The Green Light and the Impatient Left-Turner
A rider is traveling eastbound at 35 mph in the left lane of a four-lane arterial. About 150 feet ahead is a signalized intersection. The light has been green since the rider first saw it eight seconds ago. In the opposite direction, an SUV is in the left-turn lane with its wheels turned toward the rider's path. The SUV's driver is holding a phone near the steering wheel and has not made eye contact. A pedestrian is waiting on the far-right corner but is not in the crosswalk. The rider intends to continue straight. Traffic behind is light. The road is dry, but the sun is low and directly behind the rider, which may make the rider harder for the SUV driver to see.
1. What should the rider do with speed and lane position as the intersection approaches? Explain the stale-green and left-turner risks.
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The rider should cover the brakes, reduce speed slightly, and move toward the right portion of the left lane-or into the right lane if it is clear and does not create a right-turn conflict. The green light does not mean “proceed without judgment.”
Reasoning:
- Stale green: A light that has been green for eight seconds may change soon. The rider should not enter the intersection at full speed assuming the light will stay green. Reducing speed buys time to stop if it turns yellow and shortens the distance needed to avoid the SUV.
- Left-turner: The SUV's turned wheels and phone use are warning signs. A driver looking at a phone may start moving without seeing the motorcycle. The rider should not assume eye contact. Moving right within the lane increases separation from the SUV's path and gives a escape route to the right.
- Sun behind the rider: The rider may be a silhouette to the SUV driver. That is another reason to increase margin and be ready to use the horn or evade.
The rider should also scan the crosswalk and the pedestrian, even though the pedestrian is not currently in it, because the situation can change quickly.
2. The light turns yellow when the rider is 80 feet from the stop line. What decision process should the rider use, and what if the SUV begins its turn?
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At 35 mph, 80 feet is not enough distance to stop comfortably on a dry road without hard braking, but the rider should already have reduced speed. The decision should be based on stopping distance, rear traffic, and the intersection space ahead, not on “beat the light.”
- If the rider can stop smoothly before the line and the vehicle behind is not tailgating, stop. Do not lock the front brake.
- If stopping would require hard braking that risks a rear-end collision, and the intersection is clear, proceed through the yellow without accelerating hard.
- If the SUV starts moving across the rider's path, the rider should brake firmly in a straight line first, then use the right-side escape space if braking alone will not prevent a collision. Do not swerve left into oncoming traffic.
The key judgment is to make the decision early. Waiting until the last second forces a panic choice. The rider should also sound the horn to alert the SUV driver if the SUV begins moving, but should not wait for the driver to react before planning the escape.