Navigating the complexities of road safety often brings up the dangers of distracted driving, a leading cause of accidents responsible for thousands of injuries and fatalities each year. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that distracted driving claimed 3,308 lives in 2022 alone.

While the perils of distraction are well-documented, another significant hazard lurks at intersections: the seemingly simple act of making a left turn. According to NHTSA, left turns account for nearly 22% of all intersection-related crashes, a striking comparison to only 1.2% occurring while turning right.

Turning left at an intersection puts pedestrians crossing the road at particular risk. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found nearly one-third of all pedestrian-involved crashes at intersections were caused by drivers taking left turns.

There are several reasons why making left turns is so dangerous:

• Left turns frequently require a driver to cross multiple lanes of traffic.

• Left turns are taken at a wider radius, putting pedestrians at higher risk and leading drivers to increase speeds.

• A driver's vision may be partially obscured by the car's front windshield frame, also known as the A-pillar.

• Left-turn collisions tend to be more severe because they occur head-on or at a right angle.

Cities across the United States are increasingly designating busy intersections as "no left turn" zones or taking other steps to reduce the danger of turning left at an intersection. In San Francisco, which attributed 40% of traffic deaths in 2019 to drivers hitting a pedestrian in a crosswalk while making a left turn, has undertaken engineering projects and educational campaigns to help address the issue. Cities could make roads much safer by restricting left turns at intersections with traffic lights, according to a 2021 study by researchers at Pennsylvania State University and published by the Transportation Research Board.

The reality is that left turns can't completely go away, and this maneuver contributes to thousands of deadly vehicle crashes every year. However, there are steps every driver can take to ensure they are as safe as possible when taking left turns:

Pay Attention!

The dangers of distracted driving cannot be understated, with crashes involving a distracted driver killing nine people in the U.S. every day, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Distracted driving makes taking an already-risky left turn even more dangerous.

In the 30 states that have laws restricting handheld cell phone use, even holding your phone in a stopped car is illegal. And while the use of handheld cell phones has decreased by nearly 3% over the last 10 years, other activities like texting increased 127% in that time period.

There may be the temptation to pick up your cell phone and scan messages while waiting at a left-turn signal but leave it alone and scan the traffic ahead instead.

Slow Down

Taking left turns at a lower speed significantly reduces the risk of accidents.

That's why San Francisco's efforts to make left-turn intersections safer included putting in rubber speed bumps at the center of the roadway near crosswalks, which led to a 17% reduction in the average speed of vehicles taking.

The likelihood of a driver turning left at a speed higher than 15 mph also went down by 71%.

Keep Your Steering Wheel Straight

You are in the center left-turn lane waiting for the green arrow or for oncoming traffic to clear with your left-turn signal on. You begin to turn your steering wheel to the left - but what would happen if your foot slipped off the brake? Or if you were rear-ended? Your car would move in the direction your front tires were pointing, which could be into oncoming traffic.

Always keep your steering wheel at its neutral position with your tires pointed forward until you're ready to make your turn.

The "Wave of Death"

Traffic is backed up, blocking the driveway you want to enter. Another motorist gives you space to turn left into it and waves: "Go ahead." Despite the best intentions, these situations can end badly if another driver tries to go around them, or you can't see an oncoming vehicle.

The National Highway Institute Research Center (NHIRC) reports turning left into a driveway without the benefit of a left-turn signal accounts for 47% of driveway crashes. It's safest to wait until all traffic has cleared or simply to drive to a controlled intersection to make your turn. It may add a few minutes, but it can save a lifetime of heartache.

The View to the Right

It's reported that the majority of accidents at intersections occur within four seconds of a light change.

Being the first stopped vehicle at the light can be one of the most dangerous positions during those four seconds, especially if you're the first vehicle in a dedicated left-turn lane. This is because stopped vehicles in the non-turn lanes can block your view of cross-traffic from your right. Cross-traffic vehicles may also try to beat the red light.

Waiting a second or two before pulling fully into the intersection after the light turns green could help prevent a disastrous crash.

Philadelphia Insurance Companies (PHLY) has a number of risk management resources you can access through your MyPHLY account. This includes our Left-Turn Safety document that provides additional information about defensive driving and can hopefully help make your drives a little safer. You may also contact us PHLYRMS@phly.com to learn more.