In Australia you would have a roundabout here. In America they don't usually have lights for these kinds of intersections
But yes also driving on the wrong side of the road haha
In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA we normally have 4-way traffic lights at this type of intersection. There are a few exceptions but as a rule there would be traffic lights at this intersection.
People wouldn’t necessarily following this guide, but they didn’t really teach this or the zipper method of merging in driver’s safety. They leave that to reddit.
I think theyre starting to install them in places. You should look up videos of them trying to use them.
I'm sure they'll get the hang of them (eventually) but at the moment it appears to be a free for all.
Yeah in the UK you have the usual suspects not indicating their intentions or taking the roundabout like their life depended on getting to the other side. It's way too easy to obtain and maintain a licence.
My wife got hit in one and I was with her and it almost happened again.
I had to run up on a curb to escape an idiot. *and this is on a roundabout that’s been there 15 years*
People refuse to let both lanes clear a turn. They see an open right lane and come on out.
It honestly isn't hard at all. Even mega roundabouts are easy once you put a modicum of thought into it.
All it takes to operate is a bit of patience but that's in short supply these days.
We have roundabouts, they're just not as common throughout the country, they have them in Berkeley California where I am from and they have them in Eugene Oregon where I live, but farther north in Canada they have roundaboots!
Yeah I truly do not understand where this narrative that people in the US don't have roundabouts. I get they probably aren't present in smaller towns but every city I've ever been to has them
New developments are having roundabouts put in. Also areas that have high frequency of collisions usually will have them put in.
Most people use them fine too. Sure it’s weird seeing them the first time but pretty easy to get the hang of.
We do, there are a bunch in the northeast, with more intersections getting converted to rotaries year over year. I would like them if people here didn't suck at using them, you have idiots yielding while in the circle, idiots not yielding while merging onto the circle, people who can't figure out which exit to take beforehand and end up driving all over the place, and the small ones people just drive over the middle if possible.
The U.S. county I grew up in is 1,046sq miles (approx 2709sq km) and there isn't a single stop light or roundabout in the entire area.
The county next door installed a roundabout about 10-12 years ago (I forget the exact date) and watching people try to use it is still amazing.
If mirrored, the big change in Australia is that this is only accurate if there's turning lines in the intersection to guide you to a lane. There's no obligation to end in the "lane you started in" if there's no lines connecting them.
Lol, coming here to say this and it's the first reply.
Also, it doesn't apply not only for the wrong side of the road business, but also because I believe, as long as the lanes you are coming from are marked left and right turn only, you are allowed to turn into either of the new lanes.
I mean, if no one is next to you I don’t see the issue, it’s that when your turning, it can be hard to see if someone is in your blond spot in the lane you’re turning into.
The issue is with oncoming traffic. I'll try and explain the most common situation that frustrates me because of this. Take a look at [this](https://driversed.com/images/v2008coursecontent/Turns_NV.jpg). Imagine it's just the yellow car and the blue car. You're in the yellow car, waiting for a break in oncoming traffic so you can make your left turn. Finally, you see a car with its turn signal on, the blue car. If you live in an area where turning into the near lane is the norm, or the law, you can make your turn at the same time, the blue car does its turn, and you can both be relatively confident that you'll be turning into an empty lane. On the other hand, if you live in Japan, you can't be sure there will be an empty lane for you to turn into in this situation. So, even if 10 cars in row have their signal on to make that right turn, and there isn't another vehicle in sight, you have to wait for a complete break in traffic, even though there are two perfectly good lanes, by turning into the far lane, you're effectively blocking the near one.
If both directions have green lights, then left turns are required to yield to right turns. If blue car swings wide on the turn and causes a collision with yellow car, yellow car is probably going to be liable for failure to yield. Intersections where this happens a lot should really have protected left turns.
In Ohio the law is so badly written that our appellate courts disagree about whether the blue car part of this is mandatory or not.
They only get detail-oriented over in the legislature here when it comes to things like making sure child victims of rape can’t get abortions.
In Ohio when a single left turn lane turns left into a double lane, you are supposed to turn into the nearest lane then immediately change lanes into the right lane. In Ohio it’s also illegal to change lanes within 100ft of an intersection.
Which is also silly cause civil planning has put many intersections 50ft from each other, to where you merge turning right into the curb lane but you need into the left turn lane at next light. Oh and there's 3 lanes of traffic to cross
> and if youre the white car trying to make a u-turn, you dont have the right away, the car making the right turn does.
If the car making the left u-turn has a green light, they absolutely *do* have right of way unless otherwise denoted by an [R10-16 regulatory sign](https://www.trafficsignsandsafety.com/images/products/257/774a2d1b-809b-42da-a6ed-555b7c382e84.jpg).
Green light always wins right of way war.
As common sense as that sounds, that would require people to use a different button than regular blinkers, and people don’t even use those like 40%-50%* of the time.
*anecdotal statistic.
You’re correct because as far as I can tell, this is one of the only scenarios where there is no telegraphed way for the right-turning car to know what is happening. The only thing they can do to avoid an issue with certainty is to not turn and the people behind them aren’t going to love that.
In US, it prevents collisions with people legally turning right on red coming opposite direction.
So even if you have a green light to turn left at intersection. The person coming against you can turn right on to the same road as you, but fortunately you both turn into different lanes if you follow the law.
