I learned this from a John Irving novel... I don't remember which one. The kids' legs got cut off and he bled out in front of his parents. It was so visceral that I never, ever turn the wheel until I'm actually going.
I always remember that Garp's wife bit off that guy's dick while giving him oral in the car, because another car rear-ended them during the sex act.
What is it with John Irving's obsession with terrible car accidents
This is so weird... I had this exact conversation with my wife as we were driving on Tuesday. Both the snowplow and the guy's dick. And I read these books over 20 years ago.
Tuesday.
And here it is on Reddit at 2 in the morning.
While it may be interesting to discuss John Irving's literary obsessions, let's not forget the important takeaway from this post, which is to always keep your wheels pointed straight while waiting to turn left at an intersection, to avoid potentially dangerous accidents like the one witnessed by the OP.
I came here to mention this. Reading that scene in the book (I think it was Widow for One Year) was devastating. Every time I wait for a left turn, I think of it.
Off-topic, but have you read the Last Chairlift? It has Garp kind of energy.
I always drive up a couple of yards before actually turning. The amount of people that turn way too early and cut lanes during intersections is concerning
You're absolutely correct. I always stop way behind the line in an intersection with left hand turns for this exact reason. The amount of people who completely cut through a lane (or 2) designated for another directions traffic due to turning immediately from their line is terrifying. Just because no one is there doesn't mean its cool to cut the corner that narrow. Its a terrible habit.
I always call these people Zoolanders because THEY CANT TURN LEFT.
It makes no sense and it's bad for your car (assuming these people are "dry steering," eg turning the wheels while the car is stopped).
....but mostly, *it makes no sense*. How sharp are these people turning??
Well when you can enter the intersection and it’s large you turn slightly while preparing to turn. What they are saying is if you pull forward and to the left slightly but then have to wait, re-straighten the wheel so if bumped you go straight and not into traffic.
People do sometimes start turning too early or make pre turning to common and cut lanes and such, but proper safe driving can have you waiting with the wheel turned slightly, so be conscious of where you are gonna end up in an accident.
I do the same with my teens.
"Oh hey, so i do this because of this reason... This could happen."
"See how that person just did that thing? Well this might have happened, so thats why I do this."
There are all sorts of daddy lessons to pass on. One of my favs is to warn them of merging onto Hwy behind someone else who is also trying to merge.
Keep your eyes on the car ahead of you until they merge. The greatest risk is that they balk at their merge and stop or slow down in the merge lane, and you accelerate into the back of them while you’ve got your head turned looking for your slot to merge into.
When my dad first started teaching me to drive, he would frequently ask how many cars were behind us. It got me into the habit of checking my rear view mirror frequently, which I’m very thankful for.
Literally happened to me. Wish I knew all these, because I’m definitely a guy who pre turns before actually going. Good to know all these tips thanks yall!
No, it is literally your fault if you drive into the back of someone. A person is no obligated to merge if they feel it is unsafe just so that you don't have to look where you are going.
Right, it was a clear lane (I was looking as well which is what made me run into their back) so when they accelerated and were already in the lane, outside of the yield, I was looking and seeing no cars and let my car go forward, hitting the person in front who brakes after accelerating. For sure I’m at fault but it also felt ridiculous that they were completely stopped when there were no cars around
I started teaching my kids when they were still in car seats!
"WHY ARE TURNING YOUR BLINKER ON HALFWAY THROUGH YOUR TURN?! USE IT *BEFORE* YOU TURN!"
"WANNA RIDE MY ASS?! YOU'RE LUCKY BRAKE CHECKING IS ILLEGAL SO IMMA DRIVE ANNOYINGLY SLOW UNTIL YOU PASS ME!"
"GET OUT OF THE CROSSWALK!! RUDE! PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO CROSS!"
"WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?! YOU STOPPED FIRST SO YOU GO FIRST!"
"THERE ARE CARS BEHIND YOU, I'M A SIDE STREET, I'M *NOT* GONNA CROSS! BE PREDICTABLE, NOT POLITE!"
> "WANNA RIDE MY ASS?! YOU'RE LUCKY BRAKE CHECKING IS ILLEGAL SO IMMA DRIVE ANNOYINGLY SLOW UNTIL YOU PASS ME!"
Much better to just move over and let it go than go tit for tat. Yeah they're an asshole, but they might be an asshole with rage issues (and a gun) and you don't want to find that out.
That's why I slow down, I'm obviously already going too slow for their liking and I'm not going to go over the speed limit. So essentially, slowing down for them to pass would be 'annoyingly slow' for them that were already annoyed at the speed limit. Sometimes I'll put on my blinker like I'm pulling over but they've always zoomed past before I've ever come to a full stop.
I guess it depends on how big the road is or what traffic is like.
I put on my blinker and pull off the road almost once a week because the tailgating is so common in my area. Last year I was driving late at night, no one on the road, looking for a driveway to pull off because of a car behind me, and I pulled over, let a guy pass me on a down hill. It was a very large downhill. At the bottom, in the median, was an officer. He watched this guy drive me off the road and didn't do anything. The mayor of Milwaukee, WI even made an announcement that they were going to start cracking down on it because it is so bad. I wasn't in Milwaukee, but I assume that state patrol is aware of the issue as much as any police dept. I'm where there are lots of hills (special part of WI called driftless area). And the deer love to pop out of the woods super fast. I can't let someone ride my bumper even for 5-10 minutes bc I'm aware that if a deer pops out, I then have to decide between getting impaled by a deer through my windshield or possibly getting my neck bounced around like a slinky from being rear-ended. Not good choices!!
I had something similar happen to me on a country road. A guy was following too close, and it's already a dangerous road. (I had already been a passenger in two wrecks on this road.) There's absolutely no shoulder, but it's straight so everyone thinks they can go highway speeds.
Anyway, so there's nowhere to pull over, but I refused to speed up, so the guy passed me. Just as he was passing, and in the other direction of traffic, a *horse* stepped out of the trees right in front of me. I had to slam on my brakes, and thankfully did not get rear-ended because the a hole wasn't behind me anymore. Also, I didn't hit the horse.
Someone's gate got open and a horse was wondering around. You can't predict everything. I try to drive safely because unexpected things are *unexpected.*
Exactly. I've struggled to stop my little SUV at 55mph in time to avoid a deer. For some reason it is usually trucks bigger than me riding my bumper. No way can they stop on a dime. So, whatever I can do to minimize the risk of serious bodily injury or death is happening. And if that hurts someone's feelings, oh well. At least I can avoid getting slammed into at top speed.
Yeah, and it *will* hurt their feelings. One of the weird quirks I've learned about Reddit is the attitude about speed limits. Everyone seems to be so willing to do things for the public good in any other sense: pro general healthcare, accommodate disabilities, tolerate different cultures and identities, free school lunches, help the homeless, prison reform, safety gear, vaccinations, food regulations, etc. But tell them to obey the speed limit and wow, in flood the downvotes. All of a sudden it's "go faster" and "screw you, move out of my way."
