An Oregon left-turn-only signal shows a steady green arrow pointing left. How does this change a left-turning driver's duty to yield to oncoming traffic, compared with a steady green circular light?
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A.
Nothing changes; you still must yield to oncoming traffic under both signals.
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B.
You have the right of way and do not yield to oncoming traffic. Correct
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C.
You must come to a complete stop before proceeding through the turn.
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D.
Oncoming traffic also has a green signal, so you must still yield to it.
The answer is "You have the right of way and do not yield to oncoming traffic."
A steady green arrow is a protected movement: the manual states you have the right of way and may make the indicated movement, and oncoming traffic is held by red. A steady green circular ('green ball') is permissive: a left-turning driver must still yield to oncoming traffic. Choice A is tempting because drivers taught 'always yield on a left turn' carry that habit over from the green ball and miss that the arrow is exactly what removes the yield duty.
The traps in the wrong answers
A. Nothing changes; you still must yield to oncoming traffic under both signals.
The green arrow is a protected movement and gives you the right of way for the indicated turn; the green ball does not. This answer applies the 'a left turn always yields to oncoming traffic' habit learned under the green ball, without noticing that the arrow itself is what lifts the yield duty.
C. You must come to a complete stop before proceeding through the turn.
Stop-and-remain-stopped is the rule for a steady red arrow, not a steady green arrow, which authorizes the indicated movement. This answer half-remembers that arrow signals are more restrictive than round lights and imports the red-arrow stop rule regardless of the arrow's color.
D. Oncoming traffic also has a green signal, so you must still yield to it.
That description fits a flashing yellow arrow, where the manual notes oncoming traffic has a steady green. Under a steady green arrow, oncoming traffic is held by red. This answer carries the flashing-yellow-arrow rule that 'oncoming traffic has a steady green signal' over to the steady green arrow, treating both arrows as permissive.
This question tests your knowledge of Traffic Lights in Oregon. Source: Oregon Driver Manual, "Traffic Signals," p.16..
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