As a new driver, I would much, much rather play it safe if I'm unfamiliar with the intersection & traffic flow than pull out. Does it seem silly to you? Probably. To me? No. I don't want to be caught in an intersection that I'm not supposed to be in when the light turns red.
But a green light allows you, even as you're turning left, to enter the intersection. The light lets you in to the intersection so that you can leave it when conditions are favorable to do so.
Pardon me if this sounds rude, but where did you learn to drive? I was taught in driving school that you are supposed to pull up when turning left at an intersection with lights but no left turn arrow.
I think a lot of people don't like doing it because it feels wrong to be in the intersection and turning on a red, assuming you get stuck and turn on the red.
I got told by the instructor on my test to pull out into the intersection.
It's what you are supposed to do. Pull in to the intersection and wait until you have a gap to turn. Other cars have the right of way, but are supposed to (yeah right) yield to you when the light turns yellow. Even if they don't you are in the intersection so you just go when safe (even if you have to wait for the red).