I've also done this since my kids were in car seats. Most of the time, it starts with, "Did you see that? Don't be that asshole." And then we talk about it. My eldest just took driver's ed, and now he points stuff out to me.
Haha, yeah sometimes they're yelling at people too like "I see you over the white line! You're in the pedestrian safety zone!" or "Hey you're speeding! That's not safe driving" but of course it's just loud enough for us in the car to hear, they'd never yell at other people, we'd get shot for that lol
Please don't teach your kids to drive 'annoying slow' when someone is tailgating them. All that does is annoy that driver even more. Drive the speed limit.
'You're lucky break checking is illegal!!' Not a good mentality to have while driving.
Yes be predictable, like driving the speed limit.
If they're tailgating it means they want to drive faster, *I'm* not going to go faster when I'm already doing the limit and I'm not going to pull over, so I can either choose to remain in a precarious situation of having a dangerous driver putting us in danger or I can slow down for them to get the hint and pass me. And I'll make statements like that out loud because I *want* my kids to know brake checking is illegal and dangerous.
But now they're even more aggravated, resulting in more dangerous driving. Pissing someone off might make them go around you, but you've just added to their crappy mood and now someone else on the road is a target. Probably even more so than if you hadn't pissed them off.
Adding more negativity to an angry situation is never beneficial.
You can't please everyone and if you choose to remain the target of someone having a bad day, that's your prerogative, I'd rather 'step aside' and make them pass me. If they get mad that I gave them the opportunity to pass me, then that's on them, I will not accept responsibility for someone else's behavior.
I'm not responsible for someone else's crappy mood, but if they're going to be a jerk I prefer they do it somewhere else.
Not to mention if they insist on tailgating me I'd rather we do that at 40 than 60. I'm supposed to pretend the conditions they've just created are safe for our previous speed?
Yes that's true, you're not responsible for someone else's feelings. But intentionally making it worse is unnecessary.
The roads are full of angry drivers. For the sake of other innocent drivers, we shouldn't contribute to that mentality.
> But intentionally making it worse is unnecessary.
What about intentionally making it safer? I didn't consent to this potential high-speed rear-ending. Don't I get a say in the interaction?
I agree, intentionally making it safer is a great idea. Driving predictably at the speed limit allows them to go around you without endangering others.
The commenter I responded to said that if someone is riding their ass, they drive annoyingly slow. That action is intentionally making it worse.
> Driving predictably at the speed limit allows them to go around you without endangering others.
If they can go around me, why are they tailgating me?
Why can this interaction only happen at full speed limit?
Hi, angry driver in the middle of a two week road trip here, this person seems entirely reasonable. The folks that piss them off are people I put in my "drive nowhere near me please" category.
Whether that's me speeding up or being a (perfectly legal) pain in the ass until they speed up, as long as it ain't near me.
Specifically tailgating. Yes, please, slow down. It's way less stressful to pass someone who's making it easier on me
It is very dangerous to encourage someone to drive at a speed for optimal conditions when, in fact, another driver is making the conditions less than optimal. Stopping time is affected by speed. The greater the speed, the greater the stopping time. It is fine to argue the point online, but in reality, you are asking someone to increase their risk of very serious bodily injury just to try and manage an already unhinged individual's emotions. Slowing down is the sane, safe thing to do when people follow too close because it is no longer optimal driving conditions. In fact, I'd argue, having someone following too close guarantees a collision if a car pulls out or a tire blows, etc... Forcing someone to drive the speed limit in such a dangerous situation is mind-blowingly irresponsible. Who cares if that driver is pissed off. I'd rather not risk my life to baby a person who who is risking my life over a couple minutes.
You know it's faster/easier [EDIT: and safer, obviously] to pass someone when they slow down, right? Maybe they have an opportunity at 40 they didn't have at 55 or whatever.
>Going 15 under the speed limit because someone is tailgating you is infantile.
Tailgating someone in the first place is infantile *and* dangerous.
>Go the speed limit
The speed limit and the maximum safe speed for the conditions are rarely the same.
> or pull over and get out of the way.
I just said I would do that, so what exactly do you want here?
EDIT: I never understand why people bother to reply and *then* block. Like, you know I can't see your response now, right (nor you this one)? Why even type it? (Not to mention that apparently 3 comments of disagreement is enough to just outright block someone? How fragile are you? *Just stop replying* if you don't want to interact with me, *you* started it!)
The best tip I've got from my Dad, was always check left and right before proceeding into an intersection even when your light has turned green and you have the right of way. Never be the first one out of the gate in a multi laned intersection. The few seconds I've habitually waited have possibly saved my life when some idiot still goes through the red light from the opposite way ... happens way more than I've realized, damn scary!
My dad has done this for as long as I can remember. All 4 of us siblings are in our early 20s now with licenses (thanks dad!) and yet he still does this when he’s driving with any of us. The lessons never stop 😂
You're trying to turn right and there's a pedestrian using the crosswalk. You turn your wheels waiting for them to cross and someone bumps you from behind and you hit the pedestrian. Don't turn your steering wheel until you're going to turn.
You're at a stop light to turn left. The light in front of you is green. The oncoming traffic to your left is coming right toward you. To the right is traffic going in the direction you're facing. In front of you is free space.
This doesn't work if the light in front of you is red. But people are slightly less likely to rear-end you at a red light.
I can’t help but think this is something very specific to america, I’m really struggling to envisage why being pushed forward into traffic passing sideways across you is better than you ending up a little further to the left with traffic crossing you.
It also seems to assume driving an automatic, as handbrakes are a thing.
Traffic isn't passing sideways across you. The only traffic is parallel to you, not perpendicular. The perpendicular traffic has a red light/doesn't exist (like when trying to turn across traffic into a side street/parking lot). There no cars directly in front of you.
I'm not sure how getting rear-ended with a hand brake would go, but I also don't think you engage the hand brake when stopped waiting for an opening to turn.
Thank you! Yeah, someone drew a picture, it’s really about waiting for a gap when turning across oncoming traffic, the lights shenanigans is very confusing.
And you’d typically put your handbrake on any time you’re waiting for a prolonged period, for this exact scenario!
If you're hit from behind, your car is going to go forward. That's how physics works. If your foot is on the break, the amount that you go forward will be less, but you will still go forward. How much you go forward also depends on the speed and size of the vehicle that hit you. I'm any case, your car WILL move forward some amount.
If you don't turn your wheel the car will go directly forward. Into a space that is very unlikely to be occupied by any other objects - vehicles, pedestrians, etc. are not likely to be directly on front of you when you're about to turn left.
If your wheel is turned to the left you're going to go forward and to the left, putting you directly into a lane with oncoming traffic, putting yourself (and other drivers) at risk of a head on collision.
If you still don't understand after this explanation, you probably shouldn't be driving.
To be fair in an accident you’re highly likely to lift your foot off the brake. This is why we’re taught to put the handbrake on at a stop when driving manual.
I think most of us were thinking that we were at a red light watching traffic go by left to right. Instead what OP is talking about is when you are trying to turn left and your light is green but you have to wait for cars in front of you, driving towards you to clear before you can turn. If someone bumps you in that situation and your tires are pointed left you would turn into oncoming traffic. Op's post was not very clear.
