Newsgroups: can.general
Subject: Re: What are the most dangerous (legal) things to do in traffic?
From: emd@ham.almanac.bc.ca
Date: Thu, 03 Sep 92 19:44:14 PDT
Distribution: can
Organization: Robert Smits

steven@spxtech.qc.ca (Steve Potter) writes:

> From article <1992Sep2.230521.19263@unixg.ubc.ca>, by buckland@ucs.ubc.ca (To
> >  Here's one that I commented on in a private e-posting, and which
> >  I ran into three times today alone.  I want to turn left, into
> >  a multi-lane street.  The law requires me (when there aren't
> >  special multi-left-turn-lane arrangements) to turn into the
> >  leftmost lane.  But it can be almost worth my life to do so if
> >  I then intend to change lanes to the right, because somebody
> >  turning left behind me is almost inevitably making an illegal
> >  turn into a further-right lane, and doing it fast.  Unless I
> >  want to be trapped in the left lane, I have to really belt it
> >  to stay ahead of him.  It can be safer to break the law myself,
> >  and turn into the lane I intend to occupy (or I could be patient
> >  and turn left legally at a moderate speed and just hope I'll be
> >  able to move right before I miss my next right turn; or I could
> >  be devious and make three rights instead of a left).
> 
> IMHO, when no "multi-left-turn arrangement" or lane markings for more
> than one left lane have been provided; one should always use the left
> most lane to approach the junction. One turns into the right most lane,

WRONG! WRONG! WRONG! Doing this is a recipe for disaster. You're supposed 
to turn into the LEFTMOST lane, and when traffic permits, signal and move 
right as necessary. 

> giving way to traffic from the opposite direction, of course. One must
> give way to traffic from the opposite direction whether it is coming
> straight through or turning to its right - regardless of which lane it
> wants after completing its turn.
> 

Of course, if some bozo isn't making an illegal turn into the rightmost 
lane, it would be perfectly safe for one car to turn left into the left 
lane, and another car previously going the opposite direction to 
simultaneously make a right turn into the rightmost lane. That's WHY the 
law says you're supposed to turn left into the leftmost lane!

> Traffic coming from the opposite direction (from in front, prior to
> making the turn) _ALWAYS_ has right of way!
> 
> People who turn left in front of oncoming traffic are making illegal
> and dangerous turns - regardless of which lane they want. Even if
> just about everybody does it!
> 

It depends on how far away the oncoming traffic is. If the oncoming 
traffic has sufficient room to safely stop while the car already in the 
intersection makes a left turn, the driver is entirely within his rights 
to do so. Oncoming traffic, in this circumstance, is REQUIRED to yield 
the right of way, although they rarely do it. If an accident results, 
they can be and ARE charged, however.

> People who do not occupy far left lane when no additional lanes have
> been indicated for making a left turn, even if "destination" road has
> multiple lanes, are also making illegal and dangerous turns.
> 
> Another rule that I have far too often seen broken is "Never enter a
> junction or intersection unless your exit is clear!" - People don't want
> to get caught behind that red light - even if it means blocking the
> junction for everybody else!  :-(
> 
I agree completely with the last two points!!

> That's my fourpence worth!
> 
> Cheers!
> 

emd@ham.almanac.bc.ca  (Robert Smits, Ladysmith B.C.)

Support your fellow Canadians. We should buy lousy Canadian novels 
instead of importing lousy American novels. - Johnny Wayne

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