Right Turn Right Of Way Question

[Spartan925]

So I've been unsure of the answer to this for a while, but it's something I'd like to figure out for sure since it's something I deal with every time I leave my house. My residential street is a two lane road with one lane in each direction. Say, if I am leaving for work, I make a right onto the main road which is four lanes, two in each direction. When my light is green, the road directly across from me has a green, too. 9 times out of 10, I want to be in the right-hand lane of the main road, so if the driver from the street across from me turns left into the left-hand lane, there's no issue. However, I've had a few instances where I want to be in the left-hand lane, and so does the driver from the other side, and I end up having to let them go ahead to avoid a collision. Or, in a situation like the one you see here, I will want to be in the right-hand lane, but so does the other driver and again, I have to yield to them to avoid an accident.

My question is, when I turn right do I have to stay in the right-hand lane or can I turn into either of the two lanes? And say, if someone from across the way hits me while I am turning into the left lane, would they be at fault for violating my right of way? The DMV handbook isn't super clear on this or maybe I'm not seeing where it's specified, but I've always thought that no matter what, right turners have right of way over left turners.

 

[Shaggy]

The right turn must be completed in the lane closest to the curb.

§ 22100. Except as provided in Section 22100.5 or 22101, the driver of any vehicle intending to turn upon a highway shall do so as follows:
(a) Right Turns. Both the approach for a right-hand turn and a right-hand turn shall be made as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except:
(1) Upon a highway having three marked lanes for traffic moving in one direction that terminates at an intersecting highway accommodating traffic in both directions, the driver of a vehicle in the middle lane may turn right into any lane lawfully available to traffic moving in that direction upon the roadway being entered.
(2) If a right-hand turn is made from a one-way highway at an intersection, a driver shall approach the turn as provided in this subdivision and shall complete the turn in any lane lawfully available to traffic moving in that direction upon the roadway being entered.
(3) Upon a highway having an additional lane or lanes marked for a right turn by appropriate signs or markings, the driver of a vehicle may turn right from any lane designated and marked for that turning movement.

 

[orbframe]

However you do have the right of way when you're both facing greens. You have to complete your turn in the closest lane to the curb, and having the right of way means nothing on a motorcycle as we all know, but just FYI, right turners have the right of way.

Kind of like being right when arguing with your significant other. You're right but good luck with that...

 

[Spartan925]

Got it, so I wouldn't be able to pull into the left lane directly, I would need to pull I to the right lane then eventually change to the left. Pretty much what I've been doing to be on the safe side.

So basically if that SUV had hit the camera car in that YT clip, the SUV would be at fault, right? Seems like they should have pulled into the left lane or at least waited for the camera car to complete their turn.

 

[Shaggy]

So basically if that SUV had hit the camera car in that YT clip, the SUV would be at fault, right? Seems like they should have pulled into the left lane or at least waited for the camera car to complete their turn.

Maybe, maybe not.

• The vehicle turning left can complete their turn in any available lane.
  
• The vehicle making the right turn can only complete their turn in the lane closest to the right hand curb line.
  
• A vehicle approaching an intersection must yield right of way to vehicles already in the intersection.
  
• If both vehicles enter the intersection at the same time, the vehicle making the right turn has the right of way.

Regarding the video: The left turning SUV entered the intersection before the camera vehicle, giving them the right of way. Having the right of way, they can complete their left turn in any available lane. The turn the SUV made was sloppy, and should not have drifted from the #1 into the #2 lane. Both drivers could use a refresher on driving rules and etiquette. The driver in the camera vehicle could do well to relax and not be so quick to throw a hissy fit.

 

[Shaggy]

I watched more of that video. I really hope that isn't you. If so, you need to relax behind the wheel. None of those moves I saw should even register as noteworthy....

 

[Sticka]

Regarding the video: The left turning SUV entered the intersection before the camera vehicle, giving them the right of way. Having the right of way, they can complete their left turn in any available lane. The turn the SUV made was sloppy, and should not have drifted from the #1 into the #2 lane. Both drivers could use a refresher on driving rules and etiquette. The driver in the camera vehicle could do well to relax and not be so quick to throw a hissy fit.

I learnt this while doing my driving test. The car in front of me made a left turn and drifted into the 2nd (right) lane. He was also doing a drive test. I asked the guy giving me my test if it was an instant fail? He informed me that it was perfectly legal.

