Proper Lane Use And Destination Lane For Turns

The OP is preparing for his road test, and for his purposes, the answer is 'because that's what the CDL Manual says to do.'

You're right. I forgot we were talking about the road test. I was thinking of real-world scenarios.

For the road test, do what the manual says.

Keep in mind that if there are two left-hand turn lanes, you make the turn from the right-hand lane and finish the turn in the right-hand lane.

I had some time this afternoon and checked several state drivers manuals. Of those I checked (Iowa, Missouri,Ohio, Indiana) all support what Ryan said, that if you're in the only turn lane going left you take the left most lane to finish your turn. After it's safe to do so you can then move into the right lane. California does things different (who would've thought!)

So if you're taking your test for your CDL you likely want to finish your left turn in the left most lane. In the real world, most drivers will get straight into the right lane.

There are times, most certainly turning from a single left turn to a multiple lane cross street that the safest thing to do is actually use the right lane on the cross street.

If there is a vehicle behind you, that the driver is impatient, and you have swung into that right lane, the car driver frequently will assume you are going to take that right lane and will attempt to and or actually occupy the left lane on the cross street. If you continue your arc back into the left lane, you risk collision with driver and your trailer. By far, a possible citation for an illegal lane change is a far less evil than hitting a car, even more so as you would be at fault and its preventable.

Another situation is where you have a right turn immediately following the left. There are many many routes that this occurs on. If you swing all the way to the left lane on completion, cars can and will make a free right while you are completing your left or shortly thereafter, you once again run the risk of collision. Its much safe in that instance to take the right lane and proceed to make your right. You effectively shut down the opportunity for them to come up the inside of your trailer before it becomes a problem.

If I recall correctly in school, Our instructors discussed this. They said the general basis, the base method is left to left but understand there are times when it becomes necessary to deviate with prudence.

There are times, most certainly turning from a single left turn to a multiple lane cross street that the safest thing to do is actually use the right lane on the cross street.

If there is a vehicle behind you, that the driver is impatient, and you have swung into that right lane, the car driver frequently will assume you are going to take that right lane and will attempt to and or actually occupy the left lane on the cross street. If you continue your arc back into the left lane, you risk collision with driver and your trailer. By far, a possible citation for an illegal lane change is a far less evil than hitting a car, even more so as you would be at fault and its preventable.

Another situation is where you have a right turn immediately following the left. There are many many routes that this occurs on. If you swing all the way to the left lane on completion, cars can and will make a free right while you are completing your left or shortly thereafter, you once again run the risk of collision. Its much safe in that instance to take the right lane and proceed to make your right. You effectively shut down the opportunity for them to come up the inside of your trailer before it becomes a problem.

If I recall correctly in school, Our instructors discussed this. They said the general basis, the base method is left to left but understand there are times when it becomes necessary to deviate with prudence.

Davy, that’s a really good explanation. I’m not buying that “illegal lane change” theory because I think it just muddies the water.

If I have to take the right lane to finish a left turn, I am NOT going to move to the left lane just so I can move back to the right lane. And your example of having to make a right turn shortly after making a left is an excellent point.

This is a good example of using the mirrors properly. How many mirrors do we have? Two? Wrong, we have 6 mirrors. If we use our mirrors to their full advantage we will not crush any cars while making turns.

Has anybody ever been issued a ticket for an illegal lane change while doing a left turn? Ok, that’s what I thought. Lol

It's not a theory. It's quite literally written in law in most states.

I’m not buying that “illegal lane change” theory because I think it just muddies the water.

I agree. Not only that, but Ryan says:

Start in the left, finish in the left, then change lanes as needed, or vice versa.

To make a left turn when there are two left-hand turn lanes, we don't start in the left-hand lane. We start in the right-hand turn lane. So that point is moot, also.

Finally, making a left-hand turn into the left-hand lane on a divided four-lane highway is physically impossible without running over the curb or other vehicles. You must go into the right-hand lane for your trailer tires to clear the median. So why go into the right-hand lane during the turn, finish in the left, and then try to move to the right-hand lane again? You're already taking the right-hand lane to make the turn, so just finish the turn there.

My statement about starting in the left lane and finishing in the left lane applies to one turn lane. With two or more turn lanes, start in the right most lane, and finish in the right lane. The caveat here is if there is a dedicated right turn lane. For vehicles turning right to then have space to merge after turning. Obviously, caution would need to be taken to avoid that right turn merging lane.

I understand what you are saying about making extra moves, but I do it every time I make a left turn. I have yet to miss a right turn when I have to get over right away. I slow down to a crawl, if I have to, and wait for an opportunity to get over. That's where the patience aspect of my comment comes in. Yes it's annoying, but I am preventing the tail end of my trailer from catching someone who has made a right turn onto the same road as I while I am making my left turn. I have sat at intersections and witnessed trucks doing what you are describing, only to have a narrow escape from a wreck because a car came up on the intersection and didn't wait for the truck to clear the intersection before making that right turn onto the same road.

I slow down to a crawl, if I have to, and wait for an opportunity to get over

If that sounds safe, you haven't thought it through. You could have avoided that situation, but you made things more risky and difficult because the book said so.

First, I don't care what the books tell you to do, except when it applies to the driving test. If books could teach truck driving, experience wouldn't matter. But it does.

I learned over the years that the simplest effective solution is almost always the safest. If you can make a left turn and finish in the right lane, you're preventing an extra lane change toward the passenger side in potentially heavy traffic. That lane change is dangerous. You're holding up traffic, creating a mess of frustrated four-wheelers, and you have blind spots to deal with. You're also watching your mirrors instead of the road ahead in potentially heavy traffic. None of that is safe.

