Right-of-way and intersections
You are waiting to turn left. An oncoming car has its right turn signal on. When should you start your turn?
- After the oncoming car actually begins its right turn. Correct answer
- Right away, since the signal shows it will turn before reaching you.
- As soon as it slows down, because slowing confirms the turn.
Why
A turn signal shows what a driver seems to intend, and that is all. The handbook warns that the oncoming driver may have left the signal on by mistake, or may be planning to turn just past you rather than before. So you wait until the vehicle has started its turn, and only then begin yours. Slowing down does not settle the question either, because it does not tell you where the car will turn. A related rule from the same page: a green light is no reason to start across if pedestrians or vehicles are in your way.
Where this comes from
California Driver's Handbook, June 2025 edition. The correct answer is After the oncoming car actually begins its right turn.
The rule behind this one
Right of way in California: who goes first goes through the whole topic, with the page of the California Driver's Handbook behind every rule.
More on right-of-way and intersections
- You come up to a solid red light and want to turn right. No NO TURN ON RED sign is posted. What must you do?
- Your light turns green, but a bicyclist who started across late is still in the intersection in front of you. What should you do?
- You pull up to an intersection with a STOP sign on every corner. A car on the cross street had already stopped there before you arrived. Who goes first?
- You are pulling out of a shopping center driveway onto a busy street. Who has to yield?