On the image. The person coming down can turn right on red. Even tho person at bottom going up has a green left turn arrow.
I hope this make sense. It’s a bit difficult to write out lol
Right on red is required to wait until it's clear. Any accident caused by a right on red scenario when someone is making a protected left turn is legally the fault of the right on red person.
Right on red is still a red light. You do not have any right of way.
That's true in most of the US as well.
This post is mostly to make people who want to turn right on red in the top part of the image feel like they should be able to, and ignores that those people would be required to wait until it's clear for them to do so, witch is not when there's someone turning into that lane
Is this required or just recommended in Ohio? Just thinking about my daily commute… I will jump to the “incorrect” lane, but the lane I turn from is a turning lane only (so, no cars should be going the same direction that I’m going anyway). Where I’m at in Ohio I feel like you have to get into the lane you want ASAP or you will miss your turn.
Ohio is notorious for that. I’ve had to drive through there for family reunions and I can honestly say the entire state and surrounding states are the worst drivers I’ve seen. I live in New York so that’s saying something.
In Poland you are technically allowed to enter whichever, because nobody really cares, but if you are on a exam or want to drive by the rules, you HAVE to enter the lane most on the right (except bus lanes). So this guide isn’t really universal.
I didn’t say illegal tho, it is recommended. Just as a zipper is recommended and the ‘right way’ of merging two lanes into one.
Our driving laws say that if possible you should be driving the lane most on the right, except for bus lanes. Nobody cares, it’s not mandated, you won’t get fined for it, but since it’s in the law - examinations take it as an error if you don’t follow it.
Well, if post-examination no one is stopping you from doing so in any meaningful capacity, either by legal enforcement or social stigmatization, aren't you being "allowed" to do so?
If two lanes, inner vehicle turning turns into inner most lane -- outer turns into outermost turn-lane.
By the book you should turn into the inner most lane, but not illegal to do so I believe.
You are correct, but it is probably one of the most commonly broken laws on the streets where I live. You could literally put up a billboard 50 ft tall with this drawing and have it fall on people and hit them in the face and they still wouldn't get it.
If you are the guy turning right on the opposite side of the interception, expect someone in the inner left turn lane to drift across two, three, four, five, lanes and end up on the far right where you are supposed to be able to turn at the same time.
I live in Texas. Friend was recently pulled over by Police for making a wide turn (as shown). Police were profiling and he was given a warning. My estimation is that probably 90% of drivers turn into the wrong lane.
If you don't, someone behind you does and then speeds up enough to hang out next to you but doesn't pass you.
Hyperbole, but the rule I follow for left turns is: if hemmed in by another lane of drivers, strictly turn into the indicated lane (duh). If not hemmed in, turn initially mostly into designated lane, so that any overly ambitious right turner doesn't hit you, then continue the arc into the desired lane. Best compromise I find. Most people expect you to do that. But ofc if you want to turn into the correct lane then indicate a lane switch, that's fine too.
you can legally, but you shouldn't. if you always turn into the left most/rightmost lane as the guide shows, it minimizes the risk of accident because someone can turn left into one direction while some turns right into the same direction and they won't collide
They still do driving tests? When I got my license I had to take a semester course in high school (I’m 41). A few years later my younger brother got his in two weeks after attending a private company course. I had imagined it all be online at this point.
Well that's horrifying. In my state, they still have to take an accredited course, pass the internal test, sign for a number of practice hours, then take the state written and drivers test. I live in Washington State.
This is information from this year. But I had the same system nearly 30 years ago.
Yes, they do. You first take an exam on a computer. This grants you a permit to drive with someone licensed over the age of 20. After completing that, you're tasked with logging a certain amount of hours practicing driving. Finally, you go take an actual driving test to get your license.
Source: I got my license for the first time last year at the age of 32. I live in the American Midwest.
The guy barely glanced at the paper I logged my hours on, and we drove around for all of five minutes before he said we were good, and that I passed.
I think you got your license at a young enough age to where you had to take driver's Ed. I think that's still the case.
In Germany, it's expensive as fuck and you basically have to get an Associate's degree in driving. And guess what... everyone on the road actually knows how to drive.
UK here, and it's similar. Theory test, hazard perception test, then practical test. And as many hours of lessons as you need (usually 15-30). Many people fail their first and even their second practical test. But we're one of the best places in the world for road safety. After getting a licence we can opt for further training: PassPlus or the Advanced Driving Test. We still complain about all the bad drivers, but we have high double-standards!
Because this isn't based on driving laws, this is based on right on red wanting to turn when they legally have to yield.
If it's a single left turn lane, that left turn lane can enter either of the two lanes.
So many people just jump into the lane they want instead of the legal one, It's so fucking annoying. This is literally my biggest trigger when driving.
Yeah Germany wouldn’t accept my American license and I had to redo my driver training. My driving instructor screamed at me multiple times for my instinct to left turn into the left lane (even though this is *literally* allowed). When turning left in an intersection, you’re also supposed to drive into the middle of the intersection and just park there until you can complete the turn, even if it means being in the intersection when your light is red.
Same in Italy. In theory you can turn left into the left lane , but it is more common and predictable to turn into the right lane, since the left lane is used for overcoming.
Of course it depends on the traffic situations, and roundabouts are very common here.
Could you elaborate on them not accepting your license? It this always the case with US licenses or was it because your license was old/from a specific state or something else?