If you didn't have to use the right-hand lane to complete the turn in the first place, you could at least argue that you're maintaining your lane throughout the turn to avoid a collision. But you have to use the right-hand lane anyhow. Then you're going to give up the right lane to go to the left lane, only to need the right lane again? That makes little sense to me.

Finally, your method requires a precise turn to clear the median and keep your trailer from leaving the left lane. It's doable, of course, but if your trailer goes even a foot into the right-hand lane before getting back to the left, you've defeated the purpose. If you cut the turn too close, hoping to keep your trailer in the left lane, you run over the median or traffic. You have a very narrow window to fit that trailer, with big consequences if you cut it a little too tight.

To sum it up, finishing in the right lane:

• Prevents a dangerous and unnecessary lane change
• Allows you to focus on the road ahead instead of your mirrors
• Immediately puts you in the lane you belong
• Prevents you from having to thread the needle with a precise turn that keeps your trailer perfectly in the left-hand lane

If you think your method is safest, do what you believe is right. I think eventually you'll understand what I'm saying. You want to avoid putting yourself in difficult or dangerous situations. I won't put myself in a position where I have to make extra moves, especially moves that I know are dangerous, even if the book says to.

I slow down to a crawl, if I have to, and wait for an opportunity to get over

If that sounds safe, you haven't thought it through. You could have avoided that situation, but you made things more risky and difficult because the book said so.

First, I don't care what the books tell you to do, except when it applies to the driving test. If books could teach truck driving, experience wouldn't matter. But it does.

I learned over the years that the simplest effective solution is almost always the safest. If you can make a left turn and finish in the right lane, you're preventing an extra lane change toward the passenger side in potentially heavy traffic. That lane change is dangerous. You're holding up traffic, creating a mess of frustrated four-wheelers, and you have blind spots to deal with. You're also watching your mirrors instead of the road ahead in potentially heavy traffic. None of that is safe.

If you didn't have to use the right-hand lane to complete the turn in the first place, you could at least argue that you're maintaining your lane throughout the turn to avoid a collision. But you have to use the right-hand lane anyhow. Then you're going to give up the right lane to go to the left lane, only to need the right lane again? That makes little sense to me.

Finally, your method requires a precise turn to clear the median and keep your trailer from leaving the left lane. It's doable, of course, but if your trailer goes even a foot into the right-hand lane before getting back to the left, you've defeated the purpose. If you cut the turn too close, hoping to keep your trailer in the left lane, you run over the median or traffic. You have a very narrow window to fit that trailer, with big consequences if you cut it a little too tight.

To sum it up, finishing in the right lane:

• Prevents a dangerous and unnecessary lane change
• Allows you to focus on the road ahead instead of your mirrors
• Immediately puts you in the lane you belong
• Prevents you from having to thread the needle with a precise turn that keeps your trailer perfectly in the left-hand lane

If you think your method is safest, do what you believe is right. I think eventually you'll understand what I'm saying. You want to avoid putting yourself in difficult or dangerous situations. I won't put myself in a position where I have to make extra moves, especially moves that I know are dangerous, even if the book says to.

If there is a middle lane between the left most lane and the right most lane, I will take that lane, when making a left turn from a single turn lane. The reason that I will never finish my turn in the right lane from a single left turn lane is because of vehicles making a right turn. I am not going to give an opportunity for a car that I didn't notice approaching the intersection to turn right and get under my trailer while I am completing a turn. I have seen trucks make turns as you are describing and very nearly get in a wreck because a car decided not to wait before turning right at the intersection before the entire truck clears. By going back to the left or at least middle lane, it leaves the right lane open to vehicles turning right, as it should be.

I am not saying that you are wrong. I am not saying that I am right. It's really a matter of perspective. Your points are obviously valid. We all know that your credentials speak for themselves. I believe that my points are also valid.

I have seen trucks make turns as you are describing and very nearly get in a wreck because a car decided not to wait before turning right at the intersection before the entire truck clears.

In over one million miles of driving, I've never seen that scenario played out. That car driver would literally have to drive right up under the trailer for that to happen. The off tracking of the trailer means it gradually moves into the right lane. The car driver would have to be totally oblivious to what's going on for that to happen.

I have seen trucks change lanes toward the right and then hit a car with their trailer because they didn't see them. I have also seen this happen when a truck changed lanes toward the right where an entrance ramp dumps out into the highway. A car was entering while its driver was looking backwards and neither driver saw the other's actions causing a wreck.

The scenario you describe is hard to even imagine, although anything and everything seems to happen out here on the road. What you described seems highly unlikely due to the very slow speeds at which that event would be taking place.

I finally had time to get back on here and catch up. Thank you to everyone for your input and thoughts. The important thing is that I passed my tests first try this past Tuesday and got my CDL A! I took yesterday and today off, and I start riding with an experienced driver at my company tomorrow. Thanks again everyone, I appreciate you taking time out of your busy days/nights to reply.

Chris

Good going, Chris!!

I finally had time to get back on here and catch up. Thank you to everyone for your input and thoughts. The important thing is that I passed my tests first try this past Tuesday and got my CDL A! I took yesterday and today off, and I start riding with an experienced driver at my company tomorrow. Thanks again everyone, I appreciate you taking time out of your busy days/nights to reply.

Chris

Congrats on the success.

You mentioned that you are riding with an experienced driver...

Forgive me if this is just semantics, but are you not going to be driving?