Watch your turns
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Watch your turns
Just felt it was my duty to warn all fellow FTE members. I was driving home today after running a few errands. So I'm at a light waiting to make a left and the arrow is green so I pull into the far lane because I willbe making a right just up the road. I look in my rearview mirror and there are not 1 but 2 police cars. So I do what any logical person would do and pull over. Now I wasn't speeding so I didn't know what was going on. One of the cops comes to my window and informs me I have been pulled over for an improper left turn. I figurred at the worst a slap on the wrist because I see this all the time. I have even seen police cars do it. But he comes back with a $100 ticket. Seems a little absurd to me but thought I would give everyone a heads up.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,490
Likes: 3
From: CT
Watch your turns
In other words, DON'T switch lanes while passing through an intersection, your supposted to change lanes before getting to the light, or after you pass the intersection. Heck, I've been guilty of this several times, but have been lucky enough that no cops were around. Sorry you got sucked out of that $100, you'd think they would just give you a verbal warning? Oh well
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,197
Likes: 0
From: mesa, az
Watch your turns
Yep...most places require that you finsh a turn in the same lane as you started the turn....
Think about this...if after youd made the turn as you did, someone decides to make a right hand turn coming from the opposite direction, there is a possibilty that you could cross the lane into or cut off the other driver...makes sense if ya think about it, of course many people do it on a regular basis...
Also, most places consider that left turns must always yield...some insurance companies consider that ALL left turns are at fault, something about disrupting the flow of traffic... just my $.02
Something else to consider, most deaths to motorcyclists are caused by cagers making left turns in front of them...
bummer about the ticket dude...
Think about this...if after youd made the turn as you did, someone decides to make a right hand turn coming from the opposite direction, there is a possibilty that you could cross the lane into or cut off the other driver...makes sense if ya think about it, of course many people do it on a regular basis...
Also, most places consider that left turns must always yield...some insurance companies consider that ALL left turns are at fault, something about disrupting the flow of traffic... just my $.02
Something else to consider, most deaths to motorcyclists are caused by cagers making left turns in front of them...
bummer about the ticket dude...
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,359
Likes: 0
From: Charleston, SC
Watch your turns
In this State people don't have a clue as to how a left hand turn is made.
I sat at a light all the way through the green with no oncoming traffic because the guy ahead of me was waiting for a left turn arrow.
Are you guys sending your morons to SC?
I sat at a light all the way through the green with no oncoming traffic because the guy ahead of me was waiting for a left turn arrow.
Are you guys sending your morons to SC?
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,214
Likes: 2
From: Minneapolis, MN
Watch your turns
Here in Minnesota, if I remember my manual correctly, a right turn is only to be made from the far right lane into the closest (meaning far right) lane BUT a left turn can be made into "any available unoccupied lane". Of course that's if there's only 1 left turn lane.
Which means... you could make a left turn into the far right lane legally.
Bryan, you don't say where you are but you might want to check the laws. You may have gotten a bogus ticket.
Just my $.02
Greg
EDIT... Just checked the online MN DL manual. Says... Left turn should be made into the nearest lane. Meaning the left lane.
Either my memory is'nt as good as it used to be or they changed it on me. I'd still check the laws tho'. Even if it says to do it one way doesn't mean it's strictly forbidden (against the law) to do it the other way.
Which means... you could make a left turn into the far right lane legally.
Bryan, you don't say where you are but you might want to check the laws. You may have gotten a bogus ticket.
Just my $.02
Greg
EDIT... Just checked the online MN DL manual. Says... Left turn should be made into the nearest lane. Meaning the left lane.
Either my memory is'nt as good as it used to be or they changed it on me. I'd still check the laws tho'. Even if it says to do it one way doesn't mean it's strictly forbidden (against the law) to do it the other way.
Last edited by macguyver; Feb 11, 2003 at 06:39 AM.
Trending Topics
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,214
Likes: 2
From: Minneapolis, MN
Watch your turns
Originally posted by wabiker
Something else to consider, most deaths to motorcyclists are caused by cagers making left turns in front of them...
Something else to consider, most deaths to motorcyclists are caused by cagers making left turns in front of them...
The bad part is the gal saw him coming and swore to the cop that she had the right of way because she had her turn signal on.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Ford Super Duty: 5 Things Owners LOVE, 5 Things They LOATHE!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2026 Ford Truck Engine RANKED from WORST to FIRST!
