Discussions

Has anyone else had issues about people turning into the incorrect lanes at intersections? I find it happens all the time and causes so many accidents/near accidents! You are supposed to turn into the lane closest to you, and leave the other lane open to people who might be coming from the other side. However I often come across people making left turns into the far lane, which is really dangerous! I just about got hit this morning on my drive to work because someone turned into the wrong lane!

I see this all the time too. It is very dangerous. I'm not sure if people don't realize they need to take the lane closest to them or if they are too lazy? Not sure how this will ever be enforced either..

at all. (turning left through a light into far lane). Just check that lane and traffic from that side turning right. Easily done. I am yet to have issues with it.  
I hate slow drivers that dilley-dalley through the light, (forever waiting for a good opportunity, but not taking it!)  
 
... so the right lane is to get around them slow pokes!

the problem with that is that so many people don't look for other cars that have the right of way in that lane. and with traffic moving, you can't always predict what might happen next. the reason you're supposed to turn into the close lane is so that everyone knows where they need to be. Quite often people turning into the far lane instead seem to think they have the right of way there, and that is what makes it dangerous.

Pray it Forward said "at all. (turning left through a light into far lane). Just check that lane and traffic from that side turning right. Easily done. I am yet to have issues with it.   I hate slow drivers that dilley-dalley through the light, (forever waiting for a good opportunity, but not taking it!)     ... so the right lane is to get around them slow pokes! "

http://www.mpi.mb.ca/en/pdfs/completehandbook.pdf  
 
check out page 38 to 46 of the Manitoba driver handbook.  
 
Edited by melsey, 2015-07-24 16:12:20

If a car is turning right into an intersection, yes they are supposed to turn into their immediate lane closest to them.... BUT.... A HUGE BUT!!!! .... You aren't suppose to enter the intersection until it is clear! If you are turning left you are crossing on coming traffic and must wait for that driver making their right hand turn to leave the intersection. I HATE IT WHEN TEO TRY TO TURN AT ONCE!! It's illegal. Brandonites do this ALL THE TIME!!! If you are crossing on coming traffic, you have to wait until the intersection is clear. You both don't get to turn and go into your own lanes and carry on. Everyday I see this. People need to know the rules of the road. No wonder our kids are horrible at it and are driving up the rates! They've grown up watching this crap happen!! Ugh!! .... Okay. End rant

jillvander said "If a car is turning right into an intersection, yes they are supposed to turn into their immediate lane closest to them.... BUT.... A HUGE BUT!!!! .... You aren't suppose to enter the intersection until it is clear! If you are turning left you are crossing on coming traffic and must wait for that driver making their right hand turn to leave the intersection. I HATE IT WHEN TEO TRY TO TURN AT ONCE!! It's illegal. Brandonites do this ALL THE TIME!!! If you are crossing on coming traffic, you have to wait until the intersection is clear. You both don't get to turn and go into your own lanes and carry on. Everyday I see this. People need to know the rules of the road. No wonder our kids are horrible at it and are driving up the rates! They've grown up watching this crap happen!! Ugh!! .... Okay. End rant "

pretty sure this is incorrect. the left hand turn can and should be made at the same time if there are two lanes to enter. if there is only one lane the person making right hand turn has right of way.

you have a flashing green arrow which mean you can turn exclusively, whereas pedestrians cannot cross and traffic from other side turning right must yield to you. (if it was single lane.)  
 
I am yet to see an accident from someone turning 'wide'. I see police do it. I don't see a danger involved. You correct your speed and position after noting the other driver's intentions. The driver in front will either speed up or wait for the driver behind to go past on the right. The driver following the one ahead should watch to see the right lane is clear. ( I call it a quick lane change). Example: If you have a 'slow poke' turning left, time to ZOOOOOOOM past them on right! If they do a quick lane change I am aware of it and will let them in...then ZOOOOM pass them on the left. *grin*  
 
Edited by Pray it Forward, 2015-07-26 01:59:33

If you are making a left turn on a left turn signal you should still be careful, if the opposite side of the intersection has a right merge lane, then going into the far lane puts you at risk of hitting a car which is merging on the assumption that the car making the left turn will be using the nearest lane, as the law states.

