I’m not sure that the move described in the OP would be defined as passing, and if so then this cite may not apply. As I stated upthread IIRC the CVC allows for making such a move only within the last 40 feet of the intersection (or driveway), but I’ve been searching and cannot find a cite for that. My memory may be a little hazy…
If you’re making a right on red, you’re not “entitled” to anything. If the oncoming traffic turning left has a green light or arrow, you must yield the right-of-way to them, even if they are turning into the rightmost of several lanes.
I don’t think the extra space at an intersection due to the curbs being rounded would count as “two or more lines of moving vehicles in the direction of travel”.
This maneuver often happens at stop signs where there is a line of cars waiting to go straight. It is not always a right turn on a red light.
But yes, if it is a right turn on a red light, right-of-way must be yielded. Right-of-way to oncoming traffic isn’t in dispute.
This doesn’t have anything to do with the extra space due to the curbs being rounded. This maneuver often occurs well before that.
I called our university police department and posed this question to them. Their answer …
It is legal to use this maneuver to pass cars on the right in order to turn right. You can do this within a ~500 foot (1 block) distance.
The officer said the specific regulation is in the California Vehicle Code, somewhere in the 2200 section. He said the wording has something to do with merging into a bike lane. I couldn’t find the regulation in the short time that I looked, and it appears bike laws are in the 2300 section. So the officer may be somewhat mistaken on the specific area to search.
He did however, say that he had recently looked into this very question and he seemed quite confident of the information he was relaying to me.
There is one caveat that he mentioned. This maneuver is only supposed to be performed under safe conditions. In the event of an accident—for instance, someone turning right when it appeared they wanted to go straight—it is generally considered the fault of the driver passing on the right even if the other driver was not using his turn signal.
So be forewarned and be safe, but otherwise feel free in California to creep up the right side to avoid that line of cars in front of you.
If any of you ever drive in the UK, ignore all the rules above. Of course it would be a left turn here, since we drive on the other side, but the principle is there. If there is no dedicated left turn lane, then sit in the leftmost lane with those going straight on, until the lights change (or the traffic breaks).
If there is a cycle lane, stay out of it. Cars are not supposed to go into them. If you are turning left, bicycles may well come up the inside even though they are going straight on. It seems to be a popular form of suicide in London.
White lines are fairly straightforward -
broken line = lane marker.
Solid line = lane marker but more definite. ie take care before you cross it.
Double solid line = Do not cross unless you really have to (ie to get round an obstruction or a very slow moving vehicle).
White and broken lines together = if the broken line is your side, it’s okay to cross it, but not if the solid line is your side.