Two-way left turn lanes on a 4-lane roadway
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skejam
- Newbie
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- Location: Vernon
Two-way left turn lanes on a 4-lane roadway
Check out: http://drivesmartbc.ca and look for "Bad Driver of the Week", specifically the article and video about use of the two-way left turn lane to merge right after turning left onto a four-lane roadway from a business. I responded with "Holy Cow! That's what I've been doing for years...", and was roundly criticized by the moderator - a retired RCMP traffic officer. Wonder if any of you use the middle (5th) lane to merge right...
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DaveB
- Defender of the World
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- Location: Vernon, BC
Re: Two-way left turn lanes on a 4-lane roadway
I do too, I was trained to drive that way by a legit drivers training school in Abbotsford, which has miles of that kind of lane on South Fraser Way.
It's worth noting that for many roads with a centre lane, it would be close to impossible to make a left turn without using the centre lane to merge.
If this is a case of trying to enforce the letter of the law, rather than the spirit, then I challenge the way they've painted the lines as well, because it really makes no sense, as it is a solid line on the outside and a dotted line on the centre lane side, which tells me I'm not allowed to cross into the lane from the driving lane, but I can cross out of the middle into the driving lanes.
I noticed that a new user has just signed up for the forum: DriveSmartBC. Hopefully they will be forthcoming with their viewpoint and prepared to listen you ours!
Dave
It's worth noting that for many roads with a centre lane, it would be close to impossible to make a left turn without using the centre lane to merge.
If this is a case of trying to enforce the letter of the law, rather than the spirit, then I challenge the way they've painted the lines as well, because it really makes no sense, as it is a solid line on the outside and a dotted line on the centre lane side, which tells me I'm not allowed to cross into the lane from the driving lane, but I can cross out of the middle into the driving lanes.
I noticed that a new user has just signed up for the forum: DriveSmartBC. Hopefully they will be forthcoming with their viewpoint and prepared to listen you ours!
Dave
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DBrands
- Wing Nut
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- Location: Edmonton, AB
Re: Two-way left turn lanes on a 4-lane roadway
If you have the urge to troll on the internet, comment on that site! Only one point of view seems to be correct there...
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franko
- Out of Africa
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- Location: Victoria BC
Re: Two-way left turn lanes on a 4-lane roadway
Hmm you make a good point. But in the vid that guy took way to long to merge into traffic. I think the idea would be to stop and wait for a gap no?
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DriveSmartBC
Re: Two-way left turn lanes on a 4-lane roadway
You are welcome to post the content of an e-mail reply that I may have made to you here. If it roundly criticises you in an inappropriate way I will happily apologise.skejam wrote:snip ... I've been doing for years...", and was roundly criticized by the moderator - a retired RCMP traffic officer...snip
If instead you are upset with comments made after your comment on the article I would like to respectfully point out that none of them were mine.
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skejam
- Newbie
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- Location: Vernon
Re: Two-way left turn lanes on a 4-lane roadway
I had assumed the response was from retired RCMP member Tim Schewe (sp?). It appears I was incorrect in this assumption. Another reader made the comment. It may not have been inappropriate, but I thought he/she made a couple of inappropriate assumptions about my concern for other drivers.
Actually, I thought there would have been considerably more comments on that topic from other drivers. I have had a few informal conversations with other drivers on this topic. Those that responded commented that they use this lane the same way as I, most adding that they stop and wait for an opening before merging right.
The driver in the video certainly drove a very long way in the two-way left turn lane before merging, and shouldn't have. It was my intention only to point out what seems to be a common, but apparently unlawful use of this lane.
Actually, I thought there would have been considerably more comments on that topic from other drivers. I have had a few informal conversations with other drivers on this topic. Those that responded commented that they use this lane the same way as I, most adding that they stop and wait for an opening before merging right.
The driver in the video certainly drove a very long way in the two-way left turn lane before merging, and shouldn't have. It was my intention only to point out what seems to be a common, but apparently unlawful use of this lane.