahead is green, vehicles can proceed into the left-turn waiting area (even if the left-turn signal is red) and wait for the left-turn signal to turn green before proceeding. If you are fortunate enough to encounter a green left-turn signal, you should quickly execute the left turn after entering the waiting area.