An unprotected left turn is a turn at an intersection without the protection of a red light or stop sign.
Unprotected turns cross one or more lanes of oncoming traffic without having the right of way, while protected left turns are made at a red light or stop light.
While unprotected left turns commonly cause accidents at intersections, there are other possible reasons for collisions.
Watch out for signs that prohibit left turns, wait for a clear road, keep the steering wheel straight, and only turn if you won’t block the intersection.
There’s always some sort of risk involved when you’re out on the road. This is why you should always proceed with caution. Safe driving practices involve yielding to traffic lights and stop signs, but these equipment can only do so much to keep you away from trouble.
In some cases, you’ll need to cross tricky intersections that will require you to make an unprotected left turn.
What Is an Unprotected Left Turn?
An unprotected left turn is a maneuver that’s done without the assistance of a red light or stop sign.
An unprotected left turn is a maneuver that’s done without the assistance of a red light or stop sign.When making this turn, you should yield to oncoming traffic before crossing the intersection. This is considered a “heightened risk” maneuver because cars from oncoming traffic have the right of way and are not required to stop or slow down for left-turning drivers.
Protected vs. Unprotected Left Turn
The difference between a protected and unprotected left turn is that the former is done at a red light or stop sign. Meanwhile, in an unprotected left turn, drivers are tasked to cross one or more lanes of oncoming traffic without having the right of way.
Blamed by Default
An unprotected left turn is a common cause of accidents at intersections. Drivers who make this turn are often blamed for collisions because they don’t have the right of way. However, this isn’t always the case, especially when an act of negligence is committed by the driver from oncoming traffic.
Speeding or having no lights may also be the cause of a collision. Other acts of negligence on the part of the driver from oncoming traffic include running a red light or stop sign and operating a vehicle illegally.
How To Make an Unprotected Left Turn
Keep your steering wheel straight. In case of a rear-end collision, your car will move forward rather than colliding with vehicles from oncoming traffic.
Before anything else, make sure that there are no signs prohibiting you from making a left turn. Aside from yielding to oncoming vehicles, you’ll have to wait for all pedestrians and cyclists to cross before you can proceed.
Keep your steering wheel straight. In case of a rear-end collision, your car will move forward rather than colliding with vehicles from oncoming traffic.
Only proceed with turning when you know you have enough time and space to complete the action. This will prevent you from blocking the intersection.
Lisa Conant grew up in Canada around a solid contingency of gear heads and DIY motor enthusiasts. She is an eclectic writer with a varied repertoire in the automotive industry, including research pieces with a focus on daily drivers and recreational vehicles. Lisa has written for Car Bibles and The Drive.
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