You're making a left turn across light rail tracks at an Oregon intersection with a dedicated left-turn signal. What should you do?
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A.
Stop at least 15 feet from the nearest rail before crossing, as you would at a freight railroad crossing.
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B.
Turn on the green arrow even if a light rail train is approaching.
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C.
Wait for the proper left-turn signal before turning across the tracks. Correct
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D.
Turn as soon as you get any green signal.
The answer is "Wait for the proper left-turn signal before turning across the tracks."
At an intersection with light rail tracks and a left-turn signal, wait for a proper signal before making your left turn over the tracks. When turning where there are tracks, look both ways for streetcars or trains, signal your turn, and make sure it is safe. The manual separately cautions never to turn in front of an approaching light rail train or streetcar unless it is safe to do so. The 15-foot figure in A is carried over from the railroad-crossing rule and does not govern left turns at a signal across streetcar or light rail tracks.
The traps in the wrong answers
A. Stop at least 15 feet from the nearest rail before crossing, as you would at a freight railroad crossing.
The 15-foot stopping distance applies at railroad crossings, not at left turns on a signal across streetcar or light rail tracks. This answer confuses the railroad-crossing rule (stop at least 15 feet from the nearest rail) with the rule for left turns at streetcar and light rail intersections.
B. Turn on the green arrow even if a light rail train is approaching.
The manual cautions never to turn in front of an approaching light rail train or streetcar unless it is safe to do; a green arrow alone does not make the turn safe. This answer treats the green arrow as overriding the manual's warning never to turn in front of an approaching light rail train or streetcar unless safe to do.
D. Turn as soon as you get any green signal.
With a left-turn signal at a tracks intersection, you wait for a proper signal before turning over the tracks, not any green. This answer treats any permissive green as authorization to turn, ignoring the manual's instruction to wait for a proper signal before making a left turn over the tracks.
This question tests your knowledge of Sharing the Road in Oregon. Source: Oregon Driver Manual, "Travelling Around Streetcars & Light Rail Trains," p.66..
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