Is how I make this turn legal?

[DarkNinja75]

Here's the scenario:

Stopped at a red light, turning right. Traffic is clear so I go. Turning right, there are two lanes. One I can turn directly into, the other I can get into by going across the first. I need to turn left almost immediately after the light I just turned right from. Is it legal for me to go all the way across the first lane and into the second?

I do it all the time and I've never been bugged, but I want to know if I can get cited for "unsafe lane change" or something similar.

Here's a crude diagram of what I mean:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v194/DarkNinja75/cruderoad.jpg

[JPM]

As long as there is no traffic in the #1 lane (The left or second one after you turned) that is affected then it is legal.

[Burning1]

I wouldn't make a habit of it, though. Having a habit of crossing multiple lanes can easily lead to a major accident when your attention wavers.

[antarius]

As stated before, if the roadway is clear you can do that legally.

The better method might be to turn into the #2 lane, signal and move to your left into the #1 lane when clear. It sounds like in this circumstance you don't have room for that though....

[Alan_Hepburn]

As long as there is no traffic in the #1 lane (The left or second one after you turned) that is affected then it is legal.

I always thought that the CVC 22100 implies that both the start and end of the turn should be made as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except for certain conditions that don't appear to be relevant in the diagram.

[motorman4life]

I always thought that the CVC 22100 implies that both the start and end of the turn should be made as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except for certain conditions that don't appear to be relevant in the diagram.
That is correct. When you make a turn, except as provided below, you are obliged to remain in the same lane through the turn. Once you exit the intersection, you can initiate an immediate lane change, if it is safe to do so.

Referring back to the diagram, you can see the vehicle is in the rightmost lane when it entered the intersection (crossed the crosswalk) and similarly, it was in tha rightmost lane when it exited the intersection (crossed the other crosswalk), then it moves into the #1 lane after exiting the intersection.

The important thing to remember, as a motorist, is that you are making two distinctive maneuvers. No matter how fluid it may appear, it is not ONE move. Each maneuver must me done safely and with due regard for others that may have a right of way or are approaching and may reasonably constitute a hazard. You may feel it is okay to check to ensure BOTH maneuvers are safe to be performed consecutively before proceeding, but that does not relieve you of the responsibility of RE-checking that is continues to be clear AFTER you have started the series of maneuvers. ie.. check to ensure the lane change is still safe after making the turn and before initiating the lane change.

[JPM]

I always thought that the CVC 22100 implies that both the start and end of the turn should be made as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except for certain conditions that don't appear to be relevant in the diagram.


Look at subsection 2: http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d11/vc22100.htm


(2) If a right-hand turn is made from a one-way highway at an intersection, a driver shall approach the turn as provided in this subdivision and shall complete the turn in any lane lawfully available to traffic moving in that direction upon the roadway being entered.

[racercosmo]

I don't know how to make diagrams, so I hope my explanation with DarkNinja's is clear enough. In this situation, I am turning right, and keeping in the right hand land. A car coming from the opposite direction is turning left, and attempts to go immediately into the right (#2) lane. Which car has right-of-way?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v194/DarkNinja75/cruderoad.jpg

[Alan_Hepburn]

I'm by no means an expert, but my reading of the VC suggests that the car turning left can only turn into a lane that is safe for him - since you're making a right into the #2 lane then that means the #2 lane is unavailable to the left turner.

[JPM]

I'm by no means an expert, but my reading of the VC suggests that the car turning left can only turn into a lane that is safe for him - since you're making a right into the #2 lane then that means the #2 lane is unavailable to the left turner.

Correct, you can only turn into the #2 lane, not the #1 lane as in the original scenario. That's why the VC sections say’s "legally available" if there is already a vehicle there than it is not legally available.

Now this is taking into account both directions have a green light. If the car has a green turn arrow and you have a red light and turn after stopping then it’s different.

[racercosmo]

How is right of way at a stopsign determined? Is clockwise the law, or just courtesy?

[JPM]

How is right of way at a stopsign determined? Is clockwise the law, or just courtesy?

I'm sure you have heard the term right-of-way. The vehicle on left has to yield to the vehicle on the right.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d11/vc21800.htm

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d11/vc21802.htm

[mrcookie18]

I have a similar question that goes back to this topic. I was given a citation for CVC 22100 (a) right turn to right lane, not staying close enough. Lane Number 2 was Free of traffic and lane 1 was free of traffic as well. It was a green light for me, and I was the first car to turn right. I am unsure as to whether or not I crossed the intersection after or in between the other crosswalk.

http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii278/cinnakonroll/highway.jpg

What I'm curious about is in regards to the one-way highway.

Look at subsection 2: http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d11/vc22100.htm


(2) If a right-hand turn is made from a one-way highway at an intersection, a driver shall approach the turn as provided in this subdivision and shall complete the turn in any lane lawfully available to traffic moving in that direction upon the roadway being entered.

From my picture, is that considered a one way street? or a two way. In between the 2 streets is a stretch of island and curb that separates the two way traffic.

Is there any other way I can fight this ticket?