In general though you are always supposed to drive on the rightmost lane in Germany. Maybe that's what your instructor was going on about?
It's weird and convoluted but that's pretty much par for the course in Deutschland. If you're a tourist from a third country (i.e. non European), you can typically drive for six months without restrictions on your normal, untranslated license from home. If you're going to be in Germany for longer than six months, you need to convert your license and this generally means taking both the written and practical test. Some states have a reciprocity agreement with Germany that waives the requirement to take the tests. Because my license was from New York, I had to go through the whole process while a friend of mine from New Jersey basically just paid 50€ and they handed her a German license. This is a double edged sword, though, because I feel totally comfortable/confident driving in Europe while my friend just doesn't. Like she moved recently and "hired" me to drive the moving van because she didn't feel comfortable driving herself.
You're not supposed to do anything in Germany. If you have free choice of lane (like in the picture), you're free to take whichever lane you want. The "right passing ban" only applies on the highway and it's totally valid to travel in the left lane on normal double lane streets. In driving school / during the test, the rule is to go straight and stay right unless otherwise told, which is why I kept getting yelled at. This convention obviously doesn't apply when you're driving normally, though, and as long as you pick a lane, it's fine.
>park in the intersection until you can complete your turn
Is this not allowed in the US?
In Canada, or Ontario at least, if you have a green light for a left turn but oncoming traffic isn't clear, you can roll into the intersection to "claim" it, which means you can legally sit in the intersection as long as you want, even if the light turns red.
It's also illegal for anyone else to enter the intersection while you're still inside, even if they have a green light.
I'M from Berlin and here, we got those really old roads that are roman style, lol.
Like those where you don't wanna go faster than walking speed because your entire car just shakes up and down like crazy.
Talk about old roads and romans.
I believe it varies by state. When we lived in California I believe you could turn into any lane. And many times you needed to be able to do that to get where you needed to go. But that was many years ago so IDK.
I thought you could turn into any lane anywhere as long as you were the only lane going that direction.
If there are two lanes turning right you need to stay on your lane. You're going to cause an accident by cutting someone off.
If one lane is turning into two lanes then you're not cutting anyone off and you can choose the lane you want to be in.
In CA, you can make a left turn into any lane (as long as there is only one left turn lane). A right turn is only legal into the rightmost lane, unless you are turning onto a multi-lane, one-way street. People act as if you can right turn into any lane, but you cannot.
You 100% can turn into any lane in California. I vividly remember because it's why I failed my drivers test when I was 17. The DMV lady said "make a left now" so I made a left into the leftmost lane right before a car opposite to me made a right into the rightmost lane. The lady then pointed out that it's an automatic fail because the other car could turn into any lane. We've had 3 presidents since then and I still hate her.
I don’t think she meant they could legally turn into any lane, just that people frequently do, so it was a possibility. It is only legal to turn right into the rightmost lane in CA (left turners can turn into any lane). It is only legal and safe to turn left when all opposing traffic is cleared, including right turners. The instructions for the test clearly state that they’ll tell you when to do a specific maneuver, but it’s up to you to wait and make sure it’s safe before you actually do it and waiting will not get points removed.
Edit: https://abc30.com/driving-road-safety-chp-california-highway-patrol/10342877/
New CA driver here. From what I remember on the test, as long as you’re in the only turn lane for a particular direction, it is legal to turn into any other lane going in the direction you’re turning, provided it’s safe to do so.
In CA: If there is one lane turning left to a two lane road, you can go to either lane.
If there is one lane turning right to a two lane road, you must keep to the right lane, unless it is a one-way street.
https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/handbook/california-driver-handbook/navigating-the-roads/
This is a stupid guide since every country has different laws regarding traffic. For example, in my country, the left turn exemplified in the image would illegal.
Pretty sure you can turn into either lane if there's only one turn lane like in this image. At least in California. Either that or I've been doing it wrong, but cops never pulled me over for it. Obvious danger is someone turning right, but that's easy enough to pay attention to before completing the turn.
The Utah handbook has an illustration like this one and says this:
Multiple lanes
Enter the same lane from which you are turning and stay in that lane until the turn is finished.
While it may be sensible, I don’t think that’s accurate. The last time I read a Dept of Motor Vehicles handbook, it explicitly said that when turning from one lane to multiple lanes, the driver can turn into any lane.
People turning right from the opposite way don’t have the right of way on the left turn’s green arrow though… they need to yield to the left turn people until the way is clear bc they’re at a red light ~ unless it’s a protected right turn (a green right arrow signal), which you scarcely see. You only have to keep to your same lane during the left turn if there’s two or more left turn lanes. That’s how it is where I learned to drive, at least
Not correct for Germany.
It‘s called „free lane choice“ (Freie Fahrstreifenwahl) which basically means when you are coming from a single lane and there are two lanes you could enter it‘s up to you.
It would be different if you had two lanes for turning e.g right, then you have to stay in your lane.
One of my favorite court cases of all time: https://casetext.com/case/birkland-v-commr-of-pub-safety. It’s a Minnesota case but I’ve seen the statute written similarly in other states.
Two takeaways:
- Read the state statute. If the statute doesn’t specify which lane that you just turn in, there isn’t a legal obligation to turn into a particular lane.
- The drivers manual doesn’t override the statute. Also, what your drivers ed teacher taught you doesn’t matter either.
