Turning into nearest lane (Traffic law pet peeve)

[BLINGMW]

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.
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However, it's not required when making a left for some reason.

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Some states require that things be nice and clean, like this:


Some are ambiguous (VA), and a few allow this kind of lazy bullshit:


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.

[Apoc]

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.

I don't count on an approaching car to do anything. People are crap drivers.

If someone's making a turn, you're supposed to wait until they've completed it so lane doesn't really matter anyway. :dunno:

[Goodspeed]

Holy shit, what is this "Driving Techniques" forum and how long has this been here? Well hello, good to be here....

[JPolen01]

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.

I don't count on an approaching car to do anything. People are crap drivers.

If someone's making a turn, you're supposed to wait until they've completed it so lane doesn't really matter anyway. :dunno:

Yeah fuck counting on someone else. How many times have you seen someone blow through an intersection with their turn signal on or turn with no signal? I don't make any moves until everyone else is gone/stopped.

[Mike]

We discussed this topic a few years back when Navin was involved in an accident like this. I forget the situation or who was at fault, but I remember him being pissed so I think he was. I also think he was making the right.

[BLINGMW]

We discussed this topic a few years back when Navin was involved in an accident like this. I forget the situation or who was at fault, but I remember him being pissed so I think he was. I also think he was making the right.

Where is it, I don't remember the details. I'm not shocked at all that a cop would inappropriately ticket him, because they don't know the law either. Well, that plus they're told to ticket anything they can and see if it sticks (which I understand).

If someone's making a turn, you're supposed to wait until they've completed it so lane doesn't really matter anyway. :dunno:

My point is that if they're making a turn, and I'm making a turn, then we both have equal right of way. If they're making a turn onto a road where I'm going straight, then I have the right of way. I like to point that out when I can by scaring them with a calculated presence of my car. :lol: Please demonstrate otherwise, I like being proven wrong, but I don't think I have to wait for them.

[flintster55]

We discussed this topic a few years back when Navin was involved in an accident like this. I forget the situation or who was at fault, but I remember him being pissed so I think he was. I also think he was making the right.

Where is it, I don't remember the details. I'm not shocked at all that a cop would inappropriately ticket him, because they don't know the law either. Well, that plus they're told to ticket anything they can and see if it sticks (which I understand).

If someone's making a turn, you're supposed to wait until they've completed it so lane doesn't really matter anyway. :dunno:

My point is that if they're making a turn, and I'm making a turn, then we both have equal right of way. If they're making a turn onto a road where I'm going straight, then I have the right of way. I like to point that out when I can by scaring them with a calculated presence of my car. :lol: Please demonstrate otherwise, I like being proven wrong, but I don't think I have to wait for them.

So you're saying if you make a right on red turn onto the same road that somebody is making a left turn onto with a green light coming from the opposite direction, that you both have equal right of way? I would think whoever has a green light would have the right of way. Or am I missing something?

[Apoc]

My point is that if they're making a turn, and I'm making a turn, then we both have equal right of way. If they're making a turn onto a road where I'm going straight, then I have the right of way. I like to point that out when I can by scaring them with a calculated presence of my car. :lol: Please demonstrate otherwise, I like being proven wrong, but I don't think I have to wait for them.

I'm pretty sure there's no such thing as "equal right of way" as it kinda defeats the point. I know if two cars arrive at a 4-way at the same time, the car of the left must give way. I'm not certain what it is when you're opposing each other, but I'm pretty sure the left turning car must give way.

[HAULN-SS]

I thought under channings situation the green guy has a yield, and the guy turning right has the right of way. I think this would have to be the case for sure on a green light, not sure about green arrow for the left turner.

[Mike]

Simplify:

If car making right has green light and there is an accident, car making left (had a yield) is at fault.
If car making right has red light and there is an accident, car making right is at fault (car making left had a green arrow).

[flintster55]

Simplify:

If car making right has green light and there is an accident, car making left (had a yield) is at fault.
If car making right has red light and there is an accident, car making right is at fault (car making left had a green arrow).

This is what I was trying to say. Seems the most logical to me.

What about just a solid green light instead of green arrow where you have to yield when turning left?

Green with yield > right on red correct?

[Mike]

Would that ever happen?

[ScottyB]

Green with yield > right on red correct?

i would think this, because the primary flow of traffic now moves in favor of those turning left...otherwise what would be the point of the cautionary right on red that determines stopping before proceeding right?

or maybe i've been doing it wrong all these years :lol:

[D_Eclipse9916]

. I like to point that out when I can by scaring them with a calculated presence of my car. :lol: Please demonstrate otherwise, I like being proven wrong, but I don't think I have to wait for them.

Easy button, drive a big truck. Its a rare day when people jump right in front of my yukon, and when they do, they typically are on the gas like mad to get out of the way. Yeah it sounds dumb and like a jackass, but I definitely use my truck's weight and presence. Its even better when I have the trailer, I swing that puppy around when people are not paying attention and I want to do something; you see the brake lights fly on and disappear in my rear view mirror.

Your always still going to get the nimrods, I swear im not a road rage driver, but there was a situation that definitely justified me blowing by a guy doing 100 with my high beams on, horn a blowing, middle finger, and the trailer with car on the back.

[BLINGMW]

or maybe i've been doing it wrong all these years :lol:

Well at least there's some confusion here that we might be able to clear up! While I'm certainly never going to trust anyone on the road to do it "right", I'm going to continue pulling into the nearest lane and forcing people to stay in theirs whenever I get the chance.

[Mike]

. I like to point that out when I can by scaring them with a calculated presence of my car. :lol: Please demonstrate otherwise, I like being proven wrong, but I don't think I have to wait for them.

Easy button, drive a big truck. Its a rare day when people jump right in front of my yukon, and when they do, they typically are on the gas like mad to get out of the way. Yeah it sounds dumb and like a jackass, but I definitely use my truck's weight and presence. Its even better when I have the trailer, I swing that puppy around when people are not paying attention and I want to do something; you see the brake lights fly on and disappear in my rear view mirror.

Your always still going to get the nimrods, I swear im not a road rage driver, but there was a situation that definitely justified me blowing by a guy doing 100 with my high beams on, horn a blowing, middle finger, and the trailer with car on the back.

all of it... just... :dunno: if you have to say "i'm not xyz," you probably are xyz.

[D_Eclipse9916]

all of it... just... :dunno: if you have to say "i'm not xyz," you probably are xyz.

Troof

[navin]

We discussed this topic a few years back when Navin was involved in an accident like this. I forget the situation or who was at fault, but I remember him being pissed so I think he was. I also think he was making the right.

False.

I was driving through a green light, and a driver was taking a right turn on red and instead of turning into the nearest lane, she turned into mine. Hence why I ended up rear ending her car - but she was found at fault.

Note: She was from Georgia, maybe the traffic laws are different there. It blew my mind she thought it would be a great idea to turn into a farthest lane over, even more so on a right turn on red.

[Mike]

Whatever. Did you get her number?

[BLINGMW]

but she was found at fault.

Ok good. Perfect example of why it's a law (not to mention a good idea) and funny how most people ignore it. If I understand correctly, most if not all states says you have to turn into the nearest lane on a right turn, it's just the lefts that are ambiguous for some reason. Don't know why the law wouldn't apply the same there. :dunno: