Post by mrog on Jul 14, 2023 15:30:54 GMT -8
There's a certain intersection in Idaho, USA that's causing confusion for a lot of drivers. As you can see in the photo, the pavement widens near the intersection, as if there should be a right turn lane. But the widened area is marked with chevrons. The turn arrows show that the same lane should be used for traffic going straight and turning right. The only lane usage indicators are the pavement markings and traffic lights. There is no additional signage.
Many drivers turn right from the lane with the chevrons, and many others turn right from the lane with the right and straight arrows. There's no clear consensus among drivers on how to make right turns here. Even after cars are waiting in one lane with their right turn signals on, other cars start filling the other lane and wait to turn right, too. Then both lanes of cars try to turn right at the same time. It's a real mess.
I asked the highway department about it, and they said "...even though this area is not specifically striped as a right turn lane (there isn’t enough room to physically stripe a dedicated area for right turning vehicles), drivers who use it as such are acting lawfully." They cited Idaho Code 49-644, which says, "Both the approach for a right turn and the right turn shall be made as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway."
So they say it's okay to turn from the lane with the chevrons, but they didn't answer about which lane should be used. Whoever designed the intersection clearly intended to discourage drivers from using turning near the curb, and the arrows seem to indicate that it's okay to turn from the lane where the arrows are. As a driver, I have to assume that the markings were put there for a reason and that it's okay to obey them.
If I understand the law correctly, there are effectively two right turn lanes here. What's the best thing for a driver to do in this situation?
Many drivers turn right from the lane with the chevrons, and many others turn right from the lane with the right and straight arrows. There's no clear consensus among drivers on how to make right turns here. Even after cars are waiting in one lane with their right turn signals on, other cars start filling the other lane and wait to turn right, too. Then both lanes of cars try to turn right at the same time. It's a real mess.
I asked the highway department about it, and they said "...even though this area is not specifically striped as a right turn lane (there isn’t enough room to physically stripe a dedicated area for right turning vehicles), drivers who use it as such are acting lawfully." They cited Idaho Code 49-644, which says, "Both the approach for a right turn and the right turn shall be made as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway."
So they say it's okay to turn from the lane with the chevrons, but they didn't answer about which lane should be used. Whoever designed the intersection clearly intended to discourage drivers from using turning near the curb, and the arrows seem to indicate that it's okay to turn from the lane where the arrows are. As a driver, I have to assume that the markings were put there for a reason and that it's okay to obey them.
If I understand the law correctly, there are effectively two right turn lanes here. What's the best thing for a driver to do in this situation?
