# Another traffic question - turning into closest lane **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 14, 2003, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-traffic-question-turning-into-closest-lane/148521 "2003-01-14T15:43:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rucksinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/898d66/32.png) [@Rucksinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rucksinator)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-traffic-question-turning-into-closest-lane/148521/1 "2003-01-14T15:43:34Z")
(Since ASCII drawings don’t seem to work well…) Say Car A is driving south on a road, and car B is driving north on the same road. They are approaching the same intersection, and car A wants to turn right, whereas car B wants to turn left, so that they will both be going West. Car B has a left turn signal, and A has a red light (but can turn right on red if traffic is clear.) 1.) Is B legally obligated to turn into the closest (leftmost) lane? 2.) If A turns right at the same time as B turns left, and B sweeps across all 3 lanes to get to the right-most lane, and A and B collide, whose fault is it? ---
**Author:** ![mazzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@mazzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mazzer)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-traffic-question-turning-into-closest-lane/148521/2 "2003-01-14T16:04:19Z")
If A turns, then the traffic was not clear. A’s fault. As long as B’s left turn signal was not one of those intended for two lanes of traffic to turn left, in which case there are usually dashed lines painted on the asphault to indicate which lane(s) you are supposed to turn into, then B may turn into whichever lane he/she pleases. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-traffic-question-turning-into-closest-lane/148521/3 "2003-01-14T16:05:49Z")
In Illinois, the answers should be yes and B, respectively. [Cite](http://www.sos.state.il.us/publications/rr/rr_chap03.html#signaling_and_turning) Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer or police officer. This may not be true in every state; check the traffic laws for your area before assuming anything. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-traffic-question-turning-into-closest-lane/148521/4 "2003-01-14T16:11:57Z")
Ack, I missed the red light part at the end - **chriszarate** then is probably right. Farther up on the page I cited, it says that you must yield right-of-way “when making a right turn on a red light after a stop.” It doesn’t say anything about multiple lanes, however, so that’s tricky. I don’t know what the answer to question #2 is, then. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-traffic-question-turning-into-closest-lane/148521/5 "2003-01-14T16:28:09Z")
The laws vary from state to state as to which lane(s) one may turn into. Regardless of that, A is almost certainly required by law, and most definitely by common sense, to not enter the intersection when another vehicle is in that intersection. A needs to wait until the intersection is clear, which makes B’s choice of lane irrelevant. ---
**Author:** ![yme](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/35a633/32.png) [@yme](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yme)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-traffic-question-turning-into-closest-lane/148521/6 "2003-01-14T17:11:45Z")
Say there wasn’t a red light? Or if the light were a green arrow for A , and a green light (not arrow) for B. Meaning B can go if oncomming traffic ceases. I can’t count the number of dirty looks I get when I proceed to turn right into the right most lane, and the guy turning left opposite of me want’s my lane when he clearly should go into the most left lane (or atleast the lane he’s lined up with). ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-traffic-question-turning-into-closest-lane/148521/7 "2003-01-14T17:13:33Z")
Wow, found this: > [@](#): > > [url=http://198.109.173.11/mileg.asp?page=getObject&objName=mcl-257-650&queryid=2605112MICHIGAN VEHICLE CODE (EXCERPT) > Act 300 of 1949 > 257.650 Right-of-way; turn ing left at intersection; violation as civil infraction. > Sec. 650. > (1) The driver of a vehicle within an intersection intending to turn to the left shall yield the right of way to a vehicle approaching from the opposite direction which is within the intersection or so close to the intersection as to constitute an immediate hazard; but the driver, having so yielded and having given a signal when and as required by this chapter, may make the left turn and the drivers of all other vehicles approaching the intersection from the opposite direction shall yield the right of way to the vehicle making the left turn . At an intersection at which a traffic signal is located, a driver intending to make a left turn shall permit vehicles bound straight through in the opposite direction which are waiting a go signal to pass through the intersection before making the turn. So, it looks like once the coast is clear, oncoming traffic has to yield right-of-way to whomever is making the left turn! Obviously this applies to Michigan only. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-traffic-question-turning-into-closest-lane/148521/8 "2003-01-14T17:19:28Z")
Hmm… that was the wrong quote. The link should be [this one](http://198.109.173.11/mileg.asp?page=getObject&objName=mcl-257-647&queryid=2605112) and the quote should be this one: > [@](#): > > MICHIGAN VEHICLE CODE (EXCERPT) > … > (1) The driver of a vehicle intending to turn at an intersection shall do so as follows: > (a) Both the approach for a right turn and a right turn shall be made as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway. > (b) Approach for a left turn shall be made in that portion of the right half of the roadway nearest the center line in a manner as not to interfere with the progress of any streetcar, and after entering the intersection the left turn shall be made so as to leave the intersection to the right of the center line of the roadway being entered. > (c) Approach for a left turn from a 2-way roadway into a 1-way roadway shall be made in that portion of the right half of the roadway nearest the center line and clear of existing car tracks in use, and by passing to the right of the center line where it enters the intersection. Approach for a left turn from a 1-way roadway into a 2-way roadway shall be made as close as practicable to the left curb or edge of the roadway and by passing to the right of the center line of the roadway being entered. > (d) Where both streets or roadways are 1-way, both the approach for a left turn and a left turn shall be made as close as practicable to the left-hand curb or edge of the roadway. > (e) Local authorities in their respective jurisdictions may cause pavement markers, signs, or signals to be placed within or adjacent to intersections and thereby require and direct that a different course from that specified in this section be traveled by vehicles turning at an intersection. When markers, signs, or signals are so placed, a driver of a vehicle shall not turn a vehicle at an intersection other than as directed and required by those markers, signs, or signals. The other quote was for a different threat, but now I’m embarrased and won’t bother posting it ☹