Pittsburgh left

The Pittsburgh left is a colloquial term for the driving practice of a driver at an intersection who is driving straight not advancing when a red signal changes to green; instead the straight-driving driver allows the opposing, left-turning driver to turn left, often signaling their yield by flashing their headlights or with a wave. This co-operative maneuver, associated with the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, area, came into vogue because of the hilly terrain of the Pittsburgh region combined with the preponderance of two-lane roads.^[1] It has been criticized for endangering pedestrians and bicyclists by disrupting the normal flow of traffic. It is an illegal^[2] and controversial^[3] practice.

The Pittsburgh left is imposing potential danger to the pedestrians crossing in the same direction.

A similar maneuver has been referred to as a Boston left^[4] or New York left, but those maneuvers differ from the Pittsburgh Left; in a Boston or New York Left, the left-turning driver rushes to turn left before the straight-driving driver can advance, regardless of whether the straight-driving driver yields or not. .^[5]

Description

The Pittsburgh left involves two cars facing one another waiting at a traffic light (which lacks a protected turn) or other stop signal: one turning left and one going straight. The left-turning car will anticipate the green light, although ideally not actually entering the intersection on the red.

As the light turns green, the left-turning car will rapidly proceed left ahead of the opposing traffic, frequently with the signaled assent of the opposing traffic. By accepting a modest delay in going straight, the opposing traffic has saved the left-turning traffic waiting an entire light cycle to turn left, as well as saved an equivalent amount of time for all the cars that otherwise would have been stuck behind the left-turning car. In situations where there is so much oncoming, straight traffic that a left turn would not be otherwise possible during any part of the light cycle, the Pittsburgh left can allow a line of left turning traffic to proceed incrementally, potentially avoiding a gridlock situation.

Frequently, the oncoming cars will accelerate slowly enough to allow the turn to be completed without anyone slowing down or being delayed at all. This means that a "Pittsburgh left" can, in places other than Pittsburgh, be the equivalent of simply judging the oncoming traffic to be slow and distant enough to turn in front of it: something that in and of itself is not illegal.^{[citation needed]}

Origin

Many of Pittsburgh's roads are narrow streets with only a single lane in each direction, and most intersections lacking left-turn-only lanes. If a car is attempting to turn left, no other cars behind it can proceed through the intersection. Allowing the left-turning car to proceed first through the intersection gives that driver a chance to get out of others' way, allowing for smoother flow.

Signals

Generally, the driver going straight will encourage the oncoming car's driver to make the left turn and/or indicate permission with a wave of the hand or by flashing their car's headlights. Similarly, the driver attempting the turn may try to signal the other driver for permission to turn with similar hand motions or headlight signals.

Sometimes, if the straight-bound driver is slow to start through the intersection, the left-turning driver will accelerate and turn rather than yielding to oncoming traffic per Pennsylvania law. ^{[citation needed]}

Legality

The Pittsburgh left has no basis in law. Failing to yield to oncoming traffic while navigating a turn is a traffic violation, and is prohibited in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.^[2] In Ontario, Canada, such a turn is considered stunt driving under the provincial Highway Traffic Act.^[6]

At certain intersections, left-turning traffic may be given precedence over straight-moving traffic in a regulated (and thus legal) manner, via the use of protected turn signaling.

See also

• Pittsburgh parking chair
• Michigan left