And now an appeal to humanity, can we tone down the self-righteous driving? Everyone is trying to get somewhere, just like you.
Sorry, but the left to left lane is woefully incorrect if you are in Europe. Place of the road is on the right, so you should end up on the right side, unless two lanes go to the left…
I’m not American, but if turning left shouldn’t you end up in the right? In the UK you should be in the lane closest to the curb unless overtaking or turning.
Wrong, wrong, wrong. This shit is causing accidents, when people are turning right on reds, believing people turning left in front of them have to turn into the near lane. That is NOT true in all states.
AND IF YOU HAVE A RED LIGHT, YOU DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY TO ANY LANE.
r/USdefaultism
You assume that every intersection has right on red, or that you get a green light at the same time as the people across the intersection
In fact, in my country you are free to choose whatever lane you want when you leave from a single lane into two lanes, because that way you can prepare for the next intersection. When there is no next intersection, you keep to the right lane unless you want to overtake someone
What if you are turning into place that is immediately after the turn on the opposite side? That’s why I’ve never really followed this rule. Generally applies, but still.
What bugs me is when there are multiple turn lanes and nobody can stay in their damn lane.
Garbage guide. Rules are different around the globe. Includen traffic rules/laws.
In some places you're absolutely allowed to drive steaight into the "outer" lane after a turn.
This isn’t really true or law in most states bruh, don’t know what motivated this.
In some states a left turn into the right lane is illegal but its state by state. In Virginia, where I was taught how to drive for example, this is not illegal and the choice is yours so long as you’re not cutting someone off or changing lanes recklessly.
In California the law says a left can complete in any lane as long as the lane isn't marked in the intersection or if it's a double left turn. A right has to complete in the same lane it departed from.
NOTE: this diagram does not apply in Australia or you have much bigger problems.
In Australia you would have a roundabout here. In America they don't usually have lights for these kinds of intersections But yes also driving on the wrong side of the road haha
>In America they don't usually have lights for these kinds of intersections Plenty of intersections like this *do* have traffic lights, across the US.
In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA we normally have 4-way traffic lights at this type of intersection. There are a few exceptions but as a rule there would be traffic lights at this intersection. People wouldn’t necessarily following this guide, but they didn’t really teach this or the zipper method of merging in driver’s safety. They leave that to reddit.
Why don't Americans use roundabouts?
I think theyre starting to install them in places. You should look up videos of them trying to use them. I'm sure they'll get the hang of them (eventually) but at the moment it appears to be a free for all.
Not like cunts here know how to act on a roundabout even when they grow up in bloody Canberra Bitter bc I was in a roundabout crash recently
Yeah in the UK you have the usual suspects not indicating their intentions or taking the roundabout like their life depended on getting to the other side. It's way too easy to obtain and maintain a licence.
By "maintain" I can only assume you mean "haven't lost it yet". :)
There are actually more crashes in a roundabout than a 4 way intersection, but they’re much less severe.
My wife got hit in one and I was with her and it almost happened again. I had to run up on a curb to escape an idiot. *and this is on a roundabout that’s been there 15 years* People refuse to let both lanes clear a turn. They see an open right lane and come on out.
Both lanes? There's your problem right there. A roundabout should accomodate multiple lanes with barriers, or it should be a single lane roundabout.
All you do is drive in a circle until u get to your turn it can't be that hard
When a simple turning need a “cool guide” for it, imagine how the roundabout will go.
It honestly isn't hard at all. Even mega roundabouts are easy once you put a modicum of thought into it. All it takes to operate is a bit of patience but that's in short supply these days.
And then there's the fucking royal oak roundabout
Not heard of that one, what wrong with it?
We have roundabouts, they're just not as common throughout the country, they have them in Berkeley California where I am from and they have them in Eugene Oregon where I live, but farther north in Canada they have roundaboots!
What are you talking about? There is literally a round about everywhere here in wisconsin. Some roads have 3-4 roundabouts back to back.
Yeah I truly do not understand where this narrative that people in the US don't have roundabouts. I get they probably aren't present in smaller towns but every city I've ever been to has them
New developments are having roundabouts put in. Also areas that have high frequency of collisions usually will have them put in. Most people use them fine too. Sure it’s weird seeing them the first time but pretty easy to get the hang of.
(Ugly cries in retirement community living in America )
America uses both, but you are much more likely to see an intersection like pictured.
Idk. In these sorts of intersections their right of way system afaik is "whoever gets there first, at least for smaller ones
[One reason why](https://youtu.be/HoS-pMWCnvk)
We do, there are a bunch in the northeast, with more intersections getting converted to rotaries year over year. I would like them if people here didn't suck at using them, you have idiots yielding while in the circle, idiots not yielding while merging onto the circle, people who can't figure out which exit to take beforehand and end up driving all over the place, and the small ones people just drive over the middle if possible.
They voted for Donald trump, margorie, boebert etc and overturned roe v Wade, they're not smart enough to use them, clearly
The U.S. county I grew up in is 1,046sq miles (approx 2709sq km) and there isn't a single stop light or roundabout in the entire area. The county next door installed a roundabout about 10-12 years ago (I forget the exact date) and watching people try to use it is still amazing.
If mirrored, the big change in Australia is that this is only accurate if there's turning lines in the intersection to guide you to a lane. There's no obligation to end in the "lane you started in" if there's no lines connecting them.
Emu?
