How to Make a Safe Left Turn: Tips for Teen and New Drivers

As drivers, we make left turns every day. And yet, a 2010 report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that most intersection-related crashes involve a left turn. Drivers tend to make more mistakes during a left turn than in other intersection actions. 

Some of the reasons this happens is that drivers can’t see as well, make false assumptions about oncoming traffic, or miss some important observations about their surroundings. I experience this very frequently when in the car with new teen drivers. They don’t yet have the awareness skills needed to make left turns safely.

Since we know left turn crashes are more likely to happen, it’s that much more important to help teen drivers gain more experience and awareness about turning left. Teens who learn to handle left turns by relying on their safe driving skills will be better prepared to avoid the pressures of traffic in these dangerous intersections.

The overall guidance for new teen drivers (and drivers of all ages) for making safe left turns is: To make a safer left turn, signal early and move into the correct lane before you reach the intersection. As you approach, scan for oncoming vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, and cars that may be entering from side streets. Do not begin the turn until you have a clear view and enough space to safely complete it, and never assume that an approaching driver will stop for a yellow or red light. Yield to pedestrians before finishing the turn, and if drivers behind you are waiting impatiently, stay calm and wait for a safe opening rather than feeling pressured to go.

Read on for more detailed guidance on safely making left turns, whether you’re coaching your teen driver or trying to improve your own safe driving skills.

Never Make a Left Turn When Your View is Blocked

There are many ways a driver’s view could be obstructed when trying to make a left turn. A few examples include:

• A car in the neighboring lane obstructs the view to the right

• Oncoming cars in their own left turn lane block the view of the approaching straight lane

• Buildings or trees/shrubs near the corners obstruct the view of the roadway

• The cross/oncoming road has hills or turns that prevent the view of approaching cars

Whatever the obstruction, it can cause a dangerous situation for any driver. When there are other cars waiting behind the car turning left, pressure mounts, and the driver may act impulsively to get out of the way. This is the biggest mistake a driver can make. Every driver’s top priority is to get themselves safely to where they need to go without causing harm to anyone else.

As I mentioned in a previous blog, it’s really important for drivers to keep their emotions under control at all times. When dealing with an obstructed view, drivers need to move up to where they can see or wait for conditions to change so that they have a better view. Trust me, it’s better to annoy a stranger in the next car back than to do something hasty and cause a crash.

Left Turns at Green Lights, Green Arrows, and Flashing Yellow Arrows

I covered a lot of left turn rules in my blog about who has the right of way. There are a few more legalities of making left turns that are important to keep in mind. These are actually some of the worst offenses I see from other drivers, so I make sure my students learn the laws and follow them. A high percentage of my students realize they should tell Mom and Dad that they’ve been breaking the rules of the road on these.

In the left turn lane of a traffic light intersection with a red light, cars turning left need to stay behind the white line! When the light is red, that line marks the clearance needed for vehicles to make a right turn into the oncoming lane. When drivers pull up past that line, not only are they not triggering the scale to get the left turn arrow, but they are not allowing enough room for other vehicles to make a turn. It’s a dangerous and unnecessary hazard.

When the light is green, left turning cars still need to stay behind that line! I know that it’s very common to pull up into the intersection to make the turn when oncoming traffic has a break or is expected to stop at a yellow light. In reality, most cars sitting in the middle of the intersection will have to wait until the light is red to actually make their turn. This obstructs the cars in the cross lanes who now have the green light and slows the intended flow of traffic. This is also one of the riskiest moves for causing a crash. If the oncoming cars don’t stop, and the car turning left goes anyway, there will be a crash, and the driver turning left will most likely be at fault.

There is ONLY one instance when turning left during a red light is legal. Left turns are legal on red from a one-way street onto another one-way street. These intersections are not all that common, so it’s important to proceed very carefully if this kind of turn is possible.

Understanding Protected vs Unprotected Left Turns

Some intersections use turn arrows to help drivers understand when they may turn left and when they need to yield.

A steady green arrow means your left turn is protected because oncoming traffic is stopped by a red light. You may turn in the direction of the arrow, but, as safe drivers know, you should still watch carefully for pedestrians in the crosswalk and for any driver who may enter the intersection unexpectedly.

