Before making a left turn, a driver must:

• A. Signal their intent to turn
• B. Yield for the upcoming traffic
• C. Check for pedestrians only
• D. Speed up to make the turn quickly

Answer: (B)

Before making a left turn, it is essential for a driver to yield to oncoming traffic. This means that the driver must assess whether there is any traffic approaching from the opposite direction that has the right of way before proceeding with the turn. This is crucial for ensuring the safety of all road users, including other drivers and pedestrians who may be crossing or traveling in adjacent lanes.

Yielding allows for a clear understanding of the traffic flow and helps prevent accidents by ensuring that the driver is aware of their surroundings before changing direction. While signaling intent to turn is also an important part of safe driving, it is the act of yielding that directly addresses the need to ensure it is safe to proceed with the left turn.

It is important for drivers to be mindful of pedestrians as well, but they should not solely focus on them at the expense of understanding vehicle traffic. Speeding up to make the turn quickly can lead to dangerous situations, such as collisions or the inability to properly judge the timing of the turn. Thus, recognizing the priority of yielding to oncoming traffic is a critical aspect of safe driving when making a left turn.