Honk if you can relate to this

I enjoyed Grady Miller’s “Turn Left and Pray” (Aug. 25), but he left out a basic part of any successful L.A. left turn move (and when it’s left out, we all suffer a longer wait than necessary).

Unless traffic flow and legality preclude, the first car in line should always move forward, toward the point from which the actual turn will eventually begin, and wait. This permits the second car also to move at least a bit closer to the turning point, and, in turn, a third or possibly fourth car can make the turn. When motorist No. 1 does not do this, all followers pay for the thoughtlessness with unnecessary loss of time and unneeded frustration.

FRANK W. PIERSON

Hollywood

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“Now and then an alpha male will roar left at the first flash of green ... “

Dude, where I come from -- the East Coast -- this is known as the “Jersey turn.” And it’s SOP. NJ is like a tiny CA, only with crappy weather and traffic circles (which is where the idea for bumper cars came from, I’m certain).

My poor old Tercel back in the ‘80s got totaled by an alpha male, teenage variety, while I was waiting for the person in front of me to make, you guessed it, a left turn. Guess the kid just didn’t want to wait.

I bet I’m not the only one who will go blocks out of my way to avoid making a you-know-what.

MARILU DOUGLASS

Rancho Palos Verdes

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I live in the desert, where traffic is much more laid-back than in L.A. Here, when the light turns yellow, we just glide on through. We have plenty of arrow lights, so turns have never been a concern. This is the desert way of driving.

I go to L.A., boxed in claustrophobically on one of those main drags that makes you feel like beads on a wire, and do my desert thing: Light turns yellow, I glide on through.

Death by honking. Oh my goodness! All those people turning left who now could not, because I blocked the way by beating the light, said, I imagine, some very unkind things about my driving. Now when I drive in L.A., I brake, baby, at that yellow light, which is probably better for everyone in the long run.

SHERRY WOLLENBERG

Palm Springs

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In my experience, the left-turn business is not as harrowing as people who turn right on a red light willy-nilly. Of course, the law allows a right turn on red provided there is no sign prohibiting it and 1) the driver stops first and 2) turns right only when it’s clear to go.

My experience is that usually No. 1 isn’t followed and No. 2 isn’t either. Almost every day someone turns right on red in front of me, even when there are no cars behind me for blocks.

BOB ABRAHAMS

Los Angeles

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For a single lane with no turn pocket: Open window and extend arm for hand signal (cars to the rear will see), proceed well into the intersection (give the guy behind you a break), keep to the left (leave space so others may pass to the right).

Always proceed well into the intersection (as permitted by law), but never turn your wheels to the left until you are certain to complete the turn. Reason? If you are rear-ended, you will be pushed into oncoming moving traffic rather than just the poor stationary guy waiting to turn left opposite you.

MARTIN K. ZITTER

Pasadena