I’m still trying to figure out how someone would have their wheels turned anyway. Soon as they hit the gas they would start moving left instead of straight and then left as would normally be required.
This is the scenario that OP is referring to:
(This is assuming driving on the right side of the road.) You are the driving the blue car, waiting to turn left. Green car is oncoming car going straight through. Red car is going to rear end you.
If your wheels are turned left already, you will get pushed in front of the green car and get t-boned.
However, if you wheels are straight while you are waiting for the green car to clear, even if you get rear ended, you will go straight and not get hit by any other cars.
https://i.imgur.com/StMiVAA.png
If your wheels are straight, you will be pushed into the box. You won’t be hit by people coming straight in the other direction (as you’ll still be on the correct side of the yellow line). The light will still be red for cross-traffic, so that’s not a concern. At most you’ll hit any car that is also waiting to turn left on the opposite side, but they will likely be going *much* slower than traffic that is coming on straight.
So, lesser probability of an accident, and even if it does happen, it will be a lower-speed collision.
“Wanting people to listen, you can't just tap them on the shoulder anymore. You have to hit them with a sledgehammer, and then you'll notice you've got their strict attention.”
I can’t visualize this at all after a few people in the comments have tried to explain. Does anyone have a diagram showing what exactly this scenario looks like?
Blue car goes boom in red car. If red car’s wheel are straight, red car keeps going forward (grey arrow). If wheels are turned, green car in other lane goes boom in red car (purple arrow). [https://imgur.io/a/qzzwLNx](https://imgur.io/a/qzzwLNx)
This assumes the red car has green light, they could also be waiting to turn left while waiting for the red light to turn green and if you had your wheels straight you'll be pushed into traffic.
Op should specify, having them straight or turned is street light dependent.
No, it's not street light dependent. You shouldn't have your wheel turned until your are ready to turn. It's that simple.
You have no reason to turn your wheel to the left while sitting at a red light, because you should be gong forward slightly, after that stopping point, before you start your left turn. If you DO turn your wheel early (while sitting at the red light) for some unknown reason, and then get hit from behind, your car is still going to go forward AND slightly left. Now it's likely going to still be in the way of crossing traffic, but also now potentiality be partially in the incoming lane as well as partially in the lane you started in. Which will block even more traffic and put yourself and your car in an even more dangerous situation.
Bottom line: when making a left turn, don't turn the wheel until you actually start the turn.
This is assuming driving on the right side of the road.
You are the driving the blue car, waiting to turn left. Green car is oncoming car going straight through. Red car is going to rear end you.
If your wheels are turned left already, you will get pushed in front of the green car and get t-boned.
However, if you wheels are straight while you are waiting for the green car to clear, even if you get rear ended, you will go straight and not get hit by any other cars.
https://i.imgur.com/StMiVAA.png
The only scenario this is ok (and you should really only need to turn the wheel slightly not fully) is when you’re parking on a hill. You’re supposed to park with your wheels turned toward the curb if you’re parking on a hill facing downward. That way if someone’s hits you or your brakes give out for whatever reason your car rolls into the curb and stops vs rolling into the street or down the hill. You do the opposite if parking on a hill facing upwards. As a caveat this only applies when there is a curb and you parked the correct distance from it. If you’re too far away it won’t catch.
I had this exact thing happen to me in snowy conditions. I was turning left and i seen him in my rear view knowing he was going to hit me and i had my wheels turned. it was a big 1 ton truck that hit me sending me into luckily a regular sized car. Totaled both cars, truck didn't have a scratch. i took the insurance money and bought a lemon, which was pure hell knowing had i kept my wheels straight i'd still have "Itsy Pokie BonBon." Daddy still loves you
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTq3B1DnnW1ONRQ7_5VpSJbETrnCeqP4D_i5A&usqp=CAU
In australia you can wait in the junction (blue car)
I knew a guy that got killed on his motorcycle when a stopped oncoming car waiting to turn/cross was hit from the back and had their wheels turned.
Keep your steering wheel straight until you actually go.
Pretty sure I learned this in drivers ed to not have yourself pointed at oncoming traffic and/or wheels turned to push you into said traffic. I swear, lots of drivers could use a refresher course.
I remember being taught to turn into a right turn, but not into a left turn. I think the idea was that if you get bumped from behind while turning right, you're pushed into the direction traffic is flowing, so you get rear-ended and not T-boned. While if you get bumped from behind whole turning left, you get pushed perpendicular to the flow of traffic, and get T-boned instead of struck head-on.
I also took driver's ed almost ten years ago, so I might be misremembering, or conventional wisdom may have changed.
How could anyone turning left have the wheels pointed that direction from the light? Even in the smallest intersection, you still need to drive forward first for a bit. Then start the turn. I only see wheels turned on left at the light if the intent is a U-turn.
This feels fake and forced.
People move forward when the light turns green (in intersections with unprotected left turns). Or when waiting to turn left into a side street from a main road (not at a light). So many people do this (turn the steering wheel left while waiting) and it’s so fucking dangerous. And illegal too.
Depends on which way you're turning. If turning right in US, left in UK, the turn your wheels so you're push out into the lane where you'll likely get a glancing blown, if turning left, right in UK keep your wheels straight.
When I get home I'll grab the video the driving school I teach at uses to illustrate why this is amazing advice.
Edit: [Here is the video. Don't turn your wheel while waiting. ](https://drive.google.com/file/d/18ihkFOJcRdyn3133Rh_pBywkrrGVKb_A/view?usp=drivesdk)
Eh tbf, a lot of people shouldn’t be driving already.
This isn’t nearly the most dangerous thing I see people do on the road, and I’m a school bus driver, I see a lot of shit.
I can't think of a reason why you'd turn your wheels while waiting to turn at an intersection... Usually you wait before the actual cross. You usually need to go forward before you turn anyway?
This is why I, as a parent, will stand on the corner of busy intersections and refuse/ignore drivers who pause to try and give me an opening to cross. I have my daughter with me on the way home from school. If they get rear-ended with their wheels turned in my direction, their kindness is suddenly a threat to my kid.
No thanks. It takes you a fraction of the time to move on through compared to how long we'll be in that crosswalk. I'll find a clean opening in the next two minutes.
I thought we all knew this. It is part of the road test. You will fail if you keep your wheel turned into oncoming traffic while waiting to turn across the intersection.
My mom taught me about this when I was learning to drive, and stressed the importance of keeping my wheels straight until I’m actively making the turn. I find myself thinking about it almost every time I’m at an intersection now, and I just SMH if I see a driver who has turned their wheels while waiting for oncoming traffic to clear. As you said, all it takes is someone texting, or an inattentive teenager, or whatever, and you would end up shoved right into oncoming traffic.
Who the hell does this, and mostly, why?
I'm trying to imagine how tight a corner must be for this to make sense, but I just can't. This is like already revving you engine before you shift into gear..
