Straight and left from left lane; right lane right turn only - why?

[getemngo]

Well yes, you're technically right, but the problem comes from being physically unable to see the stopped car waiting to turn ahead when there's a line of cars in front of you. The first car has plenty of time to react; the second car wonders, "Why'd he move over?" and has a tiny bit less time to see it, and after a dozen cars, drivers are swerving at the last possible second.

Though I guess if you can avoid any obstacle in the lane, you can avoid this... and it should only be an issue if you're following the car in front of you too closely. Hm.

And for the record, I would love stricter requirements to renew a driver's license.

[agentsteel53]

honestly, if you don't think "someone must be waiting to turn left" as the most plausible explanation for a sudden slowdown, you should not have a driver's license.

furthermore if you cannot see more than one car ahead of you, enough to discern what is happening, you definitely should stay well behind the vehicle you're following.  (likely a box truck or something similar.)

[mrsman]

I have never understood the logic if this intersection arrangement.  It is counter intuitive to say the least, especially in states where you are prohibited from passing the driver turning left on the right, even if there is room (like Washington).  If you are allowed to pass on the right, this can make sense, as those locations where you can bypass the vehicle in the intersection this it isn't so daft.

That's usually only in cases of a marked shoulder. At most intersections with traffic lights, there isn't a marked shoulder.

As far as I know, it's illegal to go off-road to pass a left turning car on the right.  It's probably also illegal to use a "Right turn only" lane to pass a left turning car on the right.  It's probably not illegal to use a wide enough unmarked "parking lane" to pass on the right.  Since I primarily drive in urban areas, the third option is where I most commonly pass on the right when confronted with a left turning driver.  If only one car is turning left, this works out great so that the line of traffic isn't impeded by the left turner.  Where there are multiple cars turning left, the parking lane may not be available (blocked by parked cars) and the intersection would probably warrant a dedicated left turn lane.

[vdeane]

I generally pass on the shoulder if it's wide enough or swerve around in the intersection (by that point, any right turn lane is over anyways ).

[signalman]

I generally pass on the shoulder if it's wide enough or swerve around in the intersection (by that point, any right turn lane is over anyways ).

I will do this too.  While it probably isn't legal, it's only illegal if I get caught    I'll quote a bit from one of George Carlin's routines..."Cop didn't see it, I didn't do it :whistles:  I'm gone!"