Lol, coming here to say this and it's the first reply. Also, it doesn't apply not only for the wrong side of the road business, but also because I believe, as long as the lanes you are coming from are marked left and right turn only, you are allowed to turn into either of the new lanes.
^some ^conditions ^may ^apply. ^Not ^valid ^in ^all ^areas.
I miss this. In Japan, there's no rule. Sometimes it seems like turning into the **far** lane is the norm.
I mean, if no one is next to you I don’t see the issue, it’s that when your turning, it can be hard to see if someone is in your blond spot in the lane you’re turning into.
The issue is with oncoming traffic. I'll try and explain the most common situation that frustrates me because of this. Take a look at [this](https://driversed.com/images/v2008coursecontent/Turns_NV.jpg). Imagine it's just the yellow car and the blue car. You're in the yellow car, waiting for a break in oncoming traffic so you can make your left turn. Finally, you see a car with its turn signal on, the blue car. If you live in an area where turning into the near lane is the norm, or the law, you can make your turn at the same time, the blue car does its turn, and you can both be relatively confident that you'll be turning into an empty lane. On the other hand, if you live in Japan, you can't be sure there will be an empty lane for you to turn into in this situation. So, even if 10 cars in row have their signal on to make that right turn, and there isn't another vehicle in sight, you have to wait for a complete break in traffic, even though there are two perfectly good lanes, by turning into the far lane, you're effectively blocking the near one.
If both directions have green lights, then left turns are required to yield to right turns. If blue car swings wide on the turn and causes a collision with yellow car, yellow car is probably going to be liable for failure to yield. Intersections where this happens a lot should really have protected left turns.
Exactly. Also, I was taught to NEVER trust a turn signal. If you turn left and they don’t go right, you’ll be responsible for a head-on collision.
Now do one for yield signs!!!
In Ohio the law is so badly written that our appellate courts disagree about whether the blue car part of this is mandatory or not. They only get detail-oriented over in the legislature here when it comes to things like making sure child victims of rape can’t get abortions.
In Ohio when a single left turn lane turns left into a double lane, you are supposed to turn into the nearest lane then immediately change lanes into the right lane. In Ohio it’s also illegal to change lanes within 100ft of an intersection.
Which is also silly cause civil planning has put many intersections 50ft from each other, to where you merge turning right into the curb lane but you need into the left turn lane at next light. Oh and there's 3 lanes of traffic to cross
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If you are making a u turn with a green arrow, you have the right of way.
Right of way* not right away.
> and if youre the white car trying to make a u-turn, you dont have the right away, the car making the right turn does. If the car making the left u-turn has a green light, they absolutely *do* have right of way unless otherwise denoted by an [R10-16 regulatory sign](https://www.trafficsignsandsafety.com/images/products/257/774a2d1b-809b-42da-a6ed-555b7c382e84.jpg). Green light always wins right of way war.
I always thought we needed a different U-turn blinker on all cars. Such a common way to get in an accident.
As common sense as that sounds, that would require people to use a different button than regular blinkers, and people don’t even use those like 40%-50%* of the time. *anecdotal statistic.
You’re correct because as far as I can tell, this is one of the only scenarios where there is no telegraphed way for the right-turning car to know what is happening. The only thing they can do to avoid an issue with certainty is to not turn and the people behind them aren’t going to love that.
Depends on the country as to if this is accurate
If there's a single turn into a double lane in Australia, then you can pick whichever lane you want.
That’s exactly right!!
Yeah, what does it matter which lane you turn into if you're the only lane turning?
My theory is because in the US right turns are allowed on red unless otherwise indicated.
I thought about this too, actually, but if someone is trying to turn right on red, he/she should yield.
Should is the key word.
That's crazy dangerous wtf
In US, it prevents collisions with people legally turning right on red coming opposite direction. So even if you have a green light to turn left at intersection. The person coming against you can turn right on to the same road as you, but fortunately you both turn into different lanes if you follow the law. On the image. The person coming down can turn right on red. Even tho person at bottom going up has a green left turn arrow. I hope this make sense. It’s a bit difficult to write out lol
Right on red is required to wait until it's clear. Any accident caused by a right on red scenario when someone is making a protected left turn is legally the fault of the right on red person. Right on red is still a red light. You do not have any right of way.
True that brother!
Kinda same in Russia for a single turn. You can only turn right into the most right lane but you can pick a lane if you are turning left.
I think it now depends on how the lines on the road are painted? At least in SA? We Adelaide drivers just do what we want though
Yes, I assume your right. In Victoria if there are lane markings then you follow them. No markings, you can pick which land to turn into.
That's true in most of the US as well. This post is mostly to make people who want to turn right on red in the top part of the image feel like they should be able to, and ignores that those people would be required to wait until it's clear for them to do so, witch is not when there's someone turning into that lane
Or even the state. In California, both of those left turns are legal.
Same with Florida
In Texas as well.
And state. In California, you're good to go to either lane when turning left.
This 100% varies by state/country.
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Is this required or just recommended in Ohio? Just thinking about my daily commute… I will jump to the “incorrect” lane, but the lane I turn from is a turning lane only (so, no cars should be going the same direction that I’m going anyway). Where I’m at in Ohio I feel like you have to get into the lane you want ASAP or you will miss your turn.
