Left Turn law

I don't know all the ins and outs on this, but I remember hearing some of the explanation on this in a driver's improvement class for a ticket I received ages ago.

The instructor showed a few examples of people running reds and hitting people with green arrows turning left. He said the reason they also got a ticket (I think he said they also got red light tickets...like I said, it was ages ago) was because green only means go if it's clear and safe. I get that, but sometimes you think it's clear and safe and someone just barrels through a light. Everyone in class thought it was unfair that you could get a failure to yield ticket. It is sometimes hard to get out of the way when someone does something so fast and so crazy.

I'm sorry to hear that you had to witness something so scary.

Arizona Moms Editor Yvette Armendariz shares stories about raising her kids and tips for busy parents in her Time-starved (goddess) Mom blog. She and her husband are raising two children, ages 8 and 11.

thank god u missed being the victims, in the end thats all that truely matters

"dont pee on my leg and tell me its raining"

Yikes!! What a way to start the day off. This sounds strange to me....i thought it was illegal to run a red light? But maybe that is only if the red light cameras at the intersections catch you.

Does this mean that an individual who runs a red light at an intersection with the cameras can fight the ticket because a police officer was not present to actually see the violation? Plus seven witnesses?

just~me

I was hit a few years ago by a truck that ran a red light while I was making a left turn with a green arrow. The truck came out of nowhere and was way over the speed limit. He totaled my car and even though there were four witnesses that told the police officer that it was clear and the driver obviously ran the red light I still got the ticket. The police officer said he had to write the ticket because that was the way the law was written. He said if there had been cameras at the intersection then it would have been different. At least nobody was hurt but I have to admit I was pretty angry at the time.

Hopefully the driver of the truck got a wake up call - I would try and recall the company the driver worked for and share what really happened with the employer. I'm sure there are at least 7 people that won't use that company based on the actions of an employee in a company truck.

I've been burned by this law before...I was turning left at an intersection and was hit by a red light runner. The cop didn't ticket me but he said it's the law to "yield to red light runners." I told him I would have yielded to the red light runner if I would have seen him...I just didn't see him! The red light runner tore the front of my vehicle right off, and I was rear-ended by a gal behind me, and it bent the frame of my van. I was taking my son's friend home...I am so lucky and blessed that he wasn't injured or killed! Very scary.

I got a similar ticket in a similar situation, so I share your frustration. Glad you are well enough to write about it.

Lovemy4 is a discussion leader for North Central Phoenix, tired mother of 4 great kids and wife to one great husband.

I'm glad you and your family are okay.

I didn't realize that AZ had a ridiculus law like that.

jesshod is an arizonamoms.com discussion leader living in Surprise.

I was in a similar accident where I went to turn after the light had turned red and was hit by a woman who ran the red light. On top of that, she didn't have proof of insurance and she was speeding. I, was sure none of it was my fault. To my chagrin, I got the ticket for failure to yield,

sure, fine, whatever

BUMMER! The way it has been explained to me is that both the person driving through the intersection and the person turning left (in the absence of a green left arrow) are both red light runners. Waiting until a light turns red for traffic to clear in order to complete a left turn (again, in the absence of a green turn arrow) is considered running a red light. A police officer explained to me that both drivers would be guilty of running a red light, and the one turning is guilty of causing the accident...for failure to yield to oncoming traffic.

Sorry you had to witness something so nervewracking!

I've seen enough red light runners over the years that even going straight on green light after it had turned from red, I wait for the other "first" cars next to me to jolt out into the intersection. I also look both ways to make sure ALL vehicles with red lights are stopped because it just isn't worth it.

Someone commented on turn signals not being used, I think most Arizona drivers believe that to be a feature that cost extra on their vehicle, so don't try to use it thinking they don't have it. :) It's my theory.

I think the motto of several Arizona drivers is, if it's a law, I should break it. Makes me wish I was a cop in an unmarked car.

Glad at least everyone was ok.

Thanks for all the responses.

I agree that there should be cameras in every single intersection but then again it would be very costly for taxpayers?

The Windshield truck was unmarked so we have no way of knowing who the company is :(

For those of you that got screwed by the law, just unbelievable.

H~

Wow, I had no idea about being at fault when someone else breaks the law. I agree, very bad law.

Nice to hear you and your family are ok. Not a fun experience to watch that accident happen. I remember seeing an accident when someone ran a red light and it shook me up.

KarilouMomof2 is a discussion leader for arizonamoms.com living in Tempe. Her daughters are 9 and 6.