# When turning, which lane are you supposed to turn into? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 15, 2018, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-turning-which-lane-are-you-supposed-to-turn-into/808900 "2018-02-15T22:10:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2018, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-turning-which-lane-are-you-supposed-to-turn-into/808900/1 "2018-02-15T22:10:25Z")
I have one friend who believes it is morally wrong, if making a turn in direction X, to turn into any lane other than the X-most lane. (Left turn into leftmost lane, right turn into rightmost lane.) I have another friend who believes it is morally wrong, when making a turn, to turn into any lane other than the one you will remain in until it is time to turn again. (Making a left turn onto a street from which you will be making a right turn? You must turn into the rightmost lane.) I learned Drivers Ed in Texas, and remember specifically being told the latter, and on looking up Texas drivers ed websites, it seems to be confirmed that, in Texas at least, people are taught they may turn into _any_ lane (going the correct direction of course). Are they taught differntly in other states? I’m in Indiana right now and am not seeing anything in code or informal drivers ed manual that would clearly specify that you must turn into the X-most lane. Indeed in several places where this could have been specified, it was not. On the other hand, the one diagram that is provided in the manual for a turn into a multi-lane roadway shows the turn going into the X-most lane. I believe my first friend was taught this, I’m just trying to figure out if it’s a real rule here or just something people say. (I learned long ago you’re not allowed to switch lanes in an intersection. Turns out htat’s just a thing people say. I learned the latter from a sherrif who once pulled over somebody for changing lanes in an intersection only to realize there was no actual violation involved.) What say the Dope? ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2018, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-turning-which-lane-are-you-supposed-to-turn-into/808900/2 "2018-02-15T22:16:07Z")
The closest one. Left turn to left-most through lane, right turn to right-most through lane. . ---
**Author:** ![RadicalPi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/radicalpi/32/9806_2.png) [@RadicalPi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RadicalPi)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2018, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-turning-which-lane-are-you-supposed-to-turn-into/808900/3 "2018-02-15T22:21:00Z")
Any safe lane is fine. ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2018, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-turning-which-lane-are-you-supposed-to-turn-into/808900/4 "2018-02-15T22:26:14Z")
When left turning, 'round these parts, if there are multiple turn lanes the turn lanes actually continue around (via a dashed line) and you’re not supposed to cross it. So if you’re turning left and want to end up in the leftmost lane, you should get yourself into the leftmost turn lane. When you’re turning right, you are technically supposed to turn into the rightmost turn lane (unless you were at some sort of bizarre mega-intersection with multiple right turn lanes), but it seems to be generally accepted if you turn wide or (more likely) turn into the rightmost lane but don’t straighten out until you’ve drifted left. Similarly if you’re turning left from a single left turn lane into multiple lanes drifting over immediately seems fine - presuming doing so doesn’t slam you into a car that was right-turning at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2018, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-turning-which-lane-are-you-supposed-to-turn-into/808900/5 "2018-02-15T22:29:19Z")
Hmm, interesting question. I found this in the [Masschusetts Driver’s Manual](https://www.massrmv.com/Portals/30/docs/dmanual/Drivers_Manual.pdf) (warning: PDF): > [@](#): > > 1. Complete the turn carefully, making sure you turn into the proper lane. > The road diagrams on the next page show proper turns. It is very important that you turn from and turn into the proper lane. Look for yellow or white pavement lines marking the road you are turning into. If you need to change lanes, do so after you turn. Here are a few rules: > • Turn from the lane closest to the lane you want to enter. For a right turn, turn from the far right lane. For a left turn, turn from the lane closest to the center lane. > • Do not swing your vehicle out of your lane when making a turn or swing wide through the intersection. Keep your vehicle centered in the middle of the lanes you are leaving and entering. > • Once you have started a turn through an intersection, you must follow through. Do not stop in mid-turn and change direction. If you decide you do not want to make the turn, simply drive to the next intersection and work your way back. It doesn’t specifically say which lane you must turn into. The diagrams only show two-lane roads, which doesn’t help much. it does show a left turn from a two-way onto a one-way, and that goes to the left lane. I’ve been driving so long I’m not sure I remember exactly how I was taught. I always exit an intersection in the same lane I entered. If I’m turning left (and therefore in the leftmost lane) I turn into the leftmost lane leaving the intersection. Sometimes there are multiple lanes you can turn from; the same rule holds, keep in the lane you started from. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2018, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-turning-which-lane-are-you-supposed-to-turn-into/808900/6 "2018-02-15T22:29:46Z")
