When Should a Vehicle Enter the Left-Turn Waiting Area?

[MacLouis]

When a vehicle should enter the left-turn waiting area: 1. When the straight and left-turn signals ahead are red, vehicles must not enter the 'left-turn waiting area' and should wait behind the stop line; otherwise, it constitutes running a red light, which incurs a 6-point penalty. 2. When the straight signal in the same direction turns green, left-turning vehicles should enter the left-turn waiting area to await the release signal. 3. When the left-turn signal turns green, vehicles waiting in the waiting area should promptly pass through the intersection. The 'left-turn waiting area' refers to the 'area designated for waiting to make a left turn,' which is an extension of the leftmost left-turn lane on some roads, stretching onto the sidewalk or even into the middle of the road.

[MacJason]

I've been driving on the road for over a decade and use the left-turn waiting area the most. Simply put, when the straight-through light turns green, you as a left-turning vehicle can drive forward into the waiting area. This area is usually in the middle of an intersection, marked with white dashed lines, and can accommodate two or three cars. It's important to note that you must never rush into it when the straight-through light is red, as cameras will capture it as running a red light. Once you're in the waiting area, don't be in a hurry either; keep the steering wheel straight and stop steadily, then proceed when the left-turn arrow turns green. Once, the car in front of me was too eager and rushed out before the left-turn red light changed, almost colliding with oncoming traffic—it was very dangerous. Nowadays, new cars have reminder functions, but when crossing intersections, it's most reliable to remember to look at the overhead traffic lights.

[VanLouis]

I remember during my driving test, the instructor repeatedly emphasized that the left-turn waiting area isn't always accessible. You can only cross the stop line and enter the waiting area when the straight-through signal in your direction is green while you're driving a left-turning vehicle. This design is actually quite clever - it reduces waiting time for left-turning vehicles by one red light cycle without obstructing straight-through traffic. A common mistake beginners make is rushing out when the left-turn light turns yellow, when in fact the waiting area is no longer accessible at that point. Last week my colleague got penalized for this exact reason - the traffic officer said you must strictly follow the signals. Especially during evening rush hours at busy intersections, you should slow down in advance when entering the waiting area and maintain sufficient safe distance from the vehicle ahead.

[LaJordan]

The rules for using the left-turn waiting area are clear: when the straight-ahead signal turns green while the left-turn signal remains red, left-turning vehicles can enter the waiting zone. The key is to observe when the straight-ahead signal in your direction turns green—at this time, oncoming straight-moving vehicles have the right of way, so left-turning cars must wait in the zone and not proceed. Some drivers mistakenly believe they can enter during any green light, but entering during a straight-ahead red light is a violation. On urban arterial roads, waiting zones usually have arrow markings; after entering, keep your wheels straight and avoid crossing into adjacent lane lines. This design can improve intersection efficiency by 30%.