Pittsburgh left
Regional
- Meaning
- Courtesy left turn taken before oncoming traffic when a light turns green.
- Type
- Regionalism
- Used in
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia
What does “Pittsburgh left” mean
A driving custom unique to Pittsburgh where the first car waiting to turn left at a green light is expected to go before the oncoming straight-through driver, who yields by hanging back or flashing headlights. It evolved because of the city's hilly two-lane streets without dedicated left-turn lanes. The maneuver is technically illegal in Pennsylvania but socially expected, and locals view it as polite rather than aggressive.
Where it's used
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