traffic right of way ?

[DTro]

When opposing traffic are making a turn in the same direction from a light controlled intersection onto a 4 lane (2 each way), who has the right away?

 

On a solid green does each car have equal right to turn into the closest lane (crossing traffic into left lane and nearest traffic into right lane), does the traffic closest to the direction being turned have the right to turn into either lane without being impeded by the traffic that is crossing

[Jameson]

I could very well be wrong,

First question. They would both have just green circle lights, correct? It must then be assumed by the person making the left hand turn that the person approaching might go straight through the intersection, even if they are signaling to turn. Person making the right hand turn has the right of away.

Second question. Again, I think solid green circle or arrow makes the difference here. If the person making the left hand turn has a green arrow it would be different then a circle. If the had the green arrow, then the opposite side should have had a green arrow, too. So, here the person making the right hand turn is making a right on a red light and must yield the right a way.

Got a map or a crude drawing to make sure we are all talking about the same thing?

[TruthWalleyes]

Left turn across traffic always yields unless green arrow.

Opposing traffic North/South bound, both with green lights. Car driving North turns West. Car driving south turns West. The Southbound car has the right of way. The Northbound car is taking a left turn (Across traffic) and therefore yields.

[DTro]

No green arrows in either direction. Only one scenario here.

My understanding us that each has the right away to turn into the nearest lane.

[DTro]

That makes sense Truth but what im heading north and turn east (right) but need to get into the left lane immediately, can i cross over? This is where it gets hairy everyday...

[nofishfisherman]

Lets assume green lights (no turn arrows) for both north and south bound lanes. The south bound car is in the far right lane and is taking a right turn to head west. The north bound car is in the far left lane and is taking a left turn to also head west.

If there is traffic then obviously the northbound car will have to yield to any oncoming traffic that is continuing south without turning which would obviously give the car turning right the right of way.

If there is no other oncoming traffic and its just the 2 turning cars I believe the southbound car would still have the right of way but they should turn into the right lane which is the first available lane and not into the far left lane. The northbound car making a left should also be turning into the nearest lane (left lane in this case). In theory that would eliminate the need for someone having a true right of way since both cars can safely turn into the first lane at the same time.

Now in real life I don't trust people will always turn into the first available lane like they are supposed to as so many people turn into the far lane or take too wide of turn and drift into the far lane. So if I'm the northbound car I'm giving the southbound car first chance to turn and then I'll turn once I see which lane they are turning into.

[nofishfisherman]

That makes sense Truth but what im heading north and turn east (right) but need to get into the left lane immediately, can i cross over? This is where it gets hairy everyday...

I believe you are not technically allowed to turn from right lane into the far left lane. You are supposed to turn into the first available lane (right lane in this case) and then signal and change lanes into the left lane after the turn.

Now it rarely happens that way but if there is traffic you shouldn't be trying to turn from the right lane into the far left lane.

[amateurfishing]

I believe you are not technically allowed to turn from right lane into the far left lane. You are supposed to turn into the first available lane (right lane in this case) and then signal and change lanes into the left lane after the turn.

Now it rarely happens that way but if there is traffic you shouldn't be trying to turn from the right lane into the far left lane.

[jentz]

If your making a right the left turners from opposing traffic have to yeild.If the right your making in one lane only (the far rightlane) you turn and stay in the curb lane then signal a left lane occupation when its clear you take the opening and move to the leftlane.Some controled right and left turns have 2 lanes and you should stay in the lane your entering according to the lane you occupy

All this is in the rule book the DMVs puts out for getting a drivers lisence.It gets complicated when the opposing traffic can turn to a left hand and you are turning right from the far right lane.They have the left lane and your right must continue in the curbside lane.Meaning they have the right of way only to the left lane beside you.

[DTro]

Ok, so here is the scenario, when I turn out of work (traveling East), I am in the right lane and need to turn South (right).  On the other side of 4 lanes is a school.  When I have a red light I don’t even try to turn right as the traffic leaving school turning left is usually heavy, however when I get a green light, there is no change to the traffic pattern coming out from the school and they are turning South, in either the closest lane to them, or crossing over to the right lane, meanwhile, I’m trying to make a turn while this traffic is coming at me at a fairly high speed not knowing which lane they are going to pick.

 

The problem with this intersection is that 200ft Southbound the road splits and you basically need to turn from the light into the lane you need to be in for the split.

 

I just was curious who has the right away when one of these kids hits me or vice versa

[Deitz Dittrich]

My dad always told me when i was younger.. The person with the junkiest car has the right of way.

[merkman]

Ok, so here is the scenario, when I turn out of work (traveling East), I am in the right lane and need to turn North (right). 

Hummmm...

That one is gonna be tough....

You could do it with 3 right turns though.....

.

[TruthWalleyes]

Ok, so here is the scenario, when I turn out of work (traveling East), I am in the right lane and need to turn North (right).  On the other side of 4 lanes is a school.  When I have a red light I don’t even try to turn right as the traffic leaving school turning left is usually heavy, however when I get a green light, there is no change to the traffic pattern coming out from the school and they are turning North, in either the closest lane to them, or crossing over to the right lane, meanwhile, I’m trying to make a turn while this traffic is coming at me at a fairly high speed not knowing which lane they are going to pick.

 

The problem with this intersection is that 200ft Northbound the road splits and you basically need to turn from the light into the lane you need to be in for the split.

 

I just was curious who has the right away when one of these kids hits me or vice versa

LOL. I won't even begin to disect this...but i have always driven defensively for my safety and that usually means patience, yielding and trust no one.

The answer is that it is purely a chaotic intersection and cars from all directions are forced to change lanes fast, rules aren't followed and you are better off yielding. But, there is a right answer here assuming everyone followed the basic traffic laws...which we know we all dont and sometimes for good reasons.

Screw it, i'm hooking up to the boat and going to drown some worms maybe crush some fatheads.

[DTro]

Also if I'm facing east and turn right i guess I'm going south not north lol doh.

[DTro]

I think ill go dunk some worms too....

[LMITOUT]

Happy B-day DTro!

I think Nofishfisherman had the right answer. You are required to take the closest lane from your point of origin. You should be turning directly into the lane closest to you and the opposing traffic should be flowing into the lane closest to them (to your left in your example). We all know that never happens, but that is the proper method.

Why do I know this? Because I flunked my first driving test for not turning into the closest lane of a three lane one-way street and went to the middle lane instead. I do have a logical reason for doing that, though, and it's because there was street work being done in the closest lane just 50 yards from the intersection I was turning from, so when I made my turn I figured I'd just forgo the unneeded maneuvering and go directly to the middle lane. There wasn't any traffic at the time to merge into anyway. It was a crock and the instructor was a well known douche among the driver instructors that give the test.

The next time I took my driver's test I drew a different instructor and he told me that if I had gone through a third yellow light I wouldn't have passed.

[nofishfisherman]

The next time I took my driver's test I drew a different instructor and he told me that if I had gone through a third yellow light I wouldn't have passed.

The instructor for my first driving test failed me for running one yellow light. I tried to argue the point that I didn't break any traffic laws but they don't like when 16 year old kids argue with them.

[SkunkedAgain]

I aced the written and driving tests (which means nothing all these years later) and agree 100% with NoFish...closest lane but use caution. That's the book answer.

Dietz is was correct with the real world answer. The junkiest and/or biggest vehicle has the right of way. Junky old trucks trump all traffic laws in reality, so watch out!