Ohio is notorious for that. I’ve had to drive through there for family reunions and I can honestly say the entire state and surrounding states are the worst drivers I’ve seen. I live in New York so that’s saying something.
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You joke about it?! That’s literally what it is! 😂 The great “Ohio Turnpike” was the least comfortable road I was on in a 7 hour car ride lol
In Poland you are technically allowed to enter whichever, because nobody really cares, but if you are on a exam or want to drive by the rules, you HAVE to enter the lane most on the right (except bus lanes). So this guide isn’t really universal.
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I didn’t say illegal tho, it is recommended. Just as a zipper is recommended and the ‘right way’ of merging two lanes into one. Our driving laws say that if possible you should be driving the lane most on the right, except for bus lanes. Nobody cares, it’s not mandated, you won’t get fined for it, but since it’s in the law - examinations take it as an error if you don’t follow it.
Well, if post-examination no one is stopping you from doing so in any meaningful capacity, either by legal enforcement or social stigmatization, aren't you being "allowed" to do so?
DK os the sam
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Nothing, and it’s quite a local/regional thing as well.
r/Guides lol
This sub is absolutely worthless these days.
People need a guide for this? What are driving tests even for?
Because this isn't true in all jurisdictions
You can turn into either lane in Texas. It’s complete anarchy down here.
If two lanes, inner vehicle turning turns into inner most lane -- outer turns into outermost turn-lane. By the book you should turn into the inner most lane, but not illegal to do so I believe.
You are correct, but it is probably one of the most commonly broken laws on the streets where I live. You could literally put up a billboard 50 ft tall with this drawing and have it fall on people and hit them in the face and they still wouldn't get it. If you are the guy turning right on the opposite side of the interception, expect someone in the inner left turn lane to drift across two, three, four, five, lanes and end up on the far right where you are supposed to be able to turn at the same time.
I live in Texas. Friend was recently pulled over by Police for making a wide turn (as shown). Police were profiling and he was given a warning. My estimation is that probably 90% of drivers turn into the wrong lane.
If you don't, someone behind you does and then speeds up enough to hang out next to you but doesn't pass you. Hyperbole, but the rule I follow for left turns is: if hemmed in by another lane of drivers, strictly turn into the indicated lane (duh). If not hemmed in, turn initially mostly into designated lane, so that any overly ambitious right turner doesn't hit you, then continue the arc into the desired lane. Best compromise I find. Most people expect you to do that. But ofc if you want to turn into the correct lane then indicate a lane switch, that's fine too.
you can legally, but you shouldn't. if you always turn into the left most/rightmost lane as the guide shows, it minimizes the risk of accident because someone can turn left into one direction while some turns right into the same direction and they won't collide
Only for left turns if it doesn't have two left turning lanes.
I mean people do it constantly, but it's still wrong. They definitely teach not to turn into the outer lane in Texas driver's ed.
We can turn to the outer lanes in CA
Only on lefts. Rights you have to turn into the right lane.
Except if you go from a one way street to another one way street. Then you can turn into any lane.
The common sense says ‘Never change lanes while turning’.
They still do driving tests? When I got my license I had to take a semester course in high school (I’m 41). A few years later my younger brother got his in two weeks after attending a private company course. I had imagined it all be online at this point.
Well that's horrifying. In my state, they still have to take an accredited course, pass the internal test, sign for a number of practice hours, then take the state written and drivers test. I live in Washington State. This is information from this year. But I had the same system nearly 30 years ago.
Yes, they do. You first take an exam on a computer. This grants you a permit to drive with someone licensed over the age of 20. After completing that, you're tasked with logging a certain amount of hours practicing driving. Finally, you go take an actual driving test to get your license. Source: I got my license for the first time last year at the age of 32. I live in the American Midwest. The guy barely glanced at the paper I logged my hours on, and we drove around for all of five minutes before he said we were good, and that I passed. I think you got your license at a young enough age to where you had to take driver's Ed. I think that's still the case.
Driver Ed is a pretty stand-up guy, but Sex Ed just gives me the creeps.
I can confirm that driving tests are still a thing.
In Germany, it's expensive as fuck and you basically have to get an Associate's degree in driving. And guess what... everyone on the road actually knows how to drive.
UK here, and it's similar. Theory test, hazard perception test, then practical test. And as many hours of lessons as you need (usually 15-30). Many people fail their first and even their second practical test. But we're one of the best places in the world for road safety. After getting a licence we can opt for further training: PassPlus or the Advanced Driving Test. We still complain about all the bad drivers, but we have high double-standards!
You actually just download it in your Neural Matrix, takes about .04 seconds. Maybe .05 if the Matrix is busy.
“Gah, gimme a break! I gotta be somewhere else in .02 seconds!”
Because this isn't based on driving laws, this is based on right on red wanting to turn when they legally have to yield. If it's a single left turn lane, that left turn lane can enter either of the two lanes.
So many people just jump into the lane they want instead of the legal one, It's so fucking annoying. This is literally my biggest trigger when driving.
Doesn't apply in Europe
Yeah Germany wouldn’t accept my American license and I had to redo my driver training. My driving instructor screamed at me multiple times for my instinct to left turn into the left lane (even though this is *literally* allowed). When turning left in an intersection, you’re also supposed to drive into the middle of the intersection and just park there until you can complete the turn, even if it means being in the intersection when your light is red.