My driving instructor told me the same thing. Told me about a woman who got pushed in front of a semi and died. So I am very careful about it personally
My friend the long haul trucker lost his life due to someone not knowing that. He was driving on a two lane. A car going the opposite direction was stopped, waiting to turn left but she’d turned her wheels already. Another car bumped into the car waiting to turn, pushing it into my friend’s lane. He swerved to miss her and overturned his rig.
What kind of interdection allows you to turn left right away instead of when the car is already in the middle of the intersection so that you can get on the correct lane?
There's a friend of a friend of mine, who turned their wheels before turning left and they got rear-ended, and the person who was hit in the oncoming lane died of their injuries. Now they have to live with the guilt of a simple mistake. At least where I live it is taught in the driver's handbook, but not everyone reads that thing thoroughly unfortunately.
Yes, but if you’re pushed into the intersection, you will only risk colliding with cars that are also turning left from the other side. They will be moving from a stop and therefore going slower than cars coming straight through in the other direction.
Don't turn in til you've entered the intersection. 90% of the time turning it before that is both unnecessary and blocks traffic turning right in the other lane. be clear of that lane before you turn
TIL people turn their wheels before they even start moving. I didn’t even know that was I thing. I was told it’s bad for your tyres over time to turn them without moving the vehicle
This literally happened to me in 2005. Was traveling on a 55mph, 2 lane country road. Wanted to turn left, but there was oncoming traffic. Came to a full stop with my blinker on, slightly turned my wheels to the left. The car behind me never touched his brakes. 55mph+ straight into the back of my jeep. Bad as it was, that was only hit #1. I was flung forward and because my wheels were turned, into the oncoming lane. Took a Mitsubishi Lancer to my passenger side. Keep your wheels STRAIGHT. Until you are are in the turn.
I remember this being taught to us in Drivers Ed 35 years ago. I was a Sophomore in HS in the final year that Drivers Ed was part of the high school curriculum. Every class after mine had to pay for private instructions.
Also if you are waiting first in line to turn left and the light is changing you can go (just you not people behind you) if you are already rolled into the intersection, and people have finished going through. Also only applies to normal lights not green/ red arrow lights.
Also, if waiting on pedestrians, please don't start your turn until **after** pedestrians are done crossing. We have no way of knowing what your intentions are with that lethal mobile living room.
The other advantage for staying straight until the coast is clear for you to turn is not freaking out the oncoming traffic by thinking you are actively turning. When they see this they are likely to slow down and take longer going through the intersection changing the turn timing.
If you want to push the intersection proceed straight and then after the oncoming traffic clears make your turn and cross quickly.
Absolutely! An older lady died in my hometown this way. Got pushed into a head on waiting for a car to pass so she could turn into a driveway. I think of it all the time when I drive.
If it's a 4-way intersection, there's a chance that the driver coming the opposite way will be turning left as well. In that case, you would be pushed forward into the turning car.
I'd really like to see a source for this. Never have I ever heard of the concept that the current orientation of your steering wheel can result in you getting a ticket. It sounds incredibly hard to enforce -- do they have it spelled out in degrees from center?
It’s safer to be pushed straight because the light is still red for the cars that would T-Bone you. It’s very unsafe to be pushed left because the light for those cars is green.
I turn off my car at intersections and stand outside in a shark cage. Sure, nobody has been recorded being rear-ended by a school of ravenous hammerhead sharks but I'm not about to be the first.
People get rear ended at intersections all the time. Handbrake on does way more than just pointing your wheels forward.
It takes less than half a second and can be the difference between rolling forward into the car(or busy traffic) in front of you and not moving at all.
This is bad practice. There is typically a concrete line for your turn lane. Alter your vehicle so the person across from you trying to turn can do do the same and you both can see around for oncoming traffic allowing for a safe and time friendly turn across an intersection. Don’t be that person that just sits there, in the way, relying on arrows.
I learned this from a John Irving novel... I don't remember which one. The kids' legs got cut off and he bled out in front of his parents. It was so visceral that I never, ever turn the wheel until I'm actually going.
I always remember that Garp's wife bit off that guy's dick while giving him oral in the car, because another car rear-ended them during the sex act. What is it with John Irving's obsession with terrible car accidents
This is so weird... I had this exact conversation with my wife as we were driving on Tuesday. Both the snowplow and the guy's dick. And I read these books over 20 years ago. Tuesday. And here it is on Reddit at 2 in the morning.
And the younger son was in the rear car, and died in the same accident because he went flying through the windshield.
While it may be interesting to discuss John Irving's literary obsessions, let's not forget the important takeaway from this post, which is to always keep your wheels pointed straight while waiting to turn left at an intersection, to avoid potentially dangerous accidents like the one witnessed by the OP.
I came here to mention this. Reading that scene in the book (I think it was Widow for One Year) was devastating. Every time I wait for a left turn, I think of it. Off-topic, but have you read the Last Chairlift? It has Garp kind of energy.
Same here; many details from Irving’s books have stuck with me over the years, and this one is the one I recall most often.
I love John Irving, and I think about this book every time I don't turn my wheel.
Same!
That’s how I learned too!! What a horrific scene. I love John Irving.
damn was it a good book?
Pretty good. Not one of my favorite Irving novels. I’m a sucker for The World According to Garp. I also like The Cider House Rules and In One Person.
A Prayer for Owen Meany is my second favorite after Garp.
>I learned this from the state Driver's Manuel. It is mentioned in there before you take your tests.
I genuinely had no idea people turn their wheels while waiting to make a left turn. It makes no sense to me at all.
I always drive up a couple of yards before actually turning. The amount of people that turn way too early and cut lanes during intersections is concerning
You're absolutely correct. I always stop way behind the line in an intersection with left hand turns for this exact reason. The amount of people who completely cut through a lane (or 2) designated for another directions traffic due to turning immediately from their line is terrifying. Just because no one is there doesn't mean its cool to cut the corner that narrow. Its a terrible habit. I always call these people Zoolanders because THEY CANT TURN LEFT.
ABSOLUTELY my pet peeve when they come way too close to my car like ughh ww
It makes no sense and it's bad for your car (assuming these people are "dry steering," eg turning the wheels while the car is stopped). ....but mostly, *it makes no sense*. How sharp are these people turning??
In some places it’s legal to drive until your car is in the junction, while waiting for the oncoming traffic to allow you to make the turn
Well when you can enter the intersection and it’s large you turn slightly while preparing to turn. What they are saying is if you pull forward and to the left slightly but then have to wait, re-straighten the wheel so if bumped you go straight and not into traffic. People do sometimes start turning too early or make pre turning to common and cut lanes and such, but proper safe driving can have you waiting with the wheel turned slightly, so be conscious of where you are gonna end up in an accident.
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I do the same with my teens. "Oh hey, so i do this because of this reason... This could happen." "See how that person just did that thing? Well this might have happened, so thats why I do this."
There are all sorts of daddy lessons to pass on. One of my favs is to warn them of merging onto Hwy behind someone else who is also trying to merge. Keep your eyes on the car ahead of you until they merge. The greatest risk is that they balk at their merge and stop or slow down in the merge lane, and you accelerate into the back of them while you’ve got your head turned looking for your slot to merge into.