 

[berth]

• The vehicle turning left can complete their turn in any available lane.
  
• The vehicle making the right turn can only complete their turn in the lane closest to the right hand curb line.
  
• A vehicle approaching an intersection must yield right of way to vehicles already in the intersection.
  
• If both vehicles enter the intersection at the same time, the vehicle making the right turn has the right of way.

And, as always, the Universal Laws of Raw Tonnage supersede all of these. Oh, these laws may prevail in court, but on the street, it's different.

 

[danate]

I learnt this while doing my driving test. The car in front of me made a left turn and drifted into the 2nd (right) lane. He was also doing a drive test. I asked the guy giving me my test if it was an instant fail? He informed me that it was perfectly legal.

I would imagine that if someone kept drifting across the lanes after exiting the intersection that could be considered an unsafe lane change. They can turn into any lane, but they have to pick one.

 

[David919]

And let me add, if there are more than one right or left turn lanes, and there is more than two lanes exiting the intersection (two turning lanes and three or more exiting lanes) the vehicle in the inside lane (right lane for right turn and left lane for left turn) must remain in the inside lane while the other vehicle is free to move into any lane other then the inside lane, unless otherwise posted. It is also legal to turn right against a red, after stopping, from the second from right TURN lane unless other wise posted. Honestly I am not trying to confuse the issue, similer but kind of a thread jack, I have issues with people in the inside lane going wide when you're next to them turning at the same time.

 

[Kewl Breeze]

I watched more of that video. I really hope that isn't you. If so, you need to relax behind the wheel. None of those moves I saw should even register as noteworthy....

Sorry to derail but +1 to above. I dislike drivers like the camera vehicle driver (and I see a lot of them) more than the ones making the minor mistakes. They drive as if they are looking for a problem to exist where there really isn't one. Just let your foot of the gas a tiny bit, be more courteous to fellow motorists, stop calling everyone names that isn't up on a horse as high as yours*, and be half a second later to your destination and life will go on and the sun will shine again in your life. Sure it'd be nice if everyone drove 100% perfect but the minor stuff they are doing in that video is not even worth the time it took to type this.

*"Your" meaning whomever is driving like that, not you personally.

 

[Smash Allen]

we went over this when spartan was still riding...at least he took it to a car...

if i pay attention to other drivers it is easy to rage but it's just spinning my wheels...

 

[bojangle]

And let me add, if there are more than one right or left turn lanes, and there is more than two lanes exiting the intersection (two turning lanes and three or more exiting lanes) the vehicle in the inside lane (right lane for right turn and left lane for left turn) must remain in the inside lane while the other vehicle is free to move into any lane other then the inside lane, unless otherwise posted. It is also legal to turn right against a red, after stopping, from the second from right TURN lane unless other wise posted. Honestly I am not trying to confuse the issue, similer but kind of a thread jack, I have issues with people in the inside lane going wide when you're next to them turning at the same time.

I had a truck start to merge into my lane when making a right turn. I was on the moto in the second designated right turn lane. I had to accelerate my way out of it. He was in the wrong, but I would have been on the losing end of that one.

After that, I try to make a point of turning in the rightmost right lane. Cuz too many drivers don't understand rules of the road and don't pay attention.

 

[lam@barf]

When I learned to drive it was left-turns into the left lane and right-turns into the right lane.

But that was back in the day when we all had to take physics class so we all got why that is without having to be told to do it that way.

 

[ScottRNelson]

I had a truck start to merge into my lane when making a right turn. I was on the moto in the second designated right turn lane. I had to accelerate my way out of it. He was in the wrong, but I would have been on the losing end of that one.

After that, I try to make a point of turning in the rightmost right lane. Cuz too many drivers don't understand rules of the road and don't pay attention.

There was one day a few years back when I had someone drift over into me when they were in the inside lane and I was in the outside lane with two right turn lanes. So a few minutes later when I was at another intersection with two right turn lanes I took the inside one and the guy in the outside lane drifted over into me.

All you can really do is watch for them and don't let them hit you. Honking rarely helps and anything beyond that is a total waste or likely to turn the other driver into a road rager.

Just avoid the bad driver, forget it, and continue on your way. :cool