Michael S. Palmer
The Best F-150 Deal of Every Trim Level (XL through Raptor)
Joe Kucinski
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,359
Likes: 0
From: Charleston, SC
Watch your turns
Here we have many intersections with two lanes for left turns. There are lines on the road showing which lane is yours and which lane is mine. I've never made a left in one of these 'double lefts' without someone trying to occupy the same space as I am.
I'm having my HORN wired to the turn signal switch.
I'm having my HORN wired to the turn signal switch.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,246
Likes: 0
From: Princeton, MN
Watch your turns
Originally posted by wabiker
Think about this...if after youd made the turn as you did, someone decides to make a right hand turn coming from the opposite direction, there is a possibilty that you could cross the lane into or cut off the other driver
Think about this...if after youd made the turn as you did, someone decides to make a right hand turn coming from the opposite direction, there is a possibilty that you could cross the lane into or cut off the other driver
Think about how many more people could get through a light and cut down on traffic jams if we could get everybody to turn into the lane they are supposed to and get them all done on one cycle.
That all being said, I have turned into the second lane before, but only when I was the only vehicle at the intersection and needed to get over right away. Not trying to yell at Bryan-boy, if it was clear and he payed attention to what he was doing, more power to him, should have noticed the cops though.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 359
Likes: 0
From: Northern Virginia
Watch your turns
Congratulations. You have discovered one of my pet peeves.
I wish everyone who does what you did got a ticket (once). When I learned to drive, a loooong time ago, the rule was you "begin and end a left turn from and to the left most lane legal for your direction of travel, or in cases where more than one lane permits a legal left turn, in the same lane."
Most main thoroughfares in my region have two lanes in the same direction. It drives me nuts when I am making a right turn and the guy coming from the opposite direction is making a left turn and he wants to finish his turn in the right most lane. Now I will slow down and let him have it, but only because one nut on the road is better than two, but that is actually MY lane; the left one is his. If we all learn that, traffic will move a lot smoother.
In fact there is ONE intersection that is so busy that if you do not do it like this it would never move during commute hours -- EVERYONE that uses that intersection either knows the rule or has learned it at this intersection.
Pay the ticket (call it tuition); and don't do that any more.
I wish everyone who does what you did got a ticket (once). When I learned to drive, a loooong time ago, the rule was you "begin and end a left turn from and to the left most lane legal for your direction of travel, or in cases where more than one lane permits a legal left turn, in the same lane."
Most main thoroughfares in my region have two lanes in the same direction. It drives me nuts when I am making a right turn and the guy coming from the opposite direction is making a left turn and he wants to finish his turn in the right most lane. Now I will slow down and let him have it, but only because one nut on the road is better than two, but that is actually MY lane; the left one is his. If we all learn that, traffic will move a lot smoother.
In fact there is ONE intersection that is so busy that if you do not do it like this it would never move during commute hours -- EVERYONE that uses that intersection either knows the rule or has learned it at this intersection.
Pay the ticket (call it tuition); and don't do that any more.
Gone but not forgotten.
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 6,521
Likes: 2
Watch your turns
A friend of mine was waiting at a red light to make a left turn. There was a car going in the other direction also waiting for the light. When the light changed, my friend waited for the other car, which was not turning, to go. Instead of going the other driver signaled with his hand for my friend to turn in front of him. My friend made his turn and was stopped and given a ticket for failing to yield right of way. The cop saw the signal from the other driver but said it made no difference. Sounds unreasonable.
Dono
Dono
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Watch your turns
Yes I realize this is in the Drivers Ed manual but seriously, seems kinda petty. This is not a bus intersection in a small town(Stillwater, OK). I had a green arrow in the only turn lane so its not like there was a possibility of someone turning beside me. Oh well things happen. I will go to court and since this is my first moving violation ticket the judge will easy the penalty or even defer it and put me on probation. I could handle that =).
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,197
Likes: 0
From: mesa, az
Watch your turns
Reminds me of a crude joke about a 6 ft rectum...
On a more serious note...
Macguyer...been there done that and buried of couple of bros in the process...motorcycles are just harder to notice in traffic and were not conditioned to look for them...being a smaller target its harder gauge the speed when ya see them approaching... An unfortunate fact of life...
On a more serious note...
Macguyer...been there done that and buried of couple of bros in the process...motorcycles are just harder to notice in traffic and were not conditioned to look for them...being a smaller target its harder gauge the speed when ya see them approaching... An unfortunate fact of life...