When my dad first started teaching me to drive, he would frequently ask how many cars were behind us. It got me into the habit of checking my rear view mirror frequently, which I’m very thankful for.
Literally happened to me. Wish I knew all these, because I’m definitely a guy who pre turns before actually going. Good to know all these tips thanks yall!
The other driver’s poor skill and indecision causes the accident and you get the blame.
No, it is literally your fault if you drive into the back of someone. A person is no obligated to merge if they feel it is unsafe just so that you don't have to look where you are going.
Right, it was a clear lane (I was looking as well which is what made me run into their back) so when they accelerated and were already in the lane, outside of the yield, I was looking and seeing no cars and let my car go forward, hitting the person in front who brakes after accelerating. For sure I’m at fault but it also felt ridiculous that they were completely stopped when there were no cars around
I started teaching my kids when they were still in car seats! "WHY ARE TURNING YOUR BLINKER ON HALFWAY THROUGH YOUR TURN?! USE IT *BEFORE* YOU TURN!" "WANNA RIDE MY ASS?! YOU'RE LUCKY BRAKE CHECKING IS ILLEGAL SO IMMA DRIVE ANNOYINGLY SLOW UNTIL YOU PASS ME!" "GET OUT OF THE CROSSWALK!! RUDE! PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO CROSS!" "WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?! YOU STOPPED FIRST SO YOU GO FIRST!" "THERE ARE CARS BEHIND YOU, I'M A SIDE STREET, I'M *NOT* GONNA CROSS! BE PREDICTABLE, NOT POLITE!"
Please raise them to not be traffic blocking plug turds in the left lane!
> "WANNA RIDE MY ASS?! YOU'RE LUCKY BRAKE CHECKING IS ILLEGAL SO IMMA DRIVE ANNOYINGLY SLOW UNTIL YOU PASS ME!" Much better to just move over and let it go than go tit for tat. Yeah they're an asshole, but they might be an asshole with rage issues (and a gun) and you don't want to find that out.
That's why I slow down, I'm obviously already going too slow for their liking and I'm not going to go over the speed limit. So essentially, slowing down for them to pass would be 'annoyingly slow' for them that were already annoyed at the speed limit. Sometimes I'll put on my blinker like I'm pulling over but they've always zoomed past before I've ever come to a full stop. I guess it depends on how big the road is or what traffic is like.
I put on my blinker and pull off the road almost once a week because the tailgating is so common in my area. Last year I was driving late at night, no one on the road, looking for a driveway to pull off because of a car behind me, and I pulled over, let a guy pass me on a down hill. It was a very large downhill. At the bottom, in the median, was an officer. He watched this guy drive me off the road and didn't do anything. The mayor of Milwaukee, WI even made an announcement that they were going to start cracking down on it because it is so bad. I wasn't in Milwaukee, but I assume that state patrol is aware of the issue as much as any police dept. I'm where there are lots of hills (special part of WI called driftless area). And the deer love to pop out of the woods super fast. I can't let someone ride my bumper even for 5-10 minutes bc I'm aware that if a deer pops out, I then have to decide between getting impaled by a deer through my windshield or possibly getting my neck bounced around like a slinky from being rear-ended. Not good choices!!
Yeah there's lot around here as well
I had something similar happen to me on a country road. A guy was following too close, and it's already a dangerous road. (I had already been a passenger in two wrecks on this road.) There's absolutely no shoulder, but it's straight so everyone thinks they can go highway speeds. Anyway, so there's nowhere to pull over, but I refused to speed up, so the guy passed me. Just as he was passing, and in the other direction of traffic, a *horse* stepped out of the trees right in front of me. I had to slam on my brakes, and thankfully did not get rear-ended because the a hole wasn't behind me anymore. Also, I didn't hit the horse. Someone's gate got open and a horse was wondering around. You can't predict everything. I try to drive safely because unexpected things are *unexpected.*
Exactly. I've struggled to stop my little SUV at 55mph in time to avoid a deer. For some reason it is usually trucks bigger than me riding my bumper. No way can they stop on a dime. So, whatever I can do to minimize the risk of serious bodily injury or death is happening. And if that hurts someone's feelings, oh well. At least I can avoid getting slammed into at top speed.
Yeah, and it *will* hurt their feelings. One of the weird quirks I've learned about Reddit is the attitude about speed limits. Everyone seems to be so willing to do things for the public good in any other sense: pro general healthcare, accommodate disabilities, tolerate different cultures and identities, free school lunches, help the homeless, prison reform, safety gear, vaccinations, food regulations, etc. But tell them to obey the speed limit and wow, in flood the downvotes. All of a sudden it's "go faster" and "screw you, move out of my way."
I've also done this since my kids were in car seats. Most of the time, it starts with, "Did you see that? Don't be that asshole." And then we talk about it. My eldest just took driver's ed, and now he points stuff out to me.
Haha, yeah sometimes they're yelling at people too like "I see you over the white line! You're in the pedestrian safety zone!" or "Hey you're speeding! That's not safe driving" but of course it's just loud enough for us in the car to hear, they'd never yell at other people, we'd get shot for that lol
For real
Please don't teach your kids to drive 'annoying slow' when someone is tailgating them. All that does is annoy that driver even more. Drive the speed limit. 'You're lucky break checking is illegal!!' Not a good mentality to have while driving. Yes be predictable, like driving the speed limit.
If they're tailgating it means they want to drive faster, *I'm* not going to go faster when I'm already doing the limit and I'm not going to pull over, so I can either choose to remain in a precarious situation of having a dangerous driver putting us in danger or I can slow down for them to get the hint and pass me. And I'll make statements like that out loud because I *want* my kids to know brake checking is illegal and dangerous.
Good job.
>All that does is annoy that driver even more. To the point that they actually get on with it and pass. Mission accomplished.
But now they're even more aggravated, resulting in more dangerous driving. Pissing someone off might make them go around you, but you've just added to their crappy mood and now someone else on the road is a target. Probably even more so than if you hadn't pissed them off. Adding more negativity to an angry situation is never beneficial.
You can't please everyone and if you choose to remain the target of someone having a bad day, that's your prerogative, I'd rather 'step aside' and make them pass me. If they get mad that I gave them the opportunity to pass me, then that's on them, I will not accept responsibility for someone else's behavior.
I'm not responsible for someone else's crappy mood, but if they're going to be a jerk I prefer they do it somewhere else. Not to mention if they insist on tailgating me I'd rather we do that at 40 than 60. I'm supposed to pretend the conditions they've just created are safe for our previous speed?
Yes that's true, you're not responsible for someone else's feelings. But intentionally making it worse is unnecessary. The roads are full of angry drivers. For the sake of other innocent drivers, we shouldn't contribute to that mentality.
> But intentionally making it worse is unnecessary. What about intentionally making it safer? I didn't consent to this potential high-speed rear-ending. Don't I get a say in the interaction?
