They say "driving is a right, not a privilege". I don't know who 'they' are but I think they might be correct. Let me say I am not the greatest driver in the world, as evidenced by the post I wrote about having to attend online driving school. I get speeding tickets. I can't help it. It's always the camera and I'm always just over. Anyway, I would say I am generally a good driver - I try to be conscious of those around me, I like to think I utilize lanes correctly (the far lane is for passing, not just driving a little over the speed limit), I use my turn signals, and while I speed, I'm always in complete control. Like a ninja on wheels.
One thing has been bugging me lately. Turning Wide. Not to be confused with having a Wide Stance, a la Senator Craig. Turning wide is when someone makes, say, a right hand turn into a three lane road. Instead of turning into the closest lane, they 'turn wide' and proceed to the furthest lane on the left. I could understand this if one had to make an immediate left after that turn, but in most cases that's not what I see. I don't mind turning wide in the right situations, and I do it too. f no one's around, go for it.
Recently I was making a left hand turn. There was an oncoming car who had his signal on for a right hand turn. The stoplight turned yellow, and rather than him stopping so I could get out of the intersection, he turned wide into the furthest lane - my lane. Obviously I waited for him to complete his wide turn, then I completed mine - to the far lane as well, so as to avoid him. It really wasn't too dangerous, but it was annoying. Below is a rough diagram of the situation:
All I ask is that if cars are around people turn into their own lane. Turning wide, while enjoyable and perfectly legal (EDIT: As Anon points out in the comment below, Turning Wide is actually ILLEGAL in AZ. Guess I need more online driving school), is annoying and often dangerous. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got a speeding ticket to pay...
I don't believe perfectly legal - from what I understand it's illegal and the police use this as a means to pull a car over. (Yes, another reason they can give you a citation - sorry!) :)
ReplyDeleteAZ Revised Statutes - Title 28
28-751. Required position and method of turning
The driver of a vehicle intending to turn shall do so as follows:
1. Right turns. Both the approach for a right turn and a right turn shall be made as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway.
2. Left turns. The driver of a vehicle intending to turn left shall approach the turn in the extreme left-hand lane lawfully available to traffic moving in the direction of travel of the vehicle. If practicable the driver shall make the left turn from the left of the center of the intersection and shall make the turn to the left lane immediately available for the driver's direction of traffic.
3. The director or local authorities in their respective jurisdictions may cause markers, buttons or signs to be placed and may require and direct that a different course from that specified in this section be traveled by vehicles turning at an intersection. When markers, buttons or signs are so placed, a driver of a vehicle shall not turn a vehicle other than as directed and required by the markers, buttons or signs.
4. Two-way left turn lanes. If a special lane for making left turns by drivers proceeding in opposite directions has been indicated by official traffic control devices:
(a) A driver shall not make a left turn from any other lane.
(b) A driver shall not drive a vehicle in the lane except if preparing for or making a left turn from or into the roadway or if preparing for or making a u-turn if otherwise permitted by law.