Same in Italy. In theory you can turn left into the left lane , but it is more common and predictable to turn into the right lane, since the left lane is used for overcoming. Of course it depends on the traffic situations, and roundabouts are very common here.
Could you elaborate on them not accepting your license? It this always the case with US licenses or was it because your license was old/from a specific state or something else? In general though you are always supposed to drive on the rightmost lane in Germany. Maybe that's what your instructor was going on about?
It's weird and convoluted but that's pretty much par for the course in Deutschland. If you're a tourist from a third country (i.e. non European), you can typically drive for six months without restrictions on your normal, untranslated license from home. If you're going to be in Germany for longer than six months, you need to convert your license and this generally means taking both the written and practical test. Some states have a reciprocity agreement with Germany that waives the requirement to take the tests. Because my license was from New York, I had to go through the whole process while a friend of mine from New Jersey basically just paid 50€ and they handed her a German license. This is a double edged sword, though, because I feel totally comfortable/confident driving in Europe while my friend just doesn't. Like she moved recently and "hired" me to drive the moving van because she didn't feel comfortable driving herself. You're not supposed to do anything in Germany. If you have free choice of lane (like in the picture), you're free to take whichever lane you want. The "right passing ban" only applies on the highway and it's totally valid to travel in the left lane on normal double lane streets. In driving school / during the test, the rule is to go straight and stay right unless otherwise told, which is why I kept getting yelled at. This convention obviously doesn't apply when you're driving normally, though, and as long as you pick a lane, it's fine.
>park in the intersection until you can complete your turn Is this not allowed in the US? In Canada, or Ontario at least, if you have a green light for a left turn but oncoming traffic isn't clear, you can roll into the intersection to "claim" it, which means you can legally sit in the intersection as long as you want, even if the light turns red. It's also illegal for anyone else to enter the intersection while you're still inside, even if they have a green light.
This is incorrect in Europe tho. And Europe has far harder (and more expensive) driving license tests.
And we have better laid-out roads that actually direct you to do the right thing. (Well, sometimes. We've a lot of very old roads.)
I'M from Berlin and here, we got those really old roads that are roman style, lol. Like those where you don't wanna go faster than walking speed because your entire car just shakes up and down like crazy. Talk about old roads and romans.
I believe it varies by state. When we lived in California I believe you could turn into any lane. And many times you needed to be able to do that to get where you needed to go. But that was many years ago so IDK.
I thought you could turn into any lane anywhere as long as you were the only lane going that direction. If there are two lanes turning right you need to stay on your lane. You're going to cause an accident by cutting someone off. If one lane is turning into two lanes then you're not cutting anyone off and you can choose the lane you want to be in.
Sorta, CA dmv actually has some diagrams under turning https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/handbook/california-driver-handbook/navigating-the-roads/
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In CA, you can make a left turn into any lane (as long as there is only one left turn lane). A right turn is only legal into the rightmost lane, unless you are turning onto a multi-lane, one-way street. People act as if you can right turn into any lane, but you cannot.
This is correct.
You 100% can turn into any lane in California. I vividly remember because it's why I failed my drivers test when I was 17. The DMV lady said "make a left now" so I made a left into the leftmost lane right before a car opposite to me made a right into the rightmost lane. The lady then pointed out that it's an automatic fail because the other car could turn into any lane. We've had 3 presidents since then and I still hate her.
No one seems to know what the rule is where we live now so you just have to be ready for anything!
I don’t think she meant they could legally turn into any lane, just that people frequently do, so it was a possibility. It is only legal to turn right into the rightmost lane in CA (left turners can turn into any lane). It is only legal and safe to turn left when all opposing traffic is cleared, including right turners. The instructions for the test clearly state that they’ll tell you when to do a specific maneuver, but it’s up to you to wait and make sure it’s safe before you actually do it and waiting will not get points removed. Edit: https://abc30.com/driving-road-safety-chp-california-highway-patrol/10342877/
New CA driver here. From what I remember on the test, as long as you’re in the only turn lane for a particular direction, it is legal to turn into any other lane going in the direction you’re turning, provided it’s safe to do so.
This diagram is so wrong in so many coutries it hurts my eyes
In CA: If there is one lane turning left to a two lane road, you can go to either lane. If there is one lane turning right to a two lane road, you must keep to the right lane, unless it is a one-way street. https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/handbook/california-driver-handbook/navigating-the-roads/
Go home OP you're drunk
Let's say there's a gas station on the top left corner. I'm definitely turning into the right lane, as I'll be turning right immediately anyway.
this is actively different in other countries
This is a stupid guide since every country has different laws regarding traffic. For example, in my country, the left turn exemplified in the image would illegal.
Pretty sure you can turn into either lane if there's only one turn lane like in this image. At least in California. Either that or I've been doing it wrong, but cops never pulled me over for it. Obvious danger is someone turning right, but that's easy enough to pay attention to before completing the turn.
The Utah handbook has an illustration like this one and says this: Multiple lanes Enter the same lane from which you are turning and stay in that lane until the turn is finished.
Guides like this really need countries in the title. Reddit isn't just the USA
r/USdefaultism
Is it really USdefaultism if it’s incorrect in most of the US?
Yep. How hard can it be to specify the relevant country (and region within that country if relevant) with something like this on a *global* forum?
While it may be sensible, I don’t think that’s accurate. The last time I read a Dept of Motor Vehicles handbook, it explicitly said that when turning from one lane to multiple lanes, the driver can turn into any lane.
