Q: Two quick traffic questions -- about turns

[gunn]

Hi,
For the LEOs out here, I had two quick questions about CA driving laws.

1) In the situation where there's two designated right turn lanes and NO SIGN that says "Right Turns on Red are Prohibited", can you take a right turn on red from the 2nd right turn lane (the one farther from the curb)?

2) In a road with a broken yellow lane dividing the two lanes of traffic (one going north and the other going south, for example):
- A northbound vehicle intending to turn left across the southbound traffic may enter the center lane, wait for an opening in the southbound traffic, and then proceed to turn off the road.
Q: May a car wishing to enter the roadway by turning left cross into the center lane, wait in the middle center lane for the traffic in the direction they want to go to open up, and then merge into the traffic? TO better illustrate this lets say a car pointed east and wanting to cross the southbound traffic to turn left and continue north. They turn left into the center lane, wait for the traffic to open up in the northbound lane, and the merge right)

I'm pretty sure that #2 is illegal in TX but I'm not sure about this in CA.

Thanks,
-g

[Turo]

They teach #2 in drivers ed. When you turn left onto a street with a center turn lane, and you can't merge into traffic yet, you should pull into the center turn lane and wait for the traffic to clear.

Not 100% sure on the first one, but I think you can turn right in either right turn lane.

*I'm not a LEO, so I may not have my info completely correct, but it's how I understand it.

[gunn]

They teach #2 in drivers ed. When you turn left onto a street with a center turn lane, and you can't merge into traffic yet, you should pull into the center turn lane and wait for the traffic to clear.

Hrm, I took drivers ed in TX, not California.
There, IIRC, you aren't allowed to use the center lane for entering the roadway -- only exiting. If you can't merge it into the traffic from outside the roadway, you stay outside the roadway. I believe the idea is that this is because the lane closest to the center divider is the fastest. At least in TX, they don't want people jumping into this fastest lane from the center -- especially without looking in their bigass SUVs.

Of course, I dont' live in TX anymore -- hence my questions.
-g

[OiCu812]

Not a LEO, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn last night.

I believe both turns are legal. A right turn on red from the far turn lane is permitted unless noted otherwise. A left turn into the median to wait for an opening in traffic is allowed, but you are restricted from driving more than 100 feet in the median.

Again, not a LEO, but I take driving seriously and try to make sure I understand the vehicle code in our beautiful state.

Please correct me if I'm misunderstanding the V.C. Thanks.

[Ron-Solo]

Hi,
For the LEOs out here, I had two quick questions about CA driving laws.

1) In the situation where there's two designated right turn lanes and NO SIGN that says "Right Turns on Red are Prohibited", can you take a right turn on red from the 2nd right turn lane (the one farther from the curb)?

Yes. If there is a "no right turn on red sign" it applies to all lanes. No restriction, you're good

2) In a road with a broken yellow lane dividing the two lanes of traffic (one going north and the other going south, for example):
- A northbound vehicle intending to turn left across the southbound traffic may enter the center lane, wait for an opening in the southbound traffic, and then proceed to turn off the road.
Q: May a car wishing to enter the roadway by turning left cross into the center lane, wait in the middle center lane for the traffic in the direction they want to go to open up, and then merge into the traffic? TO better illustrate this lets say a car pointed east and wanting to cross the southbound traffic to turn left and continue north. They turn left into the center lane, wait for the traffic to open up in the northbound lane, and the merge right)

yes, this is legal. That's what the lane is for

-g

Best questions I've seen in a while.

[code33]

1. What Ron-Solo said. Also, the light has to be circular and not an arrow.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d11/vc21453.htm

[Turo]

At least in TX, they don't want people jumping into this fastest lane from the center -- especially without looking in their bigass SUVs.

Yeah, people don't generally respect the "left lane is the fast lane" idea here. Multiple times a day I go the speed limit in the "slow" right lane, and I pass cars going 55 in the "fast" left lane. It's quite annoying.

[gunn]

Best questions I've seen in a while.

Thanks for the reply.
Just to confirm, since I'm getting multiple conflicting answers here, are you and code33 LEO?

Regards,
-g

[Ron-Solo]

Thanks for the reply.
Just to confirm, since I'm getting multiple conflicting answers here, are you and code33 LEO?

Regards,
-g

Yes, 32 years and counting.

[code33]

Yep

To sum up the responses for Q1 from Ron-Solo & I:

If there is a sign that prohibits this or if the stoplight is a red arrow, then no go.

[bohoki]

Yeah, people don't generally respect the "left lane is the fast lane" idea here. Multiple times a day I go the speed limit in the "slow" right lane, and I pass cars going 55 in the "fast" left lane. It's quite annoying.

yea it gets even weirder with the diamond lane(carpool lame)

its always the left most lane

[Friar_Tuck]

Where in the vehicle code does it say you have to speed to use the left lane?

Does the vehicle code define the left lane as a "fast" lane?

I asked the CHP if they would give a ticket for doing 70mph in a 70mph zone when the people behind me want to do 80 or 90, they said no.

[9mmepiphany]

Where in the vehicle code does it say you have to speed to use the left lane?

you don't have to speed in the left land...without looking it up (i hated doing traffic) i believe the rule is that you keep right to allow traffic to pass on the left. that's why they have signs that read "slower traffic keep right"

so if you are in the left lane and you don't care to drive faster, you should move over (to the right) when faster traffic comes up behind you...plus it would be the polite thing to do. it really isn't your job to hold up traffic by regulating the speed of other cars

[gunn]

you don't have to speed in the left land...without looking it up (i hated doing traffic) i believe the rule is that you keep right to allow traffic to pass on the left. that's why they have signs that read "slower traffic keep right"

so if you are in the left lane and you don't care to drive faster, you should move over (to the right) when faster traffic comes up behind you...plus it would be the polite thing to do. it really isn't your job to hold up traffic by regulating the speed of other cars

I believe the exact comment is that the "left lane is for passing only".

21654. (a) Notwithstanding the prima facie speed limits, any
vehicle proceeding upon a highway at a speed less than the normal
speed of traffic moving in the same direction at such time shall be
driven in the right-hand lane for traffic or as close as practicable
to the right-hand edge or curb, except when overtaking and passing
another vehicle proceeding in the same direction or when preparing
for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or
driveway.

From:

http://www.mit.edu/~jfc/right.html

Sure, you may be legal if you are going in the far left lane @ the speed limit but in the Bay area, that's just damned inconsiderate. You are impeding the flow of traffic so let people blow past you on the left (vs. on the more dangerous right side) and let the a) kill themselves or b) soak up the cops for you. It's not your job to be the traffic controller and it's best for the flow of traffic if you just move over vs. becoming an obstacle for them. They WILL find a way to pass you and it will inevitably be more dangerous for you, them, and the people behind you if you just let them blow past you.

I have a fairly long commute in the Bay area (SF to SJ). While this doesn't get respected in Texas but here, well, it seems to work out for the most part. There always seems to be a porsche or BMW 3series blowing past me @ 85-90MPH in the left lane while I'm hanging out in the middle in my Accord on my daily drive up and down 280 in the Bay Area. I think of them as "rabbits". The CHP "coyotes" will pounce of them and I can continue my cruise along at 80MPH (what everyone else does). I'd say once every month I'll come across some jerkoff who feels a righteous ownership of the left hand lane @ significantly under 70MPH. They become a danger to themselves and everyone else.
-g

[fullrearview]

For question #1: Yes you can, but you must make a complete stop, clear all lanes of traffic, then safely procede!