When turning left, should I look at the front or left traffic signal?
3 Answers
When there is a dedicated left-turn traffic light, proceed when it turns green. If there is no dedicated left-turn signal, you may turn left when the straight-through light turns green. Precautions for using turn signals are as follows: While driving: When traffic in your lane is congested and you need to change lanes, check the rearview mirror to see if the adjacent lane is clear. Without obstructing vehicles in other lanes, activate the corresponding turn signal before changing lanes. When making a U-turn: Activate the left turn signal and check for oncoming vehicles in front and behind before proceeding. Honking: On road sections without a solid center line, when overtaking, activate the left turn signal and honk. If being overtaken, yield by moving to the right.
When making a left turn, mainly watch the forward traffic signal. After driving for over ten years, I've found the most reliable approach is to focus on the light straight ahead. Of course, if there's a dedicated left-turn lane, you should also pay attention to the vertical arrow signal on the left. But at most intersections without dedicated signals, following the straight-through signal is the way to go. A reminder: left turns are prone to accidents, so signal early, slow down, and watch for oncoming straight-moving vehicles and pedestrians. Once, I nearly hit an e-bike running a yellow light because I turned too quickly without checking the crosswalk. I recommend beginners develop the habit of watching countdown timers to judge if there's enough time to turn. In poor visibility conditions like rainy nights, slow down and double-check the signal before turning.
When making a left turn, you should primarily observe the traffic signal ahead. According to traffic regulations, left-turning vehicles at regular intersections must obey the circular signal light, which controls the right-of-way for the entire direction. Of course, there are exceptions in special cases, such as when there is a dedicated left-turn arrow signal installed on the left post. You can only safely make a left turn when this dedicated signal turns green. In fact, the placement of traffic signals is carefully considered; left-turn signals are usually installed on medians or diagonal positions for natural observation from the driver's perspective. I remember during my driving test, the instructor repeatedly emphasized that left turns are high-risk maneuvers. Besides watching the traffic signal, you must also pay attention to blind spots caused by the A-pillar and pedestrians. Once, I turned too quickly downtown and almost hit a delivery guy who darted out from behind a bus—it was quite a scare.
