Intersection question

So I have to go through this intersection on the way to work every morning, and I am not sure what the rules are. This is two lanes heading in the same direction, and the road splits into a y, each new road also having two lanes. The issue arises when someone in the left lane decides to bear right, but the person in the right lane is going straight. The right lane is not a Right Turn Only Lane, and there is no signage anywhere to help out. I see no reason you can't legally bear right from the left lane since you have a lane ahead of you all to your self. You are crossing the path of the right lane, but only if they go straight.

What are your thoughts?

Right turn from right lane only. Right turn from left lane == illegal and best and very dangerous at worst.

Conjures up bad memories of the time I had a lady make a left turn from the right lane while I was overtaking her in the left lane. Needless to say, it surprised me. The resulting brake stomp on a '76 Olds Cutlass resulted in considerable howling of tires. To this day, I don't know how I missed her, but my bumper came memorably close to her drivers' side door.

No question in my mind. If you are turning right, it's best to get into the right lane. The only similar situation I can think of around here has the right lane designated as exit only. If your right lane isn't exit only, there's no reason to assume the right lane driver won't continue straight.

Dr. Hess wrote: Right turn from right lane only. Right turn from left lane == illegal and best and very dangerous at worst.

^^ What he said. We have a very similar road setup near my house, and that's how it is.

Needs a sign: "No turns from left lane" or similar.

In my opinion, only a moron would attempt a right turn from the left lane, but as we well know - nearly 1/3 of the population are morons.

See any of the recent political threads as evidence of the 1/3rd statistic (not saying which third...)

Uh yeah, I'm with you guys. Trying to bear right from the right lane = good. Trying to bear right from the left lane = not so much.

If I saw this on one of our adjusters desks, I would say that unless the intersection is otherwise very clearly marked, if someone goes right from the left lane, they are liable for an accident.

if its not explicitly labelled to make a rt turn from the left lane, like dual exit ramp lanes, then u cant afaik...

That would be a very poorly designed intersection. Don't turn right from the left lane unless posted. Turn left from the right lane in Mexico.

The only way you could justify making a right turn from the left lane is if the right lane didn't continue after the intersection.

Given the number of people who seem to think that it's acceptable to make (standard cross intersection) a right turn into the left lane, or a left turn into the right lane, maybe these people just think they're doing what they're supposed to.

I got honked at this morning for making a right turn out of a driveway into the right lane by someone in the left lane. My ability to not require a 40 yard turning radius must have been disorienting or something...

Agreed with everybody else about turning right from the left lane. If there's a lot of people trying to do it there, it's time the local DOT put a stoplight (and a bunch of big "this lane goes straight" signs) there.

Is the center line truly dotted the entire way?
I would expect that as you approach the intersection the white center line would no longer be dotted but rather turn solid. This solid line would represent "do not cross" making it illegal to cross from left lane to right turn.

Most people do not know or follow these rules...

White lines indicate traffic lanes that are traveling in the same direction, such as those found on the interstate or one-way streets. Solid white lines indicate single lanes of traffic going in one direction that are not to be crossed. Even if there are multiple lanes divided by solid white lines, it's against traffic rules to cross a solid line. Broken white lines indicate multiple lanes going in the same direction; cars are allowed to cross these lines and switch lanes when it's safe to do so. Yellow lines divide roads with traffic flow in both directions. A solid double yellow line divides two directions of traffic in areas where it's not safe to pass other vehicles. A single broken yellow line means that, using proper precautions, cars may pass one another by moving into the oncoming lane and quickly maneuvering around the car they're passing. If one line is solid and the other is broken, passing is only allowed on the side of the road where the broken line is painted.

He is a local scam here in Ohio...
There is a popular Mexican Restaurant (so,so food but strong margaritas) that sits across the street from an Ohio Hyw Patrol Post. The road out front of the restaurant is two lanes each way with a double solid yellow line the whole way.
The cops will pull over anyone who makes a left out of the parking lot - mostly DUI's.
Most people tend to use the "defense" of, "there is no sign saying No Left Turn."
There is no need for a sign - the double solid yellow can not be crossed thereby denoting no left turn.

Wow, I didn't know that! Now that you mention it there is a break in the yellow at every side street.

See the new GEICO commercial? Guy in a suit driving through a parking lot: "My name is Mayhem...." and texts while driving etc. causes an accident.

Never underestimate the potential of stupidity.

There are some similar intersections around where I live that do allow you to turn to the right from the left lane, but they have specific arrow signs to indicate it. If there aren't similar signs on this intersection, I'd only do it from the right lane. Is it a city street, state highway, or US highway? You could probably contact the appropriate office and ask them for a clarification.

It seems that what I thought was pretty obvious, is in fact, pretty obvious. I was beginning to question myself based on the number of people who turn right from the left lane! I will have to double-check the center line, but I think it is in fact dotted.

Here in the land of the WIS it is very common to have 1 lane each direct roads with parking on each side (so each side of the road is ~16-18 ft). There will be a Yellow dotted, or double solid line down the middle, but nothing de-lineating the parking lane from the travel lane. Our residental statewide speed limit is 25 mph, however some sections of these type of roads have up to 40 mph limits. When in town, not on limited access roads I tend to obey a strict 10-15% over speed limit (so 27-28 mph in a 25, 45-47 in a 40, etc.) About 3-4 times a week I have someone pass me, on the Right! at about 10-15mph over the limit in the "parking lane". It's in fact pretty common for people to drive down the road side by side like it's two lanes. This bothers me. Am I wrong about this though.. Are you supposed to make 2 lanes whenever there is space regardless of if there is a dividing line?

James Dean was killed at a road intersection very similar to that, the other car came over the line going to the diverging street hitting him head on.

In reply to aircooled:
In this example given all lanes of traffic are heading the same direction - there would be no head-on.

Opps, OK.

It was an intersection like that but with two-way traffic, which of course is much more dangerous.

in georgia the law specifically states that one can only turn from the lane immediately adjacent to the direction of the turn and they must turn into the closest lane to the side of the road thy are turning from. dont remember the exact code, but i got a ticket for it in 2000 for going to the second lane of the road i was turning onto to go around a car that had stopped in the first lane. i dont know about other states....

Yea, I think somewhere in the traffic code it says unless otherwise stated, you can't make a right from a left-hand lane, regardless of how many lanes the second road has.

jrw1621 wrote: He is a local scam here in Ohio... There is a popular Mexican Restaurant (so,so food but strong margaritas) that sits across the street from an Ohio Hyw Patrol Post. The road out front of the restaurant is two lanes each way with a double solid yellow line the whole way. The cops will pull over anyone who makes a left out of the parking lot - mostly DUI's. Most people tend to use the "defense" of, "there is no sign saying No Left Turn." There is no need for a sign - the double solid yellow can not be crossed thereby denoting no left turn.

In Minnesota, that scenario is allowed, if you're turning into or out of a store, gas station, etc. Though it just feels wrong crossing the double yellow lines. I can't find the reference, but I remember discussing this with a buddy several months ago and finding the reference somewhere.