When turning left onto a 4 lane road...which lane

there are some intersections here that are very busy and you need to make left turns while opposiing traffic is making right turns onto the same street. it scares the crap out of me people most people just choose whatever lane they want.

however, it really bothers me when I am making a left hand turn on an arrow and people coming the opposite direction start turning right. i dont do that and wish people would just yield until everyone is done turning....minus the extremely busy intersections which I only know of a few.

 

Legally they're supposed to do exactly that, as they are making a turn on a red light... but good luck getting the world to follow the rules!

My philosophy while driving is: Assume every other car on the road is driven by an idiot.

 

Hmmm, normally I just take the dirt road......

 

the single lane round-a-abouts actually are fine and work quite well. Its the 2 lane round-a-bouts that get real hairy around here.
1. 18 wheelers cannot stay in the one lane
2. 2 lanes in one lane out how do you get into outside lane from inside lane as cars come in to the circle, you might go around a couple times
3. Everyone just drives in and an accident stops traffic from all 4 directions.

 

Totally the safest way to drive. I am constantly thinking "What is the stupidest thing this car/person could do??" and making sure I won't be in the way....Sad part is how often it happens....

 

The one I learned from was HUGE. The circle was 4 lanes wide with no lane markings and was never that busy to require people to run 3 cars deep. There was plenty of room for people to come in, yield & work their way to the center, then work their way to the outside again for their exit. No stopping at all and an easy site-line to see the traffic.

But yeah, if a traffic circle isn't designed properly (or isn't big enough) for the traffic flow, it can be a big huge clusterfuk.

People freak out ...and do drastic lane changes in the middle of everything putting everyone in danger. They don't realize..... there's no pressure. Just drive around the circle 20zillion times if you have to before you're comfortable enough to make a safe lane change and off your exit.

 

I close my eyes and hope for the best.

 

left lane - unless im trying to get into a gas station or something on the corner

 

there arent any four lanes to turn onto where i live so ha

 

Stay to the left. However, whoever's bigger wins. So if a 18 wheeler is pulling out right and not going into their lane, they win. Don't care what any written law says, physics wins every time.

 

Meant to hit left lane. My mouse and reactions are a little off

 

Bingo.

If you have a green arrow, there is no conflicting movement with the right-of-way.
If you have a green ball, stop sign, or the approach is uncontrolled, then standard right of way standards apply. The right turner is oncoming traffic and has the right of way over the left turner, regardless of which lane either driver is aiming for.

Laws vary by state. In California, you may legally turn into any available lane unless signs or striping place restrictions, typically (but not always) multiple turn lanes.
Personally, I won't typically cross more than 2 lanes, meaning if I'm turning onto a 4-lane road, I'm aiming for #1 or #2. I'll only go to the outside if I need to make an immediate right turn (gas station, side street, etc...)
But it's pretty rare that turning movements onto a 4-lane are not protected with a green arrow unless it's a minor side street.

 

Take the furthest lane to the right. That way everyone in cross traffic can see your taco better.

 

This is simple.. there are lines on most roads showing you where to go..

^^

 

Holy fraking thread resurrection batman

 

Stay in the lane you began the turn in. If you are in the left lane making a turn, stay in the left lane during & after the turn. If you are in the right lane making a turn, stay in the right lane during & after the turn. Very simple, unfortunately there are a LOT of idiot drivers that don't seem to understand this. That's what the train horn is for...

 

brake check em

 

i've never encountered a four lane road here in philly but id probably chose the third lane from the right

 

It depends on your local traffic laws as well. I remembered this from the Cali driver's handbook years ago:

1. Left turn from a two-way street. Start the turn in the left lane closest to the middle of the street. Complete the turn, if safe, in either lane of the cross street (shown by the arrows). Use the center left turn lane if one is available. A left turn may be made from the other lane, if permitted by signs or arrows.

2. Right turn. Begin and end the turn in the lane nearest the righthand curb. Do not swing wide into another lane of traffic. Watch for pedestrians, motorcyclists, and bicyclists between your vehicle and the curb. Sometimes, signs or pavement markings will let you turn right from another lane as shown by the graphic 2.

In other words, left turn gets their choice of lane and right turn is required to stay as far right as possible.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/hdbk/turns.htm#turnexamples
It's about halfway down the page.