signals

GO BIG or go home, I always say. |
find this slogan particularly effective
when I’m teaching a student how to
make a left turn. “Finish what you
started” is also a partially appropri-
ate certitude.

Left tums are tricky, disruptive to
the flow of traffic and potentially

hazardous to one’s health. This is’

.z 66 Please people, if
‘you are yielding to
‘oncoming traffic, just
sit still, it’Il go away
eventually... 99

sa

why left-tumers are almost always
required to yield the right of way to
oncoming ™. traffic. . What’ really
annoys me is drivers who refuse to
do them properly.

If you want to make a left turn
but realize that you have cars com-
ing at you, you wait, yes? Good. If
the way is clear of cars and pedestri-

ans, you go. Piece of cake. If the
way is partially cleared you can Start
turning left and then wait: some
more, correct? WRONG! Please,
people, if you are yielding to
oncoming traffic (which includes
pedestrians in this case) just. sit still,
il] go away eventually. Keep your
car straight and your wheels straight
while you wait -— whistle a tune to
pass the time if it helps.

Often I've seen drivers waiting to
turn left off Lonsdale Avenue face to
face with another left-turner who is
also waiting. This is not an invitation
to scoot into the oncoming traffic
lane simply because it’s blocked.
You see, if that fellow gets around to
completing his left turn before you
do and the driver behind him wants
to go straight. you'll be blocking
him, which means you weren't real-
ly yielding to oncoming traffic after
all.

Aside from aggravating others

_ and looking a little clumsy, this sce-

nario is potentially very hazardous:
Let's say the car behind you is tired
of waiting and decides to go around
you but does a poor job of it and
clips you instead. If you and your
wheels are straight, you win because
you get to sue for whiplash! If you
and your wheels are partially turned,
you'll: be bumped into oncoming
traffic in which case you and/or. oth-
ers could be very dead (you'll recall
I mentioned pedestrians? They're
not as resilient as your car).

Finally, if you’re yielding proper-
ly at a traffic light and it changes to
yellow and even red but oncoming
traffic keeps corning, that is, people
are running that yellow or red, don’t

panic! You are allowed to be there,

even though the cross traffic has a
green they are supposed to wait for
you to finish your turn. A green light
does not simply mean “go.” It means
“go when it’s clear.” But it’s all or
nothing, folks. None of this part
now, part later stuff.

Go big or go home, | always,

say...

SERVICE & USED P. RTS
(MECHANICAL & BODY PARTS) .

MARINE DRIVE

SRD-OSLN -

PERIZ

SBS AEA M IER

NEWS photo Brad Ledwidge

Go Speed Racer

WEST VANCOUVER racer Chris Rutledge piloted his number 77 go-cart to a first place finish
during recent Westwood Carting Association races at the Tradex Centre. The skilled youngster
also picked up a second place finish during the weekend of racing. Chris’ brother David — the
other Rutledge Racing Team driver — also did very well at the Tradex Centre event.

AT THs
LocaTion

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