When should you yield to oncoming traffic?

Yielding to oncoming traffic when making a left turn at an intersection is essential for ensuring safety and smooth traffic flow. When you are turning left, especially at intersections without specific signals or signs directing the left turn, oncoming vehicles going straight or making their own turns might be in your path. To avoid collisions, drivers must wait until it is safe to complete the turn, which often means yielding the right of way to vehicles approaching from the opposite direction.

In the context of the other scenarios presented, while it is also important to be mindful of traffic when changing lanes on a highway, driving in a roundabout, or merging onto a freeway, the question specifically emphasizes the action of yielding to oncoming traffic, which is most critical during a left turn at an intersection. Recognizing the flow of traffic and ensuring a clear path is fundamental to proactive and defensive driving, thereby reducing the risk of accidents at busy intersections.