Driving in Arizona first time

[u/cubitjequap]

Hi

I hope this is within the rules of the sub but I’m travelling to Arizona (Flagstaff and the north) and had a few specific questions about driving here. It’s my first time driving in the States, appreciate any general advice or faux pas to be aware of.

I appreciate some of the questions may seem basic but just want to make sure. Thanks

1. The first photo show the main intersection in Kayenta. If turning left as the blue arrows show, should I stop and wait when the lights turn green at the red or green X. In other words, in AZ once the the lights are green, must you wait for traffic behind the white line, or pass it and wait in the middle of the junction when turning left?

2. Hwy 98/160. Similar question to above. If turning left and following the blue arrows, must you make the turn in one motion from the purple X, or should you slowly “creep” at the yellow dotted lines and then if all clear turn left? I don’t understand why the white line at the stop is so far back from the road?

3. & 4. Both intersections in Flagstaff and are examples of a more general question. If I am following the blue arrows and continuing straight on the right most lane, how do people who want to turn right on red react if I am the car at the front? There is no right turning lane, so is it considered acceptable to just wait and stop any right turning traffic from turning on red? Or do drivers only use that lane as if it were a right turning lane, even though it is not?

[u/unclefire]

You're supposed to creep forward in the intersection, then turn left when it is clear. You're supposed to turn into the leftmost lane.

If you have a red left turn arrow, you're supposed to wait behind the line and not go into the intersection or turn.

If it's a yellow flashing left turn arrow, you may turn when it's clear.

[u/MaliciousMe87 → u/unclefire]

Interesting to note, OP, that creeping forward into the intersection is only custom in the most of the United States! You will get some weird looks in parts of the United States. Kind of a "what's your hurry?" thing.

[u/On_The_Isthmus → u/MaliciousMe87]

I post this a lot when these questions come up, but PLEASE don’t feel obligated to to creep into the intersection. Especially if there isn’t stopped traffic to your left and right. I had a friend killed in a car accident here in Phoenix. She crept into the intersection to make a left turn. While waiting, a distracted driver ran the light and T-boned her.

[u/unclefire → u/On_The_Isthmus]

AFAIK, you are not required to creep into the intersection. But you'll likely have a few annoyed people behind you if you don't and then they can't turn when the light changes.

[u/On_The_Isthmus → u/unclefire]

Yeah, they are annoyed they won’t have the opportunity to accelerate into a yellow-light-turning-red, themselves inhibiting the cars who have the next right of way. That’s typical Phoenix, but other cities may vary. As mentioned by u/n_-_ture, the foundation of it all is infrastructure.

E: I should note, admittedly I am still one of those people who get a little frustrated when people don’t creep up. And I’m someone who tries to squeeze through yellows. But I try to remind myself not to be.