You have a steady green circular signal in Oregon and you intend to turn left. Who must you yield to?
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A.
Only oncoming traffic.
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B.
Only pedestrians.
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C.
Pedestrians and oncoming traffic. Correct
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D.
No one: the green light gives you the right of way.
The answer is "Pedestrians and oncoming traffic."
A green circular signal means all movements (straight, left, or right) are permitted unless prohibited by a sign, but the green does NOT give you priority over pedestrians or oncoming traffic. On a left turn, you must yield to both. On a right turn, you must yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk you're turning across. The "right of way" you have under a green is permission to be in the intersection, not blanket priority.
The traps in the wrong answers
A. Only oncoming traffic.
You must also yield to pedestrians legally crossing the road you're turning onto. Misreading: Drops pedestrians from the left-turn yield duty, which the manual lists alongside oncoming traffic.
B. Only pedestrians.
You must also yield to oncoming through-traffic that has the same green. Misreading: Drops oncoming traffic from the left-turn yield duty, which the manual lists alongside pedestrians.
D. No one: the green light gives you the right of way.
A green circular allows the movement but does not relieve you of the duty to yield to pedestrians and oncoming traffic on a left turn. Misreading: Confuses a green circular (permitted movement subject to yielding) with a green arrow, which actually grants right of way.
This question tests your knowledge of Traffic Signals in Oregon. Source: Oregon Driver Manual, "Traffic Signals," p.16..
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