# Another traffic question. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 11, 2007, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-traffic-question/387479 "2007-01-11T00:26:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-traffic-question/387479/1 "2007-01-11T00:26:36Z")
You want to make a left from a minor street onto a 2 lane (1 each direction) undivided highway. The highway has current traffic in one direction only, the direction you wish to merge into. The yellow line is broken, which typically allows passing. Can you enter the oncoming lane, use it as a acceleration lane then switch into the lane you wish to travel in? ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-traffic-question/387479/2 "2007-01-11T00:36:46Z")
In other words your desire is to enter the four lane undivided highway by turning into the oncoming traffic lane and accelerating as though you were passing? (BTW, I’ve never heard of an undivided four lane highway with a broken yellow center line.) My WAG is you cannot do it. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-traffic-question/387479/3 "2007-01-11T00:40:45Z")
[QUOTE=kanicbird] You want to make a left from a minor street onto a 2 lane (1 each direction) undivided highway. The highway has current traffic in one direction only, the direction you wish to merge into. The yellow line is broken, which typically allows passing. Can you enter the oncoming lane, use it as a acceleration lane then switch into the lane you wish to travel in? [/QUOTE] In PA, that would be a traffic offense, as you aren’t passing, but are operating on the wrong side of the roadway. IANAPO, and all of that. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-traffic-question/387479/4 "2007-01-11T00:51:12Z")
[QUOTE=Duckster] BTW, I’ve never heard of an undivided four lane highway with a broken yellow center line. [/QUOTE] No 2 lane, one in each direction * * * ## \<\<\<\<\<\<\<\<\<\<\< \>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\> * * * ---
**Author:** ![Spidey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac91a4/32.png) [@Spidey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spidey)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-traffic-question/387479/5 "2007-01-11T03:34:04Z")
I’m guessing no, because I think that there would be no passing allowed in that situation for people travelling along the highway. Imagine if you only wanted to make a right turn into the empty lane. At that moment, someone travelling in the opposite direction on the highway decides to pass someone. He’d be moving into the oncoming lane while you are entering the intersection. Again just a guess, but I think there would be no passing on the highway around that intersection. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-traffic-question/387479/6 "2007-01-11T04:09:18Z")
[QUOTE=kanicbird] No 2 lane, one in each direction * * * ## \<\<\<\<\<\<\<\<\<\<\< \>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\> * * * [/QUOTE] My mistake. However, it has been my experience that the actual broken yellow lines are not broken at an intersection: ```auto ________________________+ | +_________________________ <<<<<<<<<<<<<<< -----------------============ ============-------------------- >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> ________________________+ | +________________________ ``` ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-traffic-question/387479/7 "2007-01-11T04:18:49Z")
That is one dangerous maneuver and responsible drivers don’t let the intricacies and loopholes of traffic laws, whether they exist or not, be the final determiner of whether something is safe or not. There are lots of ways that can go bad and I have experienced some of them. \*\*\*I think this comes from being a perpetual flight student where such things are drilled into your head much more than driving unfortunately. ---
**Author:** ![Duggy\_Fizzle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bb73d2/32.png) [@Duggy\_Fizzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duggy_Fizzle)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-traffic-question/387479/8 "2007-01-11T08:25:42Z")
Why in the world would you possibly want to do this??? Why would you need an “acceleration lane”? If there isn’t a big enough break in the traffic flow for you to pull out into the lane in one motion, then you should stay put. Also, what if someone down the street on your left is making a right turn onto the street? You would then be driving straight at him in his lane. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-traffic-question/387479/9 "2007-01-11T09:39:16Z")
In practice, it sounds like you want to be able to drive on the wrong side of the road while waiting for a break in traffic to merge into the proper lane. It sounds really dangerous and I can’t imagine it being legal. ---
**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 11, 2007, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-traffic-question/387479/10 "2007-01-11T14:16:18Z")
Yeah, on that note, stop using the left turn lane as a merge lane while you’re at it. It’s for turning left _from_ the main roadway, not _onto_ the main roadway. Do you know how many times I almost cream some idiot when I want to make a legal left turn using the turn lane and some jackass whips out in front of me into the lane? ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-traffic-question/387479/11 "2007-01-11T15:03:24Z")
[QUOTE=Balthisar] Yeah, on that note, stop using the left turn lane as a merge lane while you’re at it. It’s for turning left _from_ the main roadway, not _onto_ the main roadway. Do you know how many times I almost cream some idiot when I want to make a legal left turn using the turn lane and some jackass whips out in front of me into the lane? [/QUOTE] I see lot’s of folks doing that here in Missouri and it’s not legal at all. Not that that ever mattered to anyone. :rolleyes: It’s even specifically mentioned in the driver’s manual. A few years back in North St. Louis County, a fellow made a Left out of a tavern parking lot and made that turn while looking over his right shoulder to make his merge into traffic. He ran over a pedestrian who was standing in the left turn lane waiting for traffic to clear so he could continue across the street. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-traffic-question/387479/12 "2007-01-11T15:34:15Z")