From Wisconsin 346.31(3)© A left turn shall be completed so as to enter the intersecting highway in that lane farthest to the left which is lawfully available to traffic moving in the direction of the vehicle completing the left turn. Unless otherwise marked or posted, this means the lane immediately to the right of the center line or center dividing strip of a 2-way highway and the lane next to the left-hand curb or edge of the roadway of a one-way highway. Just quickly glancing up and down from that section shows a similar law for right turns but I can’t find anything about multiple left/right turn lanes, though I suspect it’s similar. If for no other reason, you run the risk of hitting someone when you make a turn from the left lane into the right lane. If I’m waiting to make a right on red, I usually won’t do it if someone is making a left onto the same road. I don’t trust them to hold their lane. Oh, and there’s also the case of people not knowing they’re in the leftmost lane of a double left turn lane. You make a wide turn and you run me off the road. Hold your lane through the turn. In fact, isn’t it illegal to change lanes in an intersection? But, in the end, even ignoring laws. Traffic gets slowed down when people don’t hold their lane. People don’t like making a right because the oncoming car may go wide. Similarly, people don’t like making a left through a busy intersection when someone is creeping into it to go right on red. If everyone held their lane, both of them can, and should be able to, go at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2018, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-turning-which-lane-are-you-supposed-to-turn-into/808900/7 "2018-02-15T22:36:19Z")
The [Illinois Rules of the Road](https://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/publications/pdf_publications/dsd_a112.pdf) specify that, when making a right turn, you should “stay as close as possible to the curb” and “Turn into the right-hand lane of the roadway the driver is entering.” When making a left turn, you should “Complete the turn into the lane closest to the intended direction,” which is less clear, but I think means the closest lane that’s traveling in the direction you’ll be going. This rule makes sense, since it keeps two cars entering a road from opposite sides from colliding. It means that Friend #1 would have the law behind him/her in Illinois. I admit that I don’t always follow this rule, but when I don’t, I realize I’m doing it “wrong” and the burden is on me to be extra sure I’m not going to collide with anybody. ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2018, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-turning-which-lane-are-you-supposed-to-turn-into/808900/8 "2018-02-15T22:41:28Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > But, in the end, even ignoring laws. Traffic gets slowed down when people don’t hold their lane. People don’t like making a right because the oncoming car may go wide. Similarly, people don’t like making a left through a busy intersection when someone is creeping into it to go right on red. > If everyone held their lane, both of them can, and should be able to, go at the same time. I freely concede that I won’t turn right while people coming from the other direction are turning left, specifically because I don’t trust them to turn into their nearest lane (or stay there for any length of time). ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2018, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-turning-which-lane-are-you-supposed-to-turn-into/808900/9 "2018-02-15T23:00:19Z")
California changed the law on this, when I was learning to drive we were trained to turn into the lane we were turning from, left to left right to right. Once we made out turn then change lanes if we like. Very often I will turn into the center lane and start veering into the right lane when the guy behind me comes flying around on the right. I don’t believe in passing someone just as they are completing a turn but I guess it is legal. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2018, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-turning-which-lane-are-you-supposed-to-turn-into/808900/10 "2018-02-15T23:06:44Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > It doesn’t specifically say which lane you must turn into. Sure it does. It says: • Turn from the lane closest to the lane you want to enter. For a right turn, turn from the far right lane. For a left turn, turn from the lane closest to the center lane. ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2018, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-turning-which-lane-are-you-supposed-to-turn-into/808900/11 "2018-02-15T23:11:03Z")
> [@OldGuy](#): > > Sure it does. It says: > • Turn from the lane closest to the lane you want to enter. For a right turn, turn from the far right lane. For a left turn, turn from the lane closest to the center lane. I almost commented on this too, but on a closer read it’s talking about which lane you’re turning **from** , not which one you’re turning **into**. So, if you want to turn right, don’t start out in the leftmost lane and then swerve across in front of all the other lanes full of people going straight. (Presumably large trucks are exempted because they need to turn wide in order to turn at all.) ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2018, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-turning-which-lane-are-you-supposed-to-turn-into/808900/12 "2018-02-15T23:40:36Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > I have one friend who believes it is morally wrong, if making a turn in direction X, to turn into any lane other than the X-most lane. (Left turn into leftmost lane, right turn into rightmost lane.) This is the only rule I was aware of until I read this thread. I assumed it was universal throughout the U.S. I have had a learner’s permit or a license in four different states (NY, WV, NH, and ME). I just checked the driver handbooks for these four states and every one of them supports this rule, either in words or diagrams or both. NH states it most clearly > [@](#): > > Start from the lane closest to where you want to go. If you are turning left, start from the left lane. If you want to turn right, start from the right lane. > > Turn into the lane that is closest to the lane from which you came. On a left turn, turn into the left lane. On a right turn, turn into the right lane. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2018, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-turning-which-lane-are-you-supposed-to-turn-into/808900/13 "2018-02-16T00:08:56Z")
