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+--- Thread: Merging from center lane illegal? News to me. (/showthread.php?tid=240970)
Merging from center lane illegal? News to me. - archipirata - 05-06-2020
Saw a story about it being illegal to pull out into a center turn lane (those roads that have them) to then merge into traffic. I always thought that was part of the reason for them to exist.
Apparently in Michigan it is illegal. However in some other states (Washington for example) it is perfectly legal and recommended.
What's the story where you live?
Here's the Michigan story: https://www.uppermichiganssource.com/content/news/MSP-reminds-public-center-turn-lane-is-not-a-lane-of-travel-570178951.html?fbclid=IwAR3f1pgYKRD-JZvNifme3BJKi7g9hM0E4hGaEEnHlMtHKWzvjMI5He2r9V0
And here is the opposing one from Washington: https://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/traffic/rules-of-the-road/article229153119.html
Re: Merging from center lane illegal? News to me. - M A V I C - 05-06-2020
Well, I'm in WA so you know my answer. One key part that I see missed - " it’s illegal to travel more than 300 feet in the TWLTL"
Re: Merging from center lane illegal? News to me. - Robert M - 05-06-2020
Arch,
NY is similar to Michigan. If turning onto a road with multiple lanes traveling in the same direction, make a left turn, you're supposed to turn into the left lane. Not the left turning lane, center lane or the right lane or what have you of the road. Left turn into center lane. Right turn into the right lane, not the middle lane, center lane, left or a left turning lane.
I've seen accidents because drivers made a turn from one lane into the incorrect lane. Many a time it's someone making a right turn from a side street onto a 4 lane road with two lanes traveling in each direct. They make the right turn and instead of turning into the right lane, they move into the left lane, causing the person already on the road and in the left lane to swerve to avoid a collision.
Happens all the friggin' time. Very annoying.
Robert
Re: Merging from center lane illegal? News to me. - Speedy - 05-06-2020
Thanks arch, I didn’t know that about Michigan. I often turn into the center lane in order to merge.
Re: Merging from center lane illegal? News to me. - Mike Johnson - 05-06-2020
In California, you can turn left from a driveway into a center left turn lane and merge into traffic when safe.
Re: Merging from center lane illegal? News to me. - Lew Zealand - 05-06-2020
In AZ, you are supposed to left turn directly into the leftmost lane. Center lane is only for making a left turn out of, not in to. 4 trips to driving school does drive (!) some bits of minutia into even the thickest skulls.
I didn't know you could turn from a driveway into the center lane in CA. Only done driving school 2x in CA, looks like I need another trip or 2 to the DMV.
Re: Merging from center lane illegal? News to me. - ztirffritz - 05-06-2020
I was taught in PA that the center lane is for turning.
Re: Merging from center lane illegal? News to me. - RgrF - 05-06-2020
In normal LA traffic, turning into the center lane and waiting for a break in traffic is the only way to make a left turn - unless it's 3AM, you' be sitting on that side street for an hour.
Re: Merging from center lane illegal? News to me. - N-OS X-tasy! - 05-06-2020
M A V I C wrote:
Well, I'm in WA so you know my answer. One key part that I see missed - " it’s illegal to travel more than 300 feet in the TWLTL"
These are referred to “center left turn lanes” in the CA Driver’s Handbook. Travel within the lane prior to completing a turn is 200 feet here.
https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/pubs/hdbk/driver_handbook_toc/!ut/p/z1/hY6xDsIgGISfyPxYo0lH1IZW2rhVZCEgtZAqEKwdfHpJd-ttl3x3-YADA-7kZHs5Wu_kI_Ur3wlaHYt1SRAl2xojTMvy3BZtRvINXGYA_QhGwJf3p39AMshic2h64EGOZmXd3QMLb_UCZrQagOlopy4KI51W3g9i9LekxefjBbHwZJ96n1dfdmaJZA!!/?1dmy&urile=wcm%3apath%3a%2Fdmv_content_en%2Fdmv%2B%2B%2Fpubs%2Fhdbk%2Ftraffic_lanes#cltl
Re: Merging from center lane illegal? News to me. - NewtonMP2100 - 05-06-2020
....on Tinder......you need consent....to merge....