The Motorcycle in Your Blind Spot at a Left Turn
You are westbound at a green light preparing to turn left across two oncoming lanes. An oncoming car in the far lane is signaling right and slowing, apparently to turn into a driveway before the intersection - its signal has been on for a block. Behind and slightly left of that car, a motorcycle is approaching in the near lane at about 40 mph. You cannot see the motorcycle's turn signal. You have a green light but no protected arrow. Your view of the near lane is partly blocked by the turning car.
1. Can you turn left now? Walk through the gap you'd be accepting.
Read the worked answer
No - not yet. A green light gives you permission to enter the intersection, not the right-of-way over oncoming traffic. You must yield to vehicles close enough to be a hazard.
The trap here is the turning car's signal. A signal is a request, not a guarantee: the car may turn, may change its mind, or may turn after the intersection. More importantly, that car is blocking your view of the near lane - and a motorcycle in that lane at 40 mph covers ground fast. Motorcycles are also harder to judge for speed and distance because of their narrow profile.
Decision: hold your position (you may pull into the intersection to wait if it's legal and safe), keep your wheels straight, and wait until you can see the near lane clearly and confirm the motorcycle is either stopped, slowing, or far enough away that your turn won't cut it off. Do not turn on the assumption that the far car's signal clears your path.
2. The turning car does turn, and the motorcycle keeps coming. What now?
Read the worked answer
The turning car is now gone - which improves your view but does not clear your path. The motorcycle is still approaching at speed in the near lane.
Reassess:
- Estimate closing time: at 40 mph a bike covers ~59 feet per second. If it's 150 feet out, you have roughly 2.5 seconds - not enough to complete a left turn across its lane safely.
- Watch the front wheel and the rider's helmet for cues: a lean, a brake light, or a turn signal tells you their intent.
- If the motorcycle is slowing or signaling a turn, you may proceed once you're sure. If it's holding speed, wait.
When you do go, commit smoothly and don't dawdle in the oncoming lane. A hesitant turn that stalls mid-intersection is more dangerous than waiting one more cycle. If the light turns yellow while you're waiting in the box, complete your turn when clear rather than reversing.