Turns, Left Turns & T-Intersections

A left turn crosses the path of oncoming traffic, which is exactly why it comes with its own yielding rule — and a T-intersection has a rule of its own too.

Learner's permitAll U.S. states

⏱️ About 14 min

A green light doesn't mean you can turn left whenever you like — it means you may turn left when it's safe, which usually means waiting for oncoming traffic to clear first. Left turns cause a disproportionate share of intersection crashes for exactly this reason.

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The big idea: A vehicle turning left must yield to oncoming traffic going straight or turning right, unless a protected green arrow removes that oncoming traffic entirely. At a T-intersection, the road that continues straight through always has priority over the road that ends into it.

🎯 By the end, you'll be able to

Yield correctly when turning left across oncoming traffic
Distinguish a permissive left turn (green light) from a protected left turn (green arrow)
Identify the through road at a T-intersection and know it has priority
Recognize that this rule holds even where the stub road has no posted stop sign

📎 Helpful to know first

Right-of-Way: The Golden Rule

Left turns yield — even with a green light

A left turn takes you across the lane that oncoming traffic is using to go straight through the intersection, so the rule is simple: a driver turning left must yield to any oncoming vehicle that is going straight or turning right and close enough to be a hazard. This applies at a plain green light exactly the same way it applies at an uncontrolled intersection.

The left-turning car (highlighted) waits for the oncoming straight-through car to clear before completing the turn.

🔑 Permissive vs. protected left turns

Permissive left (plain green light or green ball): You may turn left, but only after yielding to oncoming traffic and pedestrians — the green light does not clear oncoming traffic out of your way.
Protected left (green arrow): Oncoming traffic faces a red light during the arrow phase, so you may turn without yielding to it — though you must still yield to any pedestrian still finishing a crossing.

T-intersections: the through road always wins

A T-intersection is where one road ends by joining another road at a right angle, forming a T shape instead of a cross. The road that continues straight through the T — the through road — has the right-of-way over the road that terminates into it, which is usually called the stub. The stub almost always carries a stop or yield sign for exactly this reason.

At a T-intersection, the through road (highlighted) keeps its right-of-way — the stub road waits, whether it's turning left or right onto the through road.

✨ The rule holds even without a sign

Even on the rare T-intersection with no posted stop or yield sign on the stub, drivers still treat the continuing through road as having priority — the road that visibly ends into another is the one expected to yield, sign or no sign.

Check your understanding

1. You have a green light and want to turn left, but an oncoming car is going straight through the intersection. What should you do?

A plain green light is a permissive left turn — it lets you turn when safe, but you must still yield to oncoming traffic going straight or turning right.

2. You have a green arrow to turn left. Do you still need to yield to oncoming traffic?

A protected green arrow gives oncoming traffic a red light during that phase, so you may turn without yielding to it — though pedestrians still have the right-of-way.

3. At a T-intersection, which road generally has the right-of-way?

The continuing through road has priority over the stub road that terminates into it — that's why the stub is the one that typically carries the stop or yield sign.

4. A T-intersection's stub road has no posted stop or yield sign at all. Who yields?

Even without a posted sign, the continuing through road is treated as having priority — the road that ends into it yields.

✅ Key takeaways

A left turn must yield to oncoming traffic going straight or turning right, even at a green light.
A protected green arrow removes that oncoming traffic, so you may turn without yielding to it — but pedestrians still have the right-of-way.
At a T-intersection, the through road has priority over the stub road that ends into it.
That through-road priority holds even on the rare stub with no posted sign.

➡️ Turning left isn't the only turn with its own rule. Next, we'll cover the signal-controlled version of the same idea: turning right — and sometimes left — on a red light.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to yield when turning left on a green light?

Yes. A plain green light is a permissive left turn — you may turn when it's safe, but you must yield to oncoming traffic going straight or turning right, and to pedestrians.

What's the difference between a green light and a green arrow for a left turn?

A green light lets you turn but you must still yield to oncoming traffic (permissive). A green arrow means oncoming traffic has a red light during that phase, so you may turn without yielding to it (protected).

What is a T-intersection and who has the right-of-way there?

A T-intersection is where one road ends into another at a right angle, forming a T. The road that continues straight through has the right-of-way over the road that ends into it.

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Independent educational content — not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to any state DMV, the AAMVA, or any government agency. This is study material, not legal advice; always confirm current rules with your state's official driver handbook.