Nope Dan Taylor. But now we know you are one of them.  
 
Intersections that have the left turn signal light will have a "no right turn on red" sign. Nothing to worry about there.  
 
It's those that think one traffic rule supersedes the other. Only entering an intersection of the traffic if clear versus turning into your closest lane... People think the closest lave rule applies over the clear intersection. People are impatient and don't want to miss the light. Go ahead and call MPI. If you both turn at the same time and there is an accident for someone going wide and swiping, the person turning left (obvious one way and establishing yourself exclusions here, could be other directions for the sake of the argument) will be 100% at fault because they had to cross on coming traffic and did not enter the intersection when it was clear to do so: the entered at the same time as the person turning right.

and it even bothers me even more when you try to drive properly by making the left turn into the left lane then if I need to be in right lane and do my proper signal, shoulder check and lane change that when I look, the car that followed me into the intersection is already passing me on the right because they pulled into the right lane, and then they lane change back into the left!

This is very simple. You turn into the nearest lane designated for traffic heading in your direction. Simple. No confusion.  
 
You don't get to ignore some traffic rules just because you think you know better, or because your sense of entitlement says that your time is more valuable than that of someone else.  
 

Don't mean to change the subject,but this still has to do with driving.Does any one in this city know how to enter and exit the traffic circles on 34th street?It's like a free for all when entering them.Even our BPS need to take a lesson on not what to do when entering them.

Singnal your intention, yield to oncoming traffic, signal to leave.  
 
The confusion, or hesitation, is often caused by people exiting the circle who do not signal. This has others yielding unncessarily.

It's not dangerous  
Posted by Pray it Forward, 7/24/2015 3:14:05 PM  
at all. (turning left through a light into far lane). Just check that lane and traffic from that side turning right. Easily done. I am yet to have issues with it.  
I hate slow drivers that dilley-dalley through the light, (forever waiting for a good opportunity, but not taking it!)  
 
... so the right lane is to get around them slow pokes!  
 
 
I really hope you're joking but if you're not, I hope you realize that what you're suggesting is illegal and unsafe!  
 
I have to make left hand turns onto 18th St everyday going to and from work! I constantly have people try to pass me on the right after turning into the left lane! This is very dangerous as I drive a utility van and you're passing in my blind spot!  
 
If you're at the front of the turning lane and nobody across the intersection is turning right, then you're probably ok to turn into the far right lane.  
 
If you're following me through and I properly turn into the first lane, signal, then move into the right lane, you're causing a problem. By turning into the far lane to pass me you're not abiding by the rules of the road and potentially creating the opportunity for an accident.  
 
But because you're not even close to the only driver who does this, I will continue to check my mirrors before changing lanes to watch out for jerks like you who think their time is more important than mine!

Your time is not more important than other peoples safety. How much time do you really save by breaking this traffic law? 5 seconds 10 seconds Max? Will this be your excuse when this causes a collision with a car carrying young babies/children?  
Police also go through red lights and double the speed limits when they need to, doesn't mean it's safe.  
 
To regress, when I was a 16 year old boy and thought like a 16 year old boy, I might have agreed with you, but at some point you have to grow up and see the world with a wider viewpoint.  
 
Edited by Enfyre, 2015-07-26 10:09:21

I think the biggest problem with traffic circles is that they are not yet common enough to make people have to be aware how to use them. The most common driver error I see in the traffic circles is people already in the circle will yield to those waiting to enter.  
 
To answer the op, the long lineups on 18th are more due to the fact that there is simply more traffic using 18th than the current configuration of the street / bridge can handle at peak times. Altering the timing of the lights may get more cars through from south to north, but when the traffic on Rosser ave west is backed up to 20th St. at peak times, making a shorter light for Rosser crossing 18th just moves the problem, it doesn't solve it.  
 
Edit: Oops last paragraph belongs in another thread.  
 