[QUOTE=Balthisar] Yeah, on that note, stop using the left turn lane as a merge lane while you’re at it. It’s for turning left _from_ the main roadway, not _onto_ the main roadway. Do you know how many times I almost cream some idiot when I want to make a legal left turn using the turn lane and some jackass whips out in front of me into the lane? [/QUOTE] In California, and I believe, in states using the Uniform Traffic Code, you **are** allowed to make a left turn into a left-hand turn lane when you are at a T-intersection, that is, when your roadway ends at the crossing street with the left-hand turn lane. I’m not certain if this includes turning from a parking lot or other private roadway into such a street. Of course, if it is done, it should be done with utmost caution. I generally don’t do it if I have any reason to believe someone is going to make a lane change into the left-hand turn lane; it would help if people would signal such changes before they make the turn. 😉 ---
**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 11, 2007, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-traffic-question/387479/13 "2007-01-11T16:43:40Z")
[QUOTE=DSYoungEsq] In California, and I believe, in states using the Uniform Traffic Code, you **are** allowed to make a left turn into a left-hand turn lane when you are at a T-intersection, that is, when your roadway ends at the crossing street with the left-hand turn lane. I’m not certain if this includes turning from a parking lot or other private roadway into such a street. [/QUOTE] Given a T-intersection, I’m not sure why you’d _want_ turn into the left turn lane. In Michigan, though, the driver’s manual states, “Center lane, left-turn-only: Many roads have a left turn only lane to help traffic flow more smoothly. Each outside edge of this lane is marked with a solid yellow line with broken yellow lines on the inside edges. Left turns must be made from within this lane, and may be made from either direction. **Using this lane** to pass other vehicles or **as a merge lane is both dangerous and illegal**.” (emphasis mine). ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-traffic-question/387479/14 "2007-01-11T16:47:15Z")
Are you just asking this hypothetically? I’d be very surprised if there’s a place in existence with a passing zone that abuts an intersection. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-traffic-question/387479/15 "2007-01-11T18:42:21Z")
[QUOTE=Balthisar] Given a T-intersection, I’m not sure why you’d _want_ turn into the left turn lane. In Michigan, though, the driver’s manual states, “Center lane, left-turn-only: Many roads have a left turn only lane to help traffic flow more smoothly. Each outside edge of this lane is marked with a solid yellow line with broken yellow lines on the inside edges. Left turns must be made from within this lane, and may be made from either direction. **Using this lane** to pass other vehicles or **as a merge lane is both dangerous and illegal**.” (emphasis mine). [/QUOTE] The reason for using the lane in this fashion is to allow a turn when there is a break in traffic from the left, but no break in traffic from the right. Since the intersection is a “T”, you will not be meeting head-on traffic, since there is no left-turn available for traffic coming from the left. Your only worry, then, becomes the possibility of traffic from the right moving over into the left-hand turn lane after the intersection is passed (they can’t be in it through the intersection, nor changing into it through the intersection, legally). ---
**Author:** ![TYOV](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/48db29/32.png) [@TYOV](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TYOV)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-traffic-question/387479/16 "2007-01-11T23:08:56Z")
Don’t forget that the other cars on the road are not robots. They are being driven by human beings that behave unpredictably in unpredictable situations like the one you are describing. You could really freak someone out and cause a multiple car accident. Or, you could make someone really mad and then they follow you to a high shool pariking lot and then decide to… That last bit may have been a bit much, sorry. You get the idea. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-traffic-question/387479/17 "2007-01-12T00:10:30Z")
[QUOTE=madmonk28] In practice, it sounds like you want to be able to drive on the wrong side of the road while waiting for a break in traffic to merge into the proper lane. It sounds really dangerous and I can’t imagine it being legal. [/QUOTE] Exactly what I am asking. [QUOTE=Trunk] Are you just asking this hypothetically? I’d be very surprised if there’s a place in existence with a passing zone that abuts an intersection. [/QUOTE] Yes hypothetically, but I have plenty of those situations near me, and have seen plenty in my travels, mostly if not exclusively in areas of very low population. [QUOTE=Balthisar] Yeah, on that note, stop using the left turn lane as a merge lane while you’re at it. It’s for turning left from the main roadway, not onto the main roadway. [/QUOTE] When you make a left turn you are suppose to go into the left-most lane, which in this case would be a turn lane. Also when you have that funny center lane where either side can use to make a left FROM the road, you are allowed to enter that lane to turn ON to that road, but you may not travel in it, basically you can make your left into this lane, then sit and wait till a opening. ---
**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 12, 2007, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-traffic-question/387479/18 "2007-01-12T14:04:10Z")
[QUOTE=kanicbird] When you make a left turn you are suppose to go into the left-most lane, which in this case would be a turn lane. [/quote] Well, in that case, the leftmost lane is the oncoming traffic’s _right lane_. > [@](#): > > Also when you have that funny center lane where either side can use to make a left FROM the road, you are allowed to enter that lane to turn ON to that road, but you may not travel in it, basically you can make your left into this lane, then sit and wait till a opening. Well, as quoted above, in Michigan you decidedly _aren’t_ allowed to, even though lots of idiots do it all the time anyway. If you have a hard time making a left turn on a busy street, just turn right, get into the turn lane, and make a U-turn. Perfectly safe, and better than that, legal. The problem with using the left turn lane as a merge lane is that traffic expects that you’re going to follow the law, i.e., that you’re going to merge into traffic. But when there’s no hole for you to merge into, the threat response takes over because – holy crap – you’re going to run into me! Worse, suppose a traveller wished to use that lane. Now that you illegally entered it, the traveller has no idea if you’re going to sit there or start accellerating in order to merge somewhere up the road. Now you’ve caused that traveller to miss his turn. Kind of like what happens when someone enters the turn lane way, way too early – you have no idea of their intentions.