> [@bibliophage](#): > > This is the only rule I was aware of until I read this thread. I assumed it was universal throughout the U.S. I have had a learner’s permit or a license in four different states (NY, WV, NH, and ME). I just checked the driver handbooks for these four states and every one of them supports this rule, either in words or diagrams or both. NH states it most clearly Correct. A driver turning left from the center lane when there’s a designated left turn lane is considered a dangerous asshole, even in Massachusetts. You are at a serious risk of being hit by the driver already making a turn into the same area you want to be. ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2018, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-turning-which-lane-are-you-supposed-to-turn-into/808900/14 "2018-02-16T00:20:22Z")
Ohio, learned in '95, always turn into x-most lane and it’s morally wrong to do it any other way. 4511.36: > [@](#): > > (2) At any intersection where traffic is permitted to move in both directions on each roadway entering the intersection, an approach for a left turn shall be made in that portion of the right half of the roadway nearest the center line thereof and by passing to the right of such center line where it enters the intersection 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. Whenever practicable the left turn shall be made in that portion of the intersection to the left of the center of the intersection. > > (3) At any intersection where traffic is restricted to one direction on one or more of the roadways, the driver of a vehicle intending to turn left at any such intersection shall approach the intersection in the extreme left-hand lane lawfully available to traffic moving in the direction of travel of such vehicle, and after entering the intersection the left turn shall be made so as to leave the intersection, as nearly as practicable, in the left-hand lane of the roadway being entered lawfully available to traffic moving in that lane. It’s confusing as hell but I think it says that you need to turn into the x-most lane. Are there laws for _anything_ in Texas? ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2018, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-turning-which-lane-are-you-supposed-to-turn-into/808900/15 "2018-02-16T00:21:26Z")
I seem to remember being told to make the turn into the lane that is the safest. Especially if other cars are making a turn into the same street. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2018, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-turning-which-lane-are-you-supposed-to-turn-into/808900/16 "2018-02-16T01:36:49Z")
Turn in to the nearest lane. This allows a person to be turning left, and another approaching the opposite direction to turn right, on to the same road with two lanes in the same direction. Unfortunately, stupid assholes look at me like I’M the idiot if I get in their way while they turn in to the wrong lane. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2018, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-turning-which-lane-are-you-supposed-to-turn-into/808900/17 "2018-02-16T01:50:26Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > I learned Drivers Ed in Texas, and remember specifically being told the latter, and on looking up Texas drivers ed websites, it seems to be confirmed that, in Texas at least, people are taught they may turn into _any_ lane (going the correct direction of course). Does this apply in every situation? Texas has a bunch of sprawling car-centric cities, so I’m sure there are intersections with multiple turn lanes. If there are two left turn lanes, and two lanes to turn into, you’ll run into the person in the other lane if you don’t turn into “your” lane. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2018, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-turning-which-lane-are-you-supposed-to-turn-into/808900/18 "2018-02-16T01:55:46Z")
> [@begbert2](#): > > … (unless you were at some sort of bizarre mega-intersection with multiple right turn lanes) … We have an intersection where an overpass lands at a T intersection where the road to the left is two lanes but to the right it is 4. Hence, there is a single left turn lane and two lanes to the right. It is laid out in a smooth curve, though, so traffic just flows into the correct lane going right. It kind of annoys me, though, that, when the light is red, both lanes will go ifit is clear. It just seems somehow wrong. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2018, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-turning-which-lane-are-you-supposed-to-turn-into/808900/19 "2018-02-16T02:41:28Z")
I got a turn too wide ticket as a young driver when I had a minor fender bender (left turn from a McDonald’s, drifted into the right lane on the main road, clipped a guy who was there). Have never done it since. Note this is one of those violations where you only seem to get a ticket when it leads to an accident… ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2018, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-turning-which-lane-are-you-supposed-to-turn-into/808900/20 "2018-02-16T02:57:26Z")
Yes, turn left from the left most lane into the left most lane, turn right from the right most lane into the right most lane. The point is that you aren’t changing lanes in the midst of the turn. Whenever it isn’t made clear by lines on the road stick to the basic concept, don’t change lanes in the middle of a turn. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-turning-which-lane-are-you-supposed-to-turn-into/808900.md?page=2)