Making a left turn at an intersection?

Question

Ok I live in Canada and when you want to make a left turn at an intersection, and you check to see if there is any car coming from the opposite side, can you actually see it fully? Dont the guy on the opposite direction whos also trying to make a left turn block your view?

I've never driven so help me out if you can please.

thanks

Answer 1

Most of the times you can see the oncoming traffic.  The exceptions are narrow roads where there is another vehicle turning left opposite to you (usually a large one like an SUV) where your vision is restricted.

If you can't see the oncoming traffic to be certain it is safe, then you should wait for a yellow before turning.  It is perfectly legal to clear an intersection on a yellow light.

Answer 2

If there's someone in front of you that wants to turn left (their left), sometimes it can block you.  The trick is for them to not be so close enough to you that they can see you flipping them off :)

Answer 3

no..

Answer 4

most of the time there will be a clear view

Answer 5

This is a tough one, to be sure...Big trucks, buses, even large passenger vehicles, like SUVs are very difficult to see around...Most of the time, we just have to wait until they make their turn and hope that someone smaller is behind them...The other side of the coin is that it is virtually impossible to gauge the speed of a vehicle coming at you nearly head-on...This is why I am a big fan of right-hand turns and controlled left turn lanes.

All the best.

Answer 6

Aha! This is the reason why cars in the U.S. and Canada have driver-side left construction. Except in some extreme rare case you will see the oncoming traffic.  You say you've never driven so you probably posed your question based on the fact that you sit in the passenger seat or behind the driver (who is blocking your view).  If we built cars with driver-side right, then it would be more difficult to turn left.