12-21-2011, 12:20 PM
I learned something today. I'm just wondering if you guys think about this stuff, because I think as a club member (or even just a responsible adult who considers himself a "driver"), on the street, we should strive to be exemplary drivers. I guess I get bored on the street, so I like to nit-pick
I understood it was a VA law that when making a turn onto another roadway, whether left or right, you're supposed to turn into the nearest lane. It bothers me because there are good reasons to do so, and I'd say 90%+ of drivers I see do it wrong. I found that it IS required when making a right turn per 46.2-846.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+46.2-846">http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+46.2-846</a><!-- m -->
However, it's not required when making a left for some reason.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://driversed.com/teen-drivers-education/turning.aspx">http://driversed.com/teen-drivers-education/turning.aspx</a><!-- m -->
Some states require that things be nice and clean, like this:
![[Image: Turns_NV.jpg]](http://driversed.com/courseware/images/Turns_NV.jpg)
Some are ambiguous (VA), and a few allow this kind of lazy bullshit:
![[Image: Turns_CA.jpg]](http://driversed.com/courseware/images/Turns_CA.jpg)
Personally, I think it makes obvious sense to hang to the closest lane. Imagine the guy who's approaching the intersection, already on the road you're turning on to. We've all been in both positions. It's really nice when the approaching car can count on the turning car to leave him a lane, rather than intermittently occupying all of them because he cannot be bothered to turn a little later, and a little more sharply. The approaching car then has to slow down and wait for the fool to pick a lane instead of safely zipping on by him. And in the first example above, blue and yellow, red and black can all do what they want to do simultaneously if they can count on the other drivers. Semi-trucks, trailers excluded when necessary of course.
Anyway, take note the next time you're at an intersection and get excited when you see someone do it right! I like to be the blue or red car, turning right on red when a line of cars is all doing the left wrong, and then people get surprised and pissed when they see that I dare make them have to stay in their lane. How dare I!
hock:
If I were a cop that's all I would do is ticket people for this. And crossing the stop bar. And not using a turn signal. And I would get fired. :lol: But I think it's indicative of lazy, inattentive driving, and I don't want myself, and people in this club, to fall into that group.
I understood it was a VA law that when making a turn onto another roadway, whether left or right, you're supposed to turn into the nearest lane. It bothers me because there are good reasons to do so, and I'd say 90%+ of drivers I see do it wrong. I found that it IS required when making a right turn per 46.2-846.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+46.2-846">http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+46.2-846</a><!-- m -->
However, it's not required when making a left for some reason.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://driversed.com/teen-drivers-education/turning.aspx">http://driversed.com/teen-drivers-education/turning.aspx</a><!-- m -->
Some states require that things be nice and clean, like this:
![[Image: Turns_NV.jpg]](http://driversed.com/courseware/images/Turns_NV.jpg)
Some are ambiguous (VA), and a few allow this kind of lazy bullshit:
![[Image: Turns_CA.jpg]](http://driversed.com/courseware/images/Turns_CA.jpg)
Personally, I think it makes obvious sense to hang to the closest lane. Imagine the guy who's approaching the intersection, already on the road you're turning on to. We've all been in both positions. It's really nice when the approaching car can count on the turning car to leave him a lane, rather than intermittently occupying all of them because he cannot be bothered to turn a little later, and a little more sharply. The approaching car then has to slow down and wait for the fool to pick a lane instead of safely zipping on by him. And in the first example above, blue and yellow, red and black can all do what they want to do simultaneously if they can count on the other drivers. Semi-trucks, trailers excluded when necessary of course.
Anyway, take note the next time you're at an intersection and get excited when you see someone do it right! I like to be the blue or red car, turning right on red when a line of cars is all doing the left wrong, and then people get surprised and pissed when they see that I dare make them have to stay in their lane. How dare I!
hock: If I were a cop that's all I would do is ticket people for this. And crossing the stop bar. And not using a turn signal. And I would get fired. :lol: But I think it's indicative of lazy, inattentive driving, and I don't want myself, and people in this club, to fall into that group.
The only thing that stops a bad guy with a van is a good guy with a van