A steady yellow arrow means the protected or permitted left-turn phase is ending and the signal will soon turn red. Slow down and prepare to stop before entering the intersection. If you are already in the intersection or cannot safely stop before entering it, complete the turn carefully.

A flashing yellow arrow means you may turn left, but your turn is not protected. Oncoming traffic has a green light, so you must yield to oncoming vehicles and pedestrians before turning. Wait until you have a clear view and a safe gap rather than assuming another driver will stop or feeling pressured by traffic behind you.

Help Your Teen Think Through the Left Turn

Knowing the rule for a left turn is not the same as being able to apply it in real traffic. A teen may understand that they need to yield to oncoming vehicles, but in the moment, they may still struggle to recognize which cars matter, judge whether they have a safe gap, and decide what to do next. I see it all the time with my students - head knowledge doesn’t instantly turn into actual practice.

Instead of simply telling your teen when to turn, use questions to help them fully process the situation step by step. For example, as they wait to make an unprotected left turn, you might ask:

• “Who has the right of way here?”

• “Is there oncoming traffic right now?”

• “What do you see, and where is it coming from?”

• “What does that mean you need to do?”

• “Now that vehicle has passed, what else do you see?”

• “Is it safe to make the turn?”

This may feel excessive and slower than simply saying, “Go now,” but that is the point. Questions help your teen connect what they see with the decision they need to make. With practice, they will begin to notice traffic, pedestrians, cyclists, and gaps on their own - and make safer left-turn decisions without relying on constant direction from the passenger seat.

Always Give Pedestrians the Right of Way

Since left turns are often a little more stressful than other driving actions, it’s easy to forget the basics. Giving pedestrians the right of way, even when there is very limited time or space to make a left turn, is a basic safe driving skill that can never be ignored.

Pedestrians who are legally (or even illegally) crossing a street have the right to do so safely before any cars turn onto that roadway. Never assume that pedestrians will wait for cars to make a left turn before they cross. If they are crossing on a green light, or crossing straight on a crossroad that a car is waiting to turn left onto, cars must yield the right of way to them. No matter what else is going on to put pressure on the driver to make the turn, this one aspect of safe driving is always a must.

FAQs about Left Turns

Q: What does a flashing yellow arrow mean for a left turn?

A flashing yellow arrow means the left turn is permitted, but the driver must first yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians; this is an unprotected turn.

Q: Why are left turns difficult for teen drivers?

Left turns require a driver to utilize several safe driving skills all at once - judging speed and distance, watching several directions at once, understanding right-of-way and yielding appropriately, and staying calm when other drivers are waiting behind them. New drivers are still building these skills as habits, which make left-turn situations challenging.

Q: How can parents help a teen practice left turns?

Parents need to stay calm, start with low-traffic intersections, ask questions to guide their teens and help them fully process the situation, and avoid rushing them to turn because another driver is waiting.

Practicing Left Turns in Montgomery and Bucks County

If you as a driver still feel more stress than usual when making a left turn, just imagine how your teen driver feels while practicing! Teen drivers in the Horsham, Hatboro, Ambler, and surrounding Montgomery and Bucks County areas encounter plenty of real-world left-turn challenges: busy commercial corridors, multi-lane intersections, limited sight lines, and changing traffic patterns. As a parent driving coach, it is vital that you do not pass on your ingrained driving worries to your teen. 

Need specific guidance on how to better coach your teen to be a safe, aware, and calm driver? Our course for parents will help you get in the right frame of mind for coaching your teen: The Parent’s Guide to Teen Driving. 

If you’re still concerned about making sure your teen gets the right kind of experience behind the wheel, consider driving lessons with a Safe Driving Coach. We’ll make sure your teen can handle left turns, and every other safe driving skill, in everyday situations on the road.

About the Author, Todd Avery

Todd Avery is the founder and owner of Safe Driving Coach and a trusted driving instructor in the Delaware Valley. With decades of experience coaching teen and adult drivers, Todd has helped thousands of students build the awareness, judgment, and defensive-driving habits they need to navigate real-world traffic safely.

His approach goes beyond helping students pass a driving test. Todd teaches drivers how to manage challenging situations - such as busy intersections, left turns, lane changes, and unexpected hazards - with greater confidence and attention. His goal is simple: to help create responsible, aware, and defensive drivers for life.