Here’s the situation: There is a “T” intersection, where an east / west road dead-ends into a north / south road. The intersection is the western terminus of the east /west road. The intersection is governed by a traffic light. On the west side of the north / south road (above the top of the ‘T’) is a business. This businesses parking lot leads into the north / south road (on the southbound side) but the driveway is just SOUTH of the southbound stop line. The north / south road is divided, and the barrier continues a few feet south of the driveway and only right turns are permitted, so it is not quite in the intersection. There is no light specifically aimed at the exit from this parking lot.
My question is as follows: when I exit this parking lot and turn right, am I considered under the influence of the light controlling southbound traffic? Since I am south of the stop line, at a red light all traffic is stopped “downstream” of me. Any ideas?
I thought I had it until I got to this. In the picture in my head, the traffic under this situation would be stopped “upstream” of you. Not a nitpick, since it makes a difference to the answer.
If you were to pull out of the driveway into the street with the southbound light red, would there be any traffic coming from your left, or would they be stopped at the light? (assuming they were law abiding citizens and not LEOs or Ambulance or Fire emergency vehicles)
[QUOTE=Emilio LizardoSince I am south of the stop line, at a red light all traffic is stopped “downstream” of me. Any ideas?[/QUOTE]
Did you mean “upstream” here? I would make a right turn only on a green for the southbound traffic, as there could be traffic from the E/W road on a red for southbound traffic. However, you could make the right on red, if everything is clear.
From your description, it appears your driveway is not at the intersection. Therefore, you enter the street much as you would from any driveway – that is, as if there were a stop sign there. You must sotp and yield to oncoming traffic. Note that this includes any car coming west towards you and making a left turn. Since you are not at the intersection, this car as completed its turn and is driving on the street you are entering. It has the right of way.
I’m picturing the intersection like this with north at the bottom of the picture.
From your description the access to the business is to the right of the blue car?
If you want to drive out of the business and head south (up) you don’t need to obey any light. You just have to make sure there isn’t any traffic coming from either the north or turning south (up) off the east/west road.
Hampshire, I think the driveway is to the right rear of the lower, green, car, if north is down.
Emilio, you say no traffic signal is specifically aimed at the driveway from the parking lot. Are there any traffic signals pointing west? I assume not, unless it is a wide intersection and there are other driveways on the west side of the intersection. How many southbound lanes west of the median?
The fact that the median extends past (south of) the drive means that the driveway is apparently not within the intersection.
As the southbound stop bar is north of the driveway, it would appear that the jurisdiction in charge of the intersection design and its pavement markings intended for the driveway exiters to be able to proceed when the southbound traffic is stopped at their red signal. The number of southbound lanes might also be a factor in whether you should be able to turn right and then weave across more than one lane to try to turn left.
I would be careful about assuming you have the legal right-of-way.
I suggest you call, or better, email, MDDOT or PGC or the traffic engineering office in charge of the area and ask them their intent in that design.