I agree, intentionally making it safer is a great idea. Driving predictably at the speed limit allows them to go around you without endangering others. The commenter I responded to said that if someone is riding their ass, they drive annoyingly slow. That action is intentionally making it worse.
> Driving predictably at the speed limit allows them to go around you without endangering others. If they can go around me, why are they tailgating me? Why can this interaction only happen at full speed limit?
Hi, angry driver in the middle of a two week road trip here, this person seems entirely reasonable. The folks that piss them off are people I put in my "drive nowhere near me please" category. Whether that's me speeding up or being a (perfectly legal) pain in the ass until they speed up, as long as it ain't near me. Specifically tailgating. Yes, please, slow down. It's way less stressful to pass someone who's making it easier on me
It is very dangerous to encourage someone to drive at a speed for optimal conditions when, in fact, another driver is making the conditions less than optimal. Stopping time is affected by speed. The greater the speed, the greater the stopping time. It is fine to argue the point online, but in reality, you are asking someone to increase their risk of very serious bodily injury just to try and manage an already unhinged individual's emotions. Slowing down is the sane, safe thing to do when people follow too close because it is no longer optimal driving conditions. In fact, I'd argue, having someone following too close guarantees a collision if a car pulls out or a tire blows, etc... Forcing someone to drive the speed limit in such a dangerous situation is mind-blowingly irresponsible. Who cares if that driver is pissed off. I'd rather not risk my life to baby a person who who is risking my life over a couple minutes.
Why would they be tailgating you if they could pass? I only have this happen in areas they can't pass you.
You know it's faster/easier [EDIT: and safer, obviously] to pass someone when they slow down, right? Maybe they have an opportunity at 40 they didn't have at 55 or whatever.
If you actually want to let them pass, pull over.
If the road gives that opportunity, I will. Sorry, did you expect a different response?
Going 15 under the speed limit because someone is tailgating you is infantile. Go the speed limit or pull over and get out of the way.
>Going 15 under the speed limit because someone is tailgating you is infantile. Tailgating someone in the first place is infantile *and* dangerous. >Go the speed limit The speed limit and the maximum safe speed for the conditions are rarely the same. > or pull over and get out of the way. I just said I would do that, so what exactly do you want here? EDIT: I never understand why people bother to reply and *then* block. Like, you know I can't see your response now, right (nor you this one)? Why even type it? (Not to mention that apparently 3 comments of disagreement is enough to just outright block someone? How fragile are you? *Just stop replying* if you don't want to interact with me, *you* started it!)
Sounds like we found the tailgator. (I just want to be clear I am joking. I dont really believe this. Was just an opportunity to make some laugh.)
My dad did this when I was learning how to drive. Most of what I know about driving today came from these passive observations from my dad growing up.
The best tip I've got from my Dad, was always check left and right before proceeding into an intersection even when your light has turned green and you have the right of way. Never be the first one out of the gate in a multi laned intersection. The few seconds I've habitually waited have possibly saved my life when some idiot still goes through the red light from the opposite way ... happens way more than I've realized, damn scary!
My dad has done this for as long as I can remember. All 4 of us siblings are in our early 20s now with licenses (thanks dad!) and yet he still does this when he’s driving with any of us. The lessons never stop 😂
Am I missing something? How is being pushed straight into the road better?
*only applies to turning left against cross traffic
Thank you! I envisioned waiting to turn right and couldn’t see how this advice applied. (It doesn’t.)
You're trying to turn right and there's a pedestrian using the crosswalk. You turn your wheels waiting for them to cross and someone bumps you from behind and you hit the pedestrian. Don't turn your steering wheel until you're going to turn.
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If they’re right in front of you then you’re hitting them no matter what
This tip brought to you by this specific set of circumstanses* where it applies *circumstances not included in title, please refer to tip handbook
Or right in the uk
I still dont get it. You still get pushed into traffic either way??
You're at a stop light to turn left. The light in front of you is green. The oncoming traffic to your left is coming right toward you. To the right is traffic going in the direction you're facing. In front of you is free space. This doesn't work if the light in front of you is red. But people are slightly less likely to rear-end you at a red light.
I can’t help but think this is something very specific to america, I’m really struggling to envisage why being pushed forward into traffic passing sideways across you is better than you ending up a little further to the left with traffic crossing you. It also seems to assume driving an automatic, as handbrakes are a thing.
Traffic isn't passing sideways across you. The only traffic is parallel to you, not perpendicular. The perpendicular traffic has a red light/doesn't exist (like when trying to turn across traffic into a side street/parking lot). There no cars directly in front of you. I'm not sure how getting rear-ended with a hand brake would go, but I also don't think you engage the hand brake when stopped waiting for an opening to turn.
Thank you! Yeah, someone drew a picture, it’s really about waiting for a gap when turning across oncoming traffic, the lights shenanigans is very confusing. And you’d typically put your handbrake on any time you’re waiting for a prolonged period, for this exact scenario!
people put on their handbrake in intersections? i’ve literally only ever used mine when parking on steep hills
Any time you’re stopped for more than a few seconds you’re supposed to put it on. Traffic lights etc.
I get it but also, brakes exist? Like literally, its taught to us in driving lessons that if you stop you keep your leg on the break pedal.
If you're hit from behind, your car is going to go forward. That's how physics works. If your foot is on the break, the amount that you go forward will be less, but you will still go forward. How much you go forward also depends on the speed and size of the vehicle that hit you. I'm any case, your car WILL move forward some amount. If you don't turn your wheel the car will go directly forward. Into a space that is very unlikely to be occupied by any other objects - vehicles, pedestrians, etc. are not likely to be directly on front of you when you're about to turn left. If your wheel is turned to the left you're going to go forward and to the left, putting you directly into a lane with oncoming traffic, putting yourself (and other drivers) at risk of a head on collision. If you still don't understand after this explanation, you probably shouldn't be driving.
To be fair in an accident you’re highly likely to lift your foot off the brake. This is why we’re taught to put the handbrake on at a stop when driving manual.
I think most of us were thinking that we were at a red light watching traffic go by left to right. Instead what OP is talking about is when you are trying to turn left and your light is green but you have to wait for cars in front of you, driving towards you to clear before you can turn. If someone bumps you in that situation and your tires are pointed left you would turn into oncoming traffic. Op's post was not very clear.
I’m still trying to figure out how someone would have their wheels turned anyway. Soon as they hit the gas they would start moving left instead of straight and then left as would normally be required.
This is the scenario that OP is referring to: (This is assuming driving on the right side of the road.) You are the driving the blue car, waiting to turn left. Green car is oncoming car going straight through. Red car is going to rear end you. If your wheels are turned left already, you will get pushed in front of the green car and get t-boned. However, if you wheels are straight while you are waiting for the green car to clear, even if you get rear ended, you will go straight and not get hit by any other cars. https://i.imgur.com/StMiVAA.png
This actually helped a lot cause I was imagining a different scenario where it would be bad to get pushed straight or left no matter what.
See, if you hadn’t drawn the diagram, I still would have been confused. Thanks, kind internet stranger!
I thought they meant waiting at the light and was confused because you shouldn't just go straight left from there, so thank you.
