Safety-It's Your Turn : Vision Zero SF

Some driving situations cause more stress than others. Freeway merges. Parallel parking. Or the dreaded left turn. In busy cities like SF, left turns can be a real challenge. They can also be really dangerous—especially for people crossing the street as cars are turning.

Between oncoming traffic, people crossing in the crosswalks, and changing stoplights, 's a lot to watch out for in a left turn.

Make your turns nice and square.

Cut corners and you could cut in front of (or into) someone in the crosswalk. Your car should make the equivalent of a 90-degree angle when you turn left.

Take it slow.

Speed kills. Safe turning speed for all turns is 5 miles per hour.

Stay conscious of the crosswalks.

People cross in all directions. Always be alert and ready to yield to anyone walking, riding, or rolling through the crosswalk—including kids, seniors, bicyclists, people with disabilities, etc.

Don't “shoot the gap”.

Some drivers try to beat the light or oncoming traffic and make their left turns too fast—then don't have time to see or stop for someone in the second crosswalk. Don't take a turn for the worst: Start a left turn only when you have plenty of time to complete it safely without risking oncoming traffic, including bicyclists.

Safe left turns make it safer for everyone to walk, bike, stroll and roll around SF, and make it easier for you to get out of your car and try getting around in a new way.

anatomy of a left turn

Left Turn Safety Improvements

At SFMTA, we're working hard to help drivers make left turns the right way. We're installing Left Turn Safety Improvements at intersections around the City, with painted safety zones and raised bumps to remind drivers to slow down and make squarer left turns.

These treatments make left turns safer, and we are installing the same improvements at other intersections where they are needed most.

Left Turn Guide Bumps

Have been installed at:

  • 7th Street at Mission Street
  • 8th Street at Mission Street
  • 10th Street and Folsom
  • 10th Street at Harrison Street
  • 10th Street at Howard Street
  • Broadway and Montgomery
  • Ellis and Leavenworth
  • Geary Street at Polk Street
  • Gough and Sacramento
  • Leavenworth and Sutter
  • Lincoln and 17th Avenue
  • Lincoln and 18th Avenue
  • Pine Street at Polk Street
  • San Bruno Avenue at Silver Avenue

These projects can help make sure some of SF's most dangerous intersections safer for people crossing the street. No matter where you drive, it's important that you stay aware, slow down, and make your left turn the right way.

When we all do our part, we make the street safer for everyone and create opportunities for people to turn off their cars and turn toward new ways of getting around.

It's like they say—one good turn deserves another!

Safety—It's your turn.

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kids activity book Learn how this project has made SF streets safer Learn how this project has made SF streets safer

Safety-It's Your Turn : Vision Zero SF

Some driving situations cause more stress than others. Freeway merges. Parallel parking. Or the dreaded left turn. In busy cities like SF, left turns can be a real challenge. They can also be really dangerous—especially for people crossing the street as cars are turning.

Between oncoming traffic, people crossing in the crosswalks, and changing stoplights, there's a lot to watch out for in a left turn.

Make your turns nice and square.

Cut corners and you could cut in front of (or into) someone in the crosswalk. Your car should make the equivalent of a 90-degree angle when you turn left.


Take it slow.

Speed kills. Safe turning speed for all turns is 5 miles per hour.

Stay conscious of the crosswalks.

People cross in all directions. Always be alert and ready to yield to anyone walking, riding, or rolling through the crosswalk—including kids, seniors, bicyclists, people with disabilities, etc.

Don't “shoot the gap”.

Some drivers try to beat the light or oncoming traffic and make their left turns too fast—then don't have time to see or stop for someone in the second crosswalk. Don't take a turn for the worst: Start a left turn only when you have plenty of time to complete it safely without risking oncoming traffic, including bicyclists.

Safe left turns make it safer for everyone to walk, bike, stroll and roll around SF, and make it easier for you to get out of your car and try getting around in a new way.

anatomy of a left turn

Left Turn Safety Improvements

At SFMTA, we're working hard to help drivers make left turns the right way. We're installing Left Turn Safety Improvements at intersections around the City, with painted safety zones and raised bumps to remind drivers to slow down and make squarer left turns.

These treatments make left turns safer, and we are installing the same improvements at other intersections where they are needed most.

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Left Turn Safety Improvements

Have been installed at:

  • 7th Street at Mission Street
  • 8th Street at Mission Street
  • 10th Street and Folsom
  • 10th Street at Harrison Street
  • 10th Street at Howard Street
  • Broadway and Montgomery
  • Ellis and Leavenworth
  • Geary Street at Polk Street
  • Gough and Sacramento
  • Leavenworth and Sutter
  • Lincoln and 17th Avenue
  • Lincoln and 18th Avenue
  • Pine Street at Polk Street
  • San Bruno Avenue at Silver Avenue

These projects can help make sure some of SF's most dangerous intersections safer for people crossing the street. No matter where you drive, it's important that you stay aware, slow down, and make your left turn the right way.

When we all do our part, we make the street safer for everyone and create opportunities for people to turn off their cars and turn toward new ways of getting around.

It's like they say—one good turn deserves another!

Safety—It's your turn.