Edited by fargobob, 2015-07-26 10:33:29

Think of the circle like a clock, you always enter the circle at 6  
To turn right - Right turn signal just before entering circle - give way to any vehicle already in the circle - when clear, enter circle, leaving right turn signal on - exit circle at 3, then cancel turn signal  
 
Straight across - No turn signal required before entering the circle - yield to others already in the circle, when clear, enter the circle - as you pass the 3 position - turn right signal on showing your intent to exit at the 12 exit - this shows drivers waiting to enter the circle at the 12 position of your intention to exit  
 
Left Turn - Just before entering the circle - turn left signal indicator on - yield to those already in the circle - when clear, enter the circle with the left turn signal still operating until you achieve the 12 position - then change left turn to right turn signal and exit at the 9 position - cancel the signal after exiting.  
 
Using the circle to u-turn  
just before entering the circle - operate the left turn signal - enter the circle when safe to do so - continue with left turn signal until at the 9 position - then change turn signal from left to right and exit the circle at the 6 position and cancel the signal  
 
Remember - always yield to any vehicle already in the circle - clear signals in good time allow others to make better decisions - using a signal to show your intention, even if not legally required, helps others to know your intent - if someone already in the circle is not signaling, wait until you are sure of where they're going before moving.  
 
I hope this helps, as a professional driver of over 40 years experience and something like 27 different countries I like to think I've got it right - at last!

jillvander said "If a car is turning right into an intersection, yes they are supposed to turn into their immediate lane closest to them.... BUT.... A HUGE BUT!!!! .... You aren't suppose to enter the intersection until it is clear! If you are turning left you are crossing on coming traffic and must wait for that driver making their right hand turn to leave the intersection. I HATE IT WHEN TEO TRY TO TURN AT ONCE!! It's illegal. Brandonites do this ALL THE TIME!!! If you are crossing on coming traffic, you have to wait until the intersection is clear. You both don't get to turn and go into your own lanes and carry on. Everyday I see this. People need to know the rules of the road. No wonder our kids are horrible at it and are driving up the rates! They've grown up watching this crap happen!! Ugh!! .... Okay. End rant "

lmao, its funny when people rant and are wrong  
 
if the person turning right has their turn signal on then the intersection is clear (when there is two lanes) no one is in it and the person has signaled their intentions to turn right, if there is only one lane to turn into then the right turner has the right away, this is no different then both left turners entering the intersection to turn left  
 
on a left turn signal the person turning right would have a red light therefor it is a full stop before they can turn, but they can still turn into the nearest lane if clear, since the person on the left also has to turn into the nearest lane (unless its a double left, try that one out lol) the inside lane would usually be clear, sometimes there is a no right on red sign but that usually when there is a double turn lane or some other safety reason, if there is not all of those are perfectly legal moves  
 
oh and if they side swipe you turning wide when you are entering your lane, they are at fault, the only way you take some fault is if you "could" have avoided the accident, that means even tho they are wrong you cant let them write off your car just to be right lol  
 
Pray it Forward is wrong but they know that, what they are saying is that if they watch the traffic (no one turning right) they feel safe enough and confident enough that it is not really unsafe, it can cause problems tho for those like the van that are following the rules, but as any lane change of course you have to watch your mirrors because since you are changing direction its up to you to make sure that no vehicle is there, either from an illegal maneuver or from turning right or wherever the car may come from, makes something else to watch but all part of driving  
 
 
 
kind of makes me wonder if those who complain about this stuff really cant handle all that goes on in traffic(even in brandon let alone a large city where some of the rules are different and more stuff goes on), there is lots to watch for and rules or no rules you are responsible for avoiding a collision

Its all about time, and our perception and culture, everything that "saves time" is good, conversely, everything that we perceive to cause us to "lose time" is bad. Which is why we no longer have an "off-switch" we just recalled it "standby"!  
 
Traffic signals frustrate drivers, because we waste time when we sit on red and nothing enters the junction ahead of us. So we race to the next light because there is an inbuilt idea that we can affect what color the light will be by our arrival ("beat the light") or conversely, if we maintain a "steady speed" we shall hit all the lights on green - hows that one working for ya? How about "stop signs" - why do we need to stop when the road is obviously clear? All the "stopping and starting" causes frustration and drivers lose patience and once that happens, driving standards deteriorate. Frustrated drivers set a bad example and other drivers may be influenced by their actions. (Ever been in a line-up where one driver will cross the median and then he's followed by half a dozen more?)  
So how do we change this?  
 