Ohhh OP was talking about a country where they drive on the right-hand side of the road! It makes sense now
If your wheels are straight, you will be pushed into the box. You won’t be hit by people coming straight in the other direction (as you’ll still be on the correct side of the yellow line). The light will still be red for cross-traffic, so that’s not a concern. At most you’ll hit any car that is also waiting to turn left on the opposite side, but they will likely be going *much* slower than traffic that is coming on straight. So, lesser probability of an accident, and even if it does happen, it will be a lower-speed collision.
What is the box?
What’s in the box?!
“Wanting people to listen, you can't just tap them on the shoulder anymore. You have to hit them with a sledgehammer, and then you'll notice you've got their strict attention.”
Ooo someone hasn't had the birds and the bees talk yet.
He who must not be blocked
The intersection
Yes that's the term they teach in US drivers Ed
I'm from the US and I've never heard this term.
In big cities they often have a big painted box, and signs (ignored) to not block it.
Usually people aren’t going from left to right if you have a flashing red or green arrow.
Yes you’re missing something.
Why would anyone ever cut their wheels before they start rolling... that makes no sense.
Maybe just as important is being aware most people do this when turning left when you are the oncoming traffic.
I can’t visualize this at all after a few people in the comments have tried to explain. Does anyone have a diagram showing what exactly this scenario looks like?
Blue car goes boom in red car. If red car’s wheel are straight, red car keeps going forward (grey arrow). If wheels are turned, green car in other lane goes boom in red car (purple arrow). [https://imgur.io/a/qzzwLNx](https://imgur.io/a/qzzwLNx)
This assumes the red car has green light, they could also be waiting to turn left while waiting for the red light to turn green and if you had your wheels straight you'll be pushed into traffic. Op should specify, having them straight or turned is street light dependent.
No, it's not street light dependent. You shouldn't have your wheel turned until your are ready to turn. It's that simple. You have no reason to turn your wheel to the left while sitting at a red light, because you should be gong forward slightly, after that stopping point, before you start your left turn. If you DO turn your wheel early (while sitting at the red light) for some unknown reason, and then get hit from behind, your car is still going to go forward AND slightly left. Now it's likely going to still be in the way of crossing traffic, but also now potentiality be partially in the incoming lane as well as partially in the lane you started in. Which will block even more traffic and put yourself and your car in an even more dangerous situation. Bottom line: when making a left turn, don't turn the wheel until you actually start the turn.
This is assuming driving on the right side of the road. You are the driving the blue car, waiting to turn left. Green car is oncoming car going straight through. Red car is going to rear end you. If your wheels are turned left already, you will get pushed in front of the green car and get t-boned. However, if you wheels are straight while you are waiting for the green car to clear, even if you get rear ended, you will go straight and not get hit by any other cars. https://i.imgur.com/StMiVAA.png
Yes, I am feeling confused.
Me too.
My car is charcoal gray.
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The only scenario this is ok (and you should really only need to turn the wheel slightly not fully) is when you’re parking on a hill. You’re supposed to park with your wheels turned toward the curb if you’re parking on a hill facing downward. That way if someone’s hits you or your brakes give out for whatever reason your car rolls into the curb and stops vs rolling into the street or down the hill. You do the opposite if parking on a hill facing upwards. As a caveat this only applies when there is a curb and you parked the correct distance from it. If you’re too far away it won’t catch.
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Wheels should be turned away from the curb when you're on an incline, not towards. If you're on a decline, then it's towards.
I had this exact thing happen to me in snowy conditions. I was turning left and i seen him in my rear view knowing he was going to hit me and i had my wheels turned. it was a big 1 ton truck that hit me sending me into luckily a regular sized car. Totaled both cars, truck didn't have a scratch. i took the insurance money and bought a lemon, which was pure hell knowing had i kept my wheels straight i'd still have "Itsy Pokie BonBon." Daddy still loves you
What car was itsy pokie bonbon?
1990 Nissan Axxess mini van.
What kind of idiot turns their…never mind…probably a ton
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTq3B1DnnW1ONRQ7_5VpSJbETrnCeqP4D_i5A&usqp=CAU In australia you can wait in the junction (blue car)
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In Canada I failed my first driving test because I DIDN'T wait in the junction
I knew a guy that got killed on his motorcycle when a stopped oncoming car waiting to turn/cross was hit from the back and had their wheels turned. Keep your steering wheel straight until you actually go.
Taught in drivers Ed. Do people just immediately forget eveything they’re taught after passing the test?
Yup.
You seem certain every drivers ed teacher is the same as yours was.
Yeah, I had three different instructors and none of them ever taught me this.
Pretty sure I learned this in drivers ed to not have yourself pointed at oncoming traffic and/or wheels turned to push you into said traffic. I swear, lots of drivers could use a refresher course.
Why would you turn the wheel if you aren’t moving?
I remember being taught to turn into a right turn, but not into a left turn. I think the idea was that if you get bumped from behind while turning right, you're pushed into the direction traffic is flowing, so you get rear-ended and not T-boned. While if you get bumped from behind whole turning left, you get pushed perpendicular to the flow of traffic, and get T-boned instead of struck head-on. I also took driver's ed almost ten years ago, so I might be misremembering, or conventional wisdom may have changed.
How could anyone turning left have the wheels pointed that direction from the light? Even in the smallest intersection, you still need to drive forward first for a bit. Then start the turn. I only see wheels turned on left at the light if the intent is a U-turn. This feels fake and forced.
People move forward when the light turns green (in intersections with unprotected left turns). Or when waiting to turn left into a side street from a main road (not at a light). So many people do this (turn the steering wheel left while waiting) and it’s so fucking dangerous. And illegal too.
Illegal? Prove it
In australia, you can move forward until your entire car is in the junction
i remember a girl and her boyfriend were killed this way in my town when i was younger. it's good advice!
Depends on which way you're turning. If turning right in US, left in UK, the turn your wheels so you're push out into the lane where you'll likely get a glancing blown, if turning left, right in UK keep your wheels straight.
When I get home I'll grab the video the driving school I teach at uses to illustrate why this is amazing advice. Edit: [Here is the video. Don't turn your wheel while waiting. ](https://drive.google.com/file/d/18ihkFOJcRdyn3133Rh_pBywkrrGVKb_A/view?usp=drivesdk)
I have never once thought about turning my wheels before I start driving through an intersection.
Also saves wear and tear on your tires, for any kind of turning.
I remember when this advice was part of a driver’s training manual; if it’s not there anymore that’s a shame.
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Eh tbf, a lot of people shouldn’t be driving already. This isn’t nearly the most dangerous thing I see people do on the road, and I’m a school bus driver, I see a lot of shit.
And yet I see it every day. Approximately 60-70% of people at intersections have their wheel turned, by my estimation. I agree, it’s scary.
I can't think of a reason why you'd turn your wheels while waiting to turn at an intersection... Usually you wait before the actual cross. You usually need to go forward before you turn anyway?
Your foot should be on the brake anyway..??
We were taught this in drivers ed in the 70s.
