Left Turns: The Most Dangerous Move You Make Every Day
Let me be blunt: the left turn is the most dangerous maneuver a driver makes on a daily basis. Not the freeway merge, not parallel parking — the everyday left turn. And the reason is simple: most drivers don't fully understand the right-of-way rules that govern it. A Solid Green Arrow, a Circle Green Light, a Flashing Yellow Arrow, or no signal at all — every one of them answers a single question: when can you make that left turn, and when must you yield to oncoming traffic? Get that wrong and you're turning across traffic on a guess. This is the stuff I'm most passionate about teaching, because getting it right is the difference between a routine turn and a collision.
I'm Chris Scanlon, Program Director at South Metro Driving School — here's how to read every left turn.
First, the rule that never changes: look everywhere
No matter what — going straight, turning left, or turning right — you look in every direction as you approach the intersection and as you pass through it. Every time. Signs and signals tell you the rules; your eyes are what keep you alive.
The only time you truly have the right of way: a solid green arrow
A Solid Green Arrow is the one and only time the intersection is yours. It's called a protected turn — oncoming traffic is stopped, and no other car should impede your progress or take the lane you're turning into. (The same goes for a Solid Green Right-Turn Arrow.) See a green arrow? Glance at the crosswalk for pedestrians, and pay attention to your surroundings as you go.
Circle green light: you can turn — but you must yield
A Solid Circle Green Light does not give you the right of way to turn left. It means you must yield to every vehicle on an intersecting path — cars coming straight at you from the opposite direction, and cars turning into the lane you want. Here's the catch: sometimes those drivers signal their intent, sometimes they don't. So never trust a blinker — watch what they actually do before you commit.
My rule of thumb: pull about one car length into the intersection, keep your wheels pointed straight, and wait until the path is genuinely clear — then make your turn. If the light turns yellow and then red while you're waiting in the intersection, stay calm: wait until all traffic clears, then complete your turn. That's legal, and it's exactly what you should do. Do not back up.
Flashing yellow arrow: same rule, smarter warning
A Flashing Yellow Arrow means the same thing as a circle green light — you may turn left, but you must yield to vehicles on an intersecting path. As a driver education teacher, I love the switch to flashing yellow arrows, and here's why: it builds caution right into the signal. Drivers see yellow — which means caution — and it's flashing, which grabs their attention and makes them think. Compare that to a circle green light, where people just see green and think GO, even when they don't have the right of way to turn. The flashing yellow arrow makes drivers do the one thing that keeps them safe: pause and assess with caution.
No signal at all (residential streets): it's all on you
In a lot of places — especially residential neighborhoods — there's no signal or sign telling you when to turn. Now it's entirely on your knowledge of the right-of-way rules, your judgment, and your decision-making. And the rule doesn't change: just like the flashing yellow arrow and the circle green light, you do not have the right of way when turning left. You yield to vehicles traveling in the opposite direction and wait until there's space to make your turn safely. When in doubt, yield — there's no trophy for going first.
Put it all together
Every left turn comes down to one question: do I have a solid green arrow? If yes, the turn is yours. If it's anything else — circle green, flashing yellow, or nothing at all — you yield, you wait for a real gap, and you go only when you know you have the room. Look left, right, and left again, watch what other drivers actually do, and never turn on a hope. Do that every single time, and the most dangerous move you make every day becomes one of the safest.
Enroll with South Metro Driving School
Written by Chris Scanlon, Program Director & Owner of South Metro Driving School
SouthMetroDrivingSchool.com — Info@SouthMetroDS.com — 612-552-1929
South Metro Driving School is a Minnesota State-Certified Driving School serving the south Twin Cities Metro — with core markets in Apple Valley, Rosemount, and Eagan, and growing service in Farmington, Lakeville, and Hastings.
This article reflects Chris's personal experience running a licensed Minnesota driving school and independent research from official Minnesota state and city sources, current as of September 2026. It's meant as a helpful starting point, not legal advice - rules change and cities differ, so always confirm the current requirements with Minnesota DVS (dps.mn.gov) and your local city before you ride or drive.
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