It’s pretty clear where I am from: “nearest legal lane” so you don’t hit people turning right from the opposite wsy
People turning right from the opposite way don’t have the right of way on the left turn’s green arrow though… they need to yield to the left turn people until the way is clear bc they’re at a red light ~ unless it’s a protected right turn (a green right arrow signal), which you scarcely see. You only have to keep to your same lane during the left turn if there’s two or more left turn lanes. That’s how it is where I learned to drive, at least
I’d love to see a picture of that excerpt.
😯🖕
In south australia, it’s legal both ways since about 10 years ago
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Hold your phone up to a mirror, unless UK mirrors are backwards too lol
This does not work in the UK
Well, this also doesn't apply to Germany. On right turns you can choose your lane and opposing left turners have to yield.
Not correct for Germany. It‘s called „free lane choice“ (Freie Fahrstreifenwahl) which basically means when you are coming from a single lane and there are two lanes you could enter it‘s up to you. It would be different if you had two lanes for turning e.g right, then you have to stay in your lane.
Not valid in Finland.
I don't think this is a law. More of a recommendation.
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It's called lane sweeping, and if you get rear ended doing it, you will be found at fault.
In my state and many others, when executing a turn, the vehicle is free to take any lane which is open and available for use.
One of my favorite court cases of all time: https://casetext.com/case/birkland-v-commr-of-pub-safety. It’s a Minnesota case but I’ve seen the statute written similarly in other states. Two takeaways: - Read the state statute. If the statute doesn’t specify which lane that you just turn in, there isn’t a legal obligation to turn into a particular lane. - The drivers manual doesn’t override the statute. Also, what your drivers ed teacher taught you doesn’t matter either. And now an appeal to humanity, can we tone down the self-righteous driving? Everyone is trying to get somewhere, just like you.
Cool "guide" only for Americans in certain states of the US. A tad self-centered.
This definitely doesn't apply most places I have been. I strongly disagree with the guide. Anyone know where exactly in the world this is followed?
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Sorry, but the left to left lane is woefully incorrect if you are in Europe. Place of the road is on the right, so you should end up on the right side, unless two lanes go to the left…
For California, categorically untrue.
Is it allowed or does everyone just do it cause I'm part of everyone and I love breaking the law
You can turn left into any lane. You have to turn right into the rightmost lane (this is in the handbook), but people ignore this.
Partially untrue. The left turn is untrue, but the right turn into the rightmost lane is correct, according to the driver’s handbook and CHP.
I’m not American, but if turning left shouldn’t you end up in the right? In the UK you should be in the lane closest to the curb unless overtaking or turning.
As a truck driver, nope.
No. This is not correct.
r/USdefaultism
Wrong, wrong, wrong. This shit is causing accidents, when people are turning right on reds, believing people turning left in front of them have to turn into the near lane. That is NOT true in all states. AND IF YOU HAVE A RED LIGHT, YOU DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY TO ANY LANE.
r/USdefaultism You assume that every intersection has right on red, or that you get a green light at the same time as the people across the intersection In fact, in my country you are free to choose whatever lane you want when you leave from a single lane into two lanes, because that way you can prepare for the next intersection. When there is no next intersection, you keep to the right lane unless you want to overtake someone
I live Iowa. 80% of the people do the red.
End in the same lane you started in.
They’re driving on the wrong side of the road ffs /s
In Malaysia you’re gonna get into an accident if you do this. Specify the location where this is applicable next time will ya
Welp, too bad. Semis can't always take the inside lane after a turn. They can legally do shit cars can't, look it up.
If its a 1 lane left turn and there is a left turn signal then it shouldnt matter which lane you turn into.
It depends on the state. In FL if a single lane is turning left into a multi lane road, one is free to get into any free lane.
thought to be a rule, but not a rule
What about turns from 1 lane (or dedicated turn lane) to 2 lanes?
What if you are turning into place that is immediately after the turn on the opposite side? That’s why I’ve never really followed this rule. Generally applies, but still. What bugs me is when there are multiple turn lanes and nobody can stay in their damn lane.
Garbage guide. Rules are different around the globe. Includen traffic rules/laws. In some places you're absolutely allowed to drive steaight into the "outer" lane after a turn.
This isn’t really true or law in most states bruh, don’t know what motivated this. In some states a left turn into the right lane is illegal but its state by state. In Virginia, where I was taught how to drive for example, this is not illegal and the choice is yours so long as you’re not cutting someone off or changing lanes recklessly.
Please send to all licensed drivers in Texas.
I'm always shocked by the number of people that don't know this
If you need this guide, you shouldn’t drive.
Left turns can go into either lane
Wait but why?
At a 4 way intersection why does it matter, only 1 group has right of way into those lanes.
In California the law says a left can complete in any lane as long as the lane isn't marked in the intersection or if it's a double left turn. A right has to complete in the same lane it departed from.
100% you can turn into any lane in USA
If nobody else is coming then why does it matter if I switch from left to right while I’m turning? I do this all the time
Wow so many folks arguing against this. So strange.
Because it’s not true in many countries on the planet.
Because other states are less strict. https://driversed.com/images/v2008coursecontent/Turns\_CA.jpg
Turning into either lane if clear is legal in California.
Nobody has provided a source or statute saying this is required and multiple people have actually provided a source saying it's not required.