Well, less restrictions may be at least part of the answer. Do we really need to stop at every "Stop" sign? Wouldn't replacing these with "Yield" work as well? If you look at drivers around Brandon, very few actually come to a complete stop, most perform some version of the so called "rolling stop" Some stop signs do make very good sense and should be retained, but I would suggest that a large number of them could be changed to yield with little, if any, impact on safety.  
 
As for traffic lights, why so many, do we really need them? In Europe there are far more roundabouts or traffic circles and these have been shown to reduce overall speed in urban settings. The idea goes something like this. AT present drivers race between lights under the impression they may beat the next light. In fact, the sequencing of traffic lights is set to provide all routes with thee minimum amount of delay. Were some of these lights to be changed for mini-traffic circles, then traffic flows more evenly. An added advantage is that nothing the individual driver does will have any effect on the amount of traffic he will meet at the circle. So there's no point in racing to the next circle, because no matter what the individual does, its entirely dependent upon traffic levels, and thus not within his control. So for many drivers, the "race to the next light" becomes pointless and they cease doing it. As an individuals driving is composed of habit, (how many are in the habit of 5kph over the limit?) then individual stretches of road see decreased over all speed whilst overall journey times across the city are lessoned. I'm not suggesting we replace each and every traffic light in the entire city with a circle, yet I feel that some could certainly be replaced.  
For those unsure with the term "mini-traffic circle" this is often nothing more than a raised circle of road, maybe 6-9" high, painted white, and signs depicting a circle and Yield on all approach roads. Being nothing more than a slightly raised surface, this allows the semi trailers to pass over the circle and not cause damage to either themselves or others.  
 
All this is a general comment of course, there are and will always be those who speed for the thrill, who enjoy breaking the rules and estimate their driving ability beyond their actual driving ability. Yet, if nothing else, it would make for an interesting long term experiment...

Dan Tayler said "    jillvander said "If a car is turning right into an intersection, yes they are supposed to turn into their immediate lane closest to them.... BUT.... A HUGE BUT!!!! .... You aren't suppose to enter the intersection until it is clear! If you are turning left you are crossing on coming traffic and must wait for that driver making their right hand turn to leave the intersection. I HATE IT WHEN TEO TRY TO TURN AT ONCE!! It's illegal. Brandonites do this ALL THE TIME!!! If you are crossing on coming traffic, you have to wait until the intersection is clear. You both don't get to turn and go into your own lanes and carry on. Everyday I see this. People need to know the rules of the road. No wonder our kids are horrible at it and are driving up the rates! They've grown up watching this crap happen!! Ugh!! .... Okay. End rant " pretty sure this is incorrect. the left hand turn can and should be made at the same time if there are two lanes to enter. if there is only one lane the person making right hand turn has right of way. "

There are far too many people in this town that do not stop for red lights or yeilds, they just figure they can go - even if the oncoming traffic has to slow for them. Couple that with the jerks who turn right and go over into the center lane INCORRECTLY, and all bets are off.  
 
In a perfect world, your comment would make sense, but it requires drivers being considerate of others and the rules.

You got me, Allie Cat! I was kinda of in jesting, confessing my faults to say " I have done this" and I repent for saying it's OK to break rules, if I implied that.  
 
I confess, the reason I "ZOOM" is because I am occasionally impatient when I have followed someone who is slow then get to the lights, only to have them not see the flashing arrow. So in my imperfect state of mind, I want to get by them quickly maybe to avoid a potential accident. (hopefully not causing one in the meantime).  
With that said, I have taken defensive driving, am accident-free and am a middle aged guy who worked in delivery business for 30 years. I DO watch for others and have had close calls, saw other's error and made mistakes.  
 
