There are, in Inner Southeast, a number of important intersections in which there is a left turn lane, but no left turn light to control it. Some have lights to control turns in one direction but not in another.
Coming instantly to mind: Holgate at Chavez (39th), and Tacoma at 17th – in both cases, there is a turn-lane light for north-south traffic, but not for east-west traffic.
Another one of those is at Woodstock at 52nd; that intersection has been enduring an upgrade for months, now turning into years! East-west travelers have seen the new left turn lights for their direction hanging overhead, but still covered up, while the old lights remain in use below them. Someday left turn lights will be available at that intersection for all four directions.
And then there are the “major obstacle” intersections where many want to turn left, but there is no turn lane or light in any of the four directions of travel: Two of these are just one block apart from each other, at Bybee Boulevard and 17th, and Bybee at Milwaukie Avenue, in Westmoreland.
The city’s official excuse in those two cases is that they don’t want to take out parking to create the turn lanes needed there; they say the merchants wouldn’t want it to happen. Maybe not, but so many people purposely avoid those intersections – to bypass the inevitable long backups from one or more motorists at the head of the line waiting to turn left – that the merchants might actually welcome a situation in which more motorists choose take that route, thus increasing the number of motorists passing their business in peak hours.
The city certainly has shown no such scruples in restricting parking nearby with concrete curb extensions and city-permitted curbside dining – and the whole block westbound between them is all no-parking anyway – so we might question that argument.
But when we have used these intersections, we have beheld many law-abiding motorists who seem completely unaware of the traffic laws which permit their turning left from a left turn lane at an intersection at which no dedicated light to control left turns. Most motorists are familiar with these rules, but it doesn’t take more than one who doesn’t to build a very long backup on major commuting streets.
Ignorance of what the law allows causes repeated backups in the left turn lane – and, if there is no such lane, backs up the “through traffic” for absurd distances – as a driver at the head of the line just stays put on green light after green light, left turn signal blinking, waiting for an opening in oncoming traffic that never comes.
Here’s the rule they miss: You should pull forward into the intersection to wait for the opportunity to turn – and then, when the light goes yellow and even red, when cross traffic stops you are legally allowed to complete the turn and clear the intersection!
Got that? If you pull out partly INTO the intersection when the light goes green, you are allowed to complete your left turn when the light turns red.
(There is one odd exception to that rule: In Washington County, if you are at an intersection at which there is a blinking yellow arrow controlling the left turn lane, you cannot pull forward into the intersection while the light is blinking yellow. In the other Oregon counties in that situation, you can pull forward and wait.)
While we are discussing not-always-understood traffic rules, we should mention another traffic rule which we constantly see completely ignored, with potentially dangerous results: The rule which allows a right turn at an intersection on a red light.
The rule does permit a right turn on red, if not specifically restricted by a “no turn on red” sign – but ONLY if you first come to a complete stop at the intersection, and then make sure you are not going to violate the right of way of anyone coming from the left on a green light – or who are turning in the direction you want to go from the other side of the intersection on their own green left-turn light.
And, in any event, be aware that it is not required that you actually do turn right on red, even when you have done all that – you don’t have to if you feel it’s unsafe, or even if you just don’t want to. Motorists behind you may disagree, using their horn, but it is NOT a requirement, simply a privilege; and you -- as the motorist up front with the best view of the cross traffic – must make that decision.
We see every last bit of that rule violated on a daily basis at intersections all over the region, and you probably do too:
- Many people approach and turn right at a red light without even slowing down!
- Some make the turn despite signs that specifically tell them NOT to do it – we’ve even seen a school bus make such a right turn on red onto Terwilliger from Barbur, despite an overhead sign forbidding a right turn there on red.
- And, frequently, we see oncoming motorists traveling on a green light having to jam on their brakes when somebody turns onto the street directly in front of them in violation of their right of way.
Since the rampant violations of this privilege increase the danger of a crash and injuries, heck, maybe we should just get rid of this privilege…?
Well, anyway, on a lighter note, have a safe November, and a Happy Thanksgiving!
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