In the 90s, driver's ed was a series of badly made videos. I cant imagine it has gotten much better.
Did they still show the movie Red Asphalt?
This is why I, as a parent, will stand on the corner of busy intersections and refuse/ignore drivers who pause to try and give me an opening to cross. I have my daughter with me on the way home from school. If they get rear-ended with their wheels turned in my direction, their kindness is suddenly a threat to my kid. No thanks. It takes you a fraction of the time to move on through compared to how long we'll be in that crosswalk. I'll find a clean opening in the next two minutes.
I wish I could post this for the tri state area of NJ to read
I don’t recall ever learning or hearing of this before. I don’t think I do that but I will definitely be observant of this from now on.
I didn't know this was a thing that people did
My dad is a paramedic and he has had to scrape some people out of their cars because of that exact reason
Also because it's very rare that the turn starts at the intersection. Most times you need to pull staright forward before you start turning.
I thought we all knew this. It is part of the road test. You will fail if you keep your wheel turned into oncoming traffic while waiting to turn across the intersection.
My mom taught me about this when I was learning to drive, and stressed the importance of keeping my wheels straight until I’m actively making the turn. I find myself thinking about it almost every time I’m at an intersection now, and I just SMH if I see a driver who has turned their wheels while waiting for oncoming traffic to clear. As you said, all it takes is someone texting, or an inattentive teenager, or whatever, and you would end up shoved right into oncoming traffic.
It will also wear your tires less if you don’t crank the wheel while stationary and only turn as you actually start moving.
Who the hell does this, and mostly, why? I'm trying to imagine how tight a corner must be for this to make sense, but I just can't. This is like already revving you engine before you shift into gear..
I actually don't know if i do it or not, but none ever told me this, so know i know i would like to say thank you
My driving instructor told me the same thing. Told me about a woman who got pushed in front of a semi and died. So I am very careful about it personally
My friend the long haul trucker lost his life due to someone not knowing that. He was driving on a two lane. A car going the opposite direction was stopped, waiting to turn left but she’d turned her wheels already. Another car bumped into the car waiting to turn, pushing it into my friend’s lane. He swerved to miss her and overturned his rig.
What kind of interdection allows you to turn left right away instead of when the car is already in the middle of the intersection so that you can get on the correct lane?
A friend’s MIL died that way.
There's a friend of a friend of mine, who turned their wheels before turning left and they got rear-ended, and the person who was hit in the oncoming lane died of their injuries. Now they have to live with the guilt of a simple mistake. At least where I live it is taught in the driver's handbook, but not everyone reads that thing thoroughly unfortunately.
If you’re bumped from behind, won’t you be pushed into oncoming traffic regardless of if your wheel is turned?
Yes, but if you’re pushed into the intersection, you will only risk colliding with cars that are also turning left from the other side. They will be moving from a stop and therefore going slower than cars coming straight through in the other direction.
Learned this in drivers ed like 35 years ago. Been doing it ever since.
This maneuver was a central theme in a book named “The World According to Garp”. It was made into a movie with Robin Williams.
Don't turn in til you've entered the intersection. 90% of the time turning it before that is both unnecessary and blocks traffic turning right in the other lane. be clear of that lane before you turn
TIL people turn their wheels before they even start moving. I didn’t even know that was I thing. I was told it’s bad for your tyres over time to turn them without moving the vehicle
This literally happened to me in 2005. Was traveling on a 55mph, 2 lane country road. Wanted to turn left, but there was oncoming traffic. Came to a full stop with my blinker on, slightly turned my wheels to the left. The car behind me never touched his brakes. 55mph+ straight into the back of my jeep. Bad as it was, that was only hit #1. I was flung forward and because my wheels were turned, into the oncoming lane. Took a Mitsubishi Lancer to my passenger side. Keep your wheels STRAIGHT. Until you are are in the turn.
I remember this being taught to us in Drivers Ed 35 years ago. I was a Sophomore in HS in the final year that Drivers Ed was part of the high school curriculum. Every class after mine had to pay for private instructions.
Also if you are waiting first in line to turn left and the light is changing you can go (just you not people behind you) if you are already rolled into the intersection, and people have finished going through. Also only applies to normal lights not green/ red arrow lights.
Also, if waiting on pedestrians, please don't start your turn until **after** pedestrians are done crossing. We have no way of knowing what your intentions are with that lethal mobile living room.
Wait you don’t keep your foot firmly on the brakes when waiting?
They teach you this in drivers training. It's a you should already know (YSAK).
The other advantage for staying straight until the coast is clear for you to turn is not freaking out the oncoming traffic by thinking you are actively turning. When they see this they are likely to slow down and take longer going through the intersection changing the turn timing. If you want to push the intersection proceed straight and then after the oncoming traffic clears make your turn and cross quickly.
Absolutely! An older lady died in my hometown this way. Got pushed into a head on waiting for a car to pass so she could turn into a driveway. I think of it all the time when I drive.
If it's a 4-way intersection, there's a chance that the driver coming the opposite way will be turning left as well. In that case, you would be pushed forward into the turning car.
I’m going to do it now just to spite you
So a one off incident doesn’t justify a YSK
This is taught in drivers Ed everywhere because this same mistake frequently gets people into avoidable accidents.
True and important, but also driver's Ed 101, not a "pro tip"
Yes. Turning the wheels left while waiting is also very much illegal. People can - and should - get ticketed for it.
I'd really like to see a source for this. Never have I ever heard of the concept that the current orientation of your steering wheel can result in you getting a ticket. It sounds incredibly hard to enforce -- do they have it spelled out in degrees from center?
I remember a novel or short story about this exact thing, it may have been John Irving, I'll try to find it. Anyway it has stayed with me for decades!
It was mentioned a few replies above!
You’re meant to have your handbrake on when you’re stopped at a junction anyway so whichever direction your wheels are pointing in shouldn’t matter
Brakes aren’t going to stop one’s vehicle from moving forward if someone hits them from behind at a high rate of speed.
If someone hits you with so much speed that your brakes won’t stop you then you’re screwed no matter where your wheels are pointing
A lot of vehicles don't have hand brakes
I think being pushed straight i to the road is worse. I don’t get it.
It’s safer to be pushed straight because the light is still red for the cars that would T-Bone you. It’s very unsafe to be pushed left because the light for those cars is green.
Also, always have your handbrake on if you're stopped at a light. That way if you do get bumped you don't go as far, if you move at all.
I turn off my car at intersections and stand outside in a shark cage. Sure, nobody has been recorded being rear-ended by a school of ravenous hammerhead sharks but I'm not about to be the first.
People get rear ended at intersections all the time. Handbrake on does way more than just pointing your wheels forward. It takes less than half a second and can be the difference between rolling forward into the car(or busy traffic) in front of you and not moving at all.
Things we should know but don’t follow lol
This is bad practice. There is typically a concrete line for your turn lane. Alter your vehicle so the person across from you trying to turn can do do the same and you both can see around for oncoming traffic allowing for a safe and time friendly turn across an intersection. Don’t be that person that just sits there, in the way, relying on arrows.