I am hoping that one or more of my gentle readers can please help me restore my sanity and eliminate some of my road rage at the same time by indulging me for a moment.
Please take a look at the rudimentary sketch I have included below.
This was drawn on my iPad using my finger, so I apologize for the fact that my artistic skills are severely lacking. I’m not looking for a critique, I’m looking for an answer.
If you can’t tell, this sketch includes two, two-lane road intersections. The little red Smart car, as denoted by the little red X, wants to make a left hand turn into the road that leads them to greener pastures. If they turn right, they go nowhere.
Looking at my two scenarios, as separated by an orange line, could someone please tell me which of the two drivers is making a correct left-hand turn in the side road? Is the person on the left, who is cutting the corner so short that they’re crossing over the yellow line and clipping the front of the vehicle waiting their turn to make their turn, or is it the person on the right, who is staying in their lane and not crossing into any oncoming traffic nor taking off the bumper of the car that is waiting but not pictured. (If you need a visual, it’s a brown 1974 Chevy Vega held together with duct tape).
I just drove 500 feet across the parking lot from Dunkin’ Donuts to my favorite parking space in the sun. Anyone want to venture a guess which scenario pictured above I encountered not once, not twice, but three times (though I’m not in a Vega and no vehicle parts bumped up against any others though several drivers did try)?
Is this lack of ability to make a safe left hand turn only rampant in this cozy little area of Jesusikistan or is this something that can be seen anywhere in the lower 48 states? (Hawaii is too relaxed to bother with left hand turns and Alaska apparently uses helicopters for their travel needs). Do our folks in Europe have the same issues? Does the UK and Ireland and Australia and wherever else they drive on the more sensible side of the road have the same issues with right hand turns?
– Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Sadly this is so common that the most surprising thing in this scenario is the fact that somewhere out there is a Vega that’s still running.
It’s rare that we see a Vega in these parts, but once in a great while we’ll see an old one souped up to somewhat of a muscle car status. I mentioned the Vega because my first car was a ’74 Vega. It was on it’s third set of fenders in 1984 when I bought it up for $100 because they had rusted from the top down.
Unique to your neck of the woods? heavens no. This occurs in just about every place I’ve ever driven a car. Here in Columbus, not only do they cut the corner, but many people do it whilst running the red light. (And yellow lights here are just a signal to speed up so as not to get caught at the red light. )
Hey Matt,
Don’t even get me started on the red light situation here because it’s pretty much the same as you described about where you live. I guess safe driving skills are no longer a priority in 21st century America, and that’s a shame. I miss the days of “Happy Motoring!”
That actually sounds tame to what goes on here. The little red X would have first moved into the left lane. Then turned into the far left lane, then gotten in the correct lane. Eventually. After having run over at least one pedestrian.
Sounds similar to what happens here, except the car in the far left lane would have been turning right.