I am not perfect and I break a few rules at times. I am just saying, maybe 1% of the time in traffic - sometimes in my mental state due to stress of the day and tight schedules, I don't think of anyone else but me and I can be a real PR*CK. The left turn thing: This is just a small infraction. Forgive me.  
 
Additionally, I was sitting and watching traffic today. I noted 50 percent or more swing wide, more so when no one is in front or on right - with no signalling.  
 
Have a safe drive...blessings  

jillvander said "Nope Dan Taylor. But now we know you are one of them.     Intersections that have the left turn signal light will have a "no right turn on red" sign. Nothing to worry about there.     It's those that think one traffic rule supersedes the other. Only entering an intersection of the traffic if clear versus turning into your closest lane... People think the closest lave rule applies over the clear intersection. People are impatient and don't want to miss the light. Go ahead and call MPI. If you both turn at the same time and there is an accident for someone going wide and swiping, the person turning left (obvious one way and establishing yourself exclusions here, could be other directions for the sake of the argument) will be 100% at fault because they had to cross on coming traffic and did not enter the intersection when it was clear to do so: the entered at the same time as the person turning right. "

Sorry, but you're wrong. You would be right if we were talking about both turning on to a one lane road. But we aren't.  
 
The person turning right with improper lane change would be at fault. There is no reasonable expectation that the person turning right has right to more than one lane of traffic.  
 
That would be huge confusion on roads with more lanes than little old Brandon has.

If I'm turning left into the left-most lane, I check my rear view mirror quickly to see if anyone behind me is turning "wide" into the right-most lane. If someone is, I immediately signal right, shoulder check, and change lanes in front of them.  
 
What can I say? I enjoy the seething rage they exhibit.

Sorry, but you are incorrect. (And so was the person before you).  
 
You do not signal to enter a traffic circle, you signal to exit, and you only ever signal right.  
 
http://www.winnipeg.ca/publicworks/InformationAndResources/TrafficControl/Roundabout.asp  
 
Drive in (when clear), signal out. The goal is to signal your intention, so the next guy can tell when it's safe to enter.  
 
The people watching you exit likely did bouyt see you enter. Signaling beforehand isn't helpful to them.  
 
Likewise, you don't need to signal to enter, there is only one direction for you to go, and that's into the traffic circle.  
 
An immediate right on a small circle like we have in town shutters teams to be a signal in and out type thing, but that's just because there's really no time spent in the circle.

Pray it Forward said "you have a flashing green arrow which mean you can turn exclusively, whereas pedestrians cannot cross and traffic from other side turning right must yield to you. (if it was single lane.)     I am yet to see an accident from someone turning 'wide'. I see police do it. I don't see a danger involved. You correct your speed and position after noting the other driver's intentions. The driver in front will either speed up or wait for the driver behind to go past on the right. The driver following the one ahead should watch to see the right lane is clear. ( I call it a quick lane change). Example: If you have a 'slow poke' turning left, time to ZOOOOOOOM past them on right! If they do a quick lane change I am aware of it and will let them in...then ZOOOOM pass them on the left. *grin*     Edited by Pray it Forward, 2015-07-26 01:59:33"

By a chick who didn't stop for the stop sign (she merely slowed - which could have been very dangerous only ten minutes earlier there probably would have been kids at this intersection crossing to school).  
 
She slowed and tried to pull directly into my lane - the center lane. I had no where to go as it was winter and there was a large jagged windrow down the centre, so she plowed right into my car, pushing me up into it.  
 
She admitted she was at fault, even saying "I didn't see you" - well here's the thing chickie - YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN COMING INTO MY LANE AT ALL, YOU HAD YOUR OWN. Snapped my axle because she hit me dead center on the front 1/4 panel, torqued the whole frame out of square (due to being pushed up into the windrow), did thousands of $$ of damage to the motor and various small components like a headlight and washer motor. To top it off, the towing company hooked onto the car from behind (a big no-no on this model of car according to the manual) and peeled the bumper like some sort of freak banana, which did even more damage to the front and back ends.  
 
So I hope you are kidding with this - if not you are a part of a big issue in this town. I see it at least a dozen times a day in my travels, and I see near misses each day too.  
 
Common courtesy.