Drivers Must Use Caution When Making Left Turns

Drivers Must Use Caution When Making Left Turns, submitted by Officer Lance Inman

Several years ago, the City of Keizer removed designated left turn signals at a number of intersections along River Rd. The idea was to allow better timing between traffic lights and to effectively improve the flow of traffic along River Rd. These left turn signals allowed drivers right of way when making left turns. Since these signals were removed, drivers must yield right of way to approaching traffic when a green signal is displayed.

This creates a traffic safety issue when drivers proceed into the intersection on a green signal, and then wait for an opportunity to complete the left turn. Often times the signal changes to red while the vehicle is still within the intersection, and drivers are seen completing the turn against the red signal while approaching traffic is stopped for the red light. These unsafe drivers are, in essence, committing themselves to the turn.

Operating a vehicle within any intersection is inherently hazardous. A large number of accidents occur within intersections from turn or stop violations. The safety issue arises when the signal turns to red while the vehicle is still within the intersection and adjacent traffic begins to proceed lawfully on a green signal. Another issue is the chance of an on-coming vehicle running the yellow or red light when the driver begins to make the left turn against the signal.

Oregon Law prohibits drivers from obstructing cross traffic within an intersection or making dangerous left or right turns when the turn cannot be made with reasonable safety. Drivers should stop prior to the crosswalk when making left turns when yielding to on-coming traffic. If the signal turns to yellow, remain stopped before the crosswalk.