Comments on: Is It Legal to Change Lanes in an Intersection? http://www.lacantdrive.com/2008/05/30/is-it-legal-to-change-lanes-in-an-intersection/ Los Angeles drivers can't drive. Plain and simple. Basic traffic laws and driving etiquette clearly do not apply in a town where the people seem to operate in their own little bubble, completely unaware or dismissive of others on the road. Call it what you will: self-entitlement, negligence, malaise, ignorance. My goal? To have mandatory driving tests randomly issued where drivers are eligible for selection after 6 years. Consider this jury duty for the road. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 02:29:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Vytautas http://www.lacantdrive.com/2008/05/30/is-it-legal-to-change-lanes-in-an-intersection/comment-page-1/#comment-1948 Vytautas Thu, 06 Nov 2008 02:57:06 +0000 http://www.lacantdrive.com/2008/05/30/is-it-legal-to-change-lanes-in-an-intersection/#comment-1948 cool you saytik! Write more! cool you saytik! Write more!

]]> By: I-95, U-405 http://www.lacantdrive.com/2008/05/30/is-it-legal-to-change-lanes-in-an-intersection/comment-page-1/#comment-1330 I-95, U-405 Wed, 11 Jun 2008 08:24:15 +0000 http://www.lacantdrive.com/2008/05/30/is-it-legal-to-change-lanes-in-an-intersection/#comment-1330 Carol, unfortunately, according to what I read in the article, your friend was turning left in front of oncoming traffic at an intersection. So even though the motorcyclist was drunk and changing lanes in the middle of the intersection, your friend legally had to yield the right of way before initiating any left turning movement. Was there any associated factors for the accident on the police report? For example, if your friend's failure to yield the right of way was the main cause of the accident, an associated factor could be that the motorcyclist was speeding. Were there any witnesses that could testify to the fact that the motorcyclist was speeding? This could help reduce the severity of any sentence if your friend is convicted. Carol, unfortunately, according to what I read in the article, your friend was turning left in front of oncoming traffic at an intersection. So even though the motorcyclist was drunk and changing lanes in the middle of the intersection, your friend legally had to yield the right of way before initiating any left turning movement. Was there any associated factors for the accident on the police report? For example, if your friend’s failure to yield the right of way was the main cause of the accident, an associated factor could be that the motorcyclist was speeding. Were there any witnesses that could testify to the fact that the motorcyclist was speeding? This could help reduce the severity of any sentence if your friend is convicted.

]]> By: Carol http://www.lacantdrive.com/2008/05/30/is-it-legal-to-change-lanes-in-an-intersection/comment-page-1/#comment-1329 Carol Tue, 10 Jun 2008 21:03:20 +0000 http://www.lacantdrive.com/2008/05/30/is-it-legal-to-change-lanes-in-an-intersection/#comment-1329 We have heated case here in Ohio regarding a mortorcycle passing another motorcycle on the right in an intersection and fatally smashing into the side of an SUV. My friend was the driver of the SUV. He's pleaded not guilty to the vehicular manslaughter charge and is demanding a jury. What do you guys think? http://www.the-daily-record.com/news/article/3844422 We have heated case here in Ohio regarding a mortorcycle passing another motorcycle on the right in an intersection and fatally smashing into the side of an SUV. My friend was the driver of the SUV. He’s pleaded not guilty to the vehicular manslaughter charge and is demanding a jury. What do you guys think? http://www.the-daily-record.com/news/article/3844422

]]> By: I-95, U-405 http://www.lacantdrive.com/2008/05/30/is-it-legal-to-change-lanes-in-an-intersection/comment-page-1/#comment-1281 I-95, U-405 Tue, 03 Jun 2008 06:40:34 +0000 http://www.lacantdrive.com/2008/05/30/is-it-legal-to-change-lanes-in-an-intersection/#comment-1281 Bobbo, great points. I suppose the question is what is the objective of most people who are changing lanes in intersections? Usually it's too pass, and more often than not it's to avoid getting stuck in the intersection (ie. tailing the car in front of them without checking to see if there was enough clearance before proceeding forward). I guess the gray area is where the spirit of the law comes in vs. the letter of the law. If' it's 3 am in the morning and you're the only car on the street, then sure, switching lanes in an intersection isn't a big deal. But when there's a lot of traffic on the road, common sense will dictate that changing lanes in unmarked intersections lends itself to unsafe driving. If the law demands that in multiple turn lanes (say 2 left hand turning lanes), you must initiate and finish the turn in the same lane, so as to avoid cars colliding into each other, reason dictates the same should hold true while going straight. And in the end, since cops do use unsafe lane change citations pretty liberally, it's probably best not to try to nitpick around the lettering of a law and just suck up with driving straight a few extra feet. Bobbo, great points. I suppose the question is what is the objective of most people who are changing lanes in intersections? Usually it’s too pass, and more often than not it’s to avoid getting stuck in the intersection (ie. tailing the car in front of them without checking to see if there was enough clearance before proceeding forward). I guess the gray area is where the spirit of the law comes in vs. the letter of the law. If’ it’s 3 am in the morning and you’re the only car on the street, then sure, switching lanes in an intersection isn’t a big deal. But when there’s a lot of traffic on the road, common sense will dictate that changing lanes in unmarked intersections lends itself to unsafe driving. If the law demands that in multiple turn lanes (say 2 left hand turning lanes), you must initiate and finish the turn in the same lane, so as to avoid cars colliding into each other, reason dictates the same should hold true while going straight. And in the end, since cops do use unsafe lane change citations pretty liberally, it’s probably best not to try to nitpick around the lettering of a law and just suck up with driving straight a few extra feet.

]]> By: Bobbo http://www.lacantdrive.com/2008/05/30/is-it-legal-to-change-lanes-in-an-intersection/comment-page-1/#comment-1278 Bobbo Mon, 02 Jun 2008 23:26:33 +0000 http://www.lacantdrive.com/2008/05/30/is-it-legal-to-change-lanes-in-an-intersection/#comment-1278 Citing that same v.c. 21658(a) you used, the key is "until such movement can be made with reasonable safety." Note that there is nothing in that vehicle code that says anything about intersections nor is there any other code that makes it illegal to change lanes in intersections. The takeaway is that, in general, you should only change lanes when it's safe to do so, but, once it is safe, you are free to change lanes whether in an intersection or not. Obviously, if you make a prick lane change like it sounds like this fella did, you can (and should) get ticketed for it, but that would be the case regardless of whether you performed said prick action in an intersection or not (e.g., your Beverly Hills example towards the end of the post). Citing that same v.c. 21658(a) you used, the key is “until such movement can be made with reasonable safety.” Note that there is nothing in that vehicle code that says anything about intersections nor is there any other code that makes it illegal to change lanes in intersections. The takeaway is that, in general, you should only change lanes when it’s safe to do so, but, once it is safe, you are free to change lanes whether in an intersection or not. Obviously, if you make a prick lane change like it sounds like this fella did, you can (and should) get ticketed for it, but that would be the case regardless of whether you performed said prick action in an intersection or not (e.g., your Beverly Hills example towards the end of the post).

]]> By: Michael Kelly http://www.lacantdrive.com/2008/05/30/is-it-legal-to-change-lanes-in-an-intersection/comment-page-1/#comment-1277 Michael Kelly Mon, 02 Jun 2008 22:53:57 +0000 http://www.lacantdrive.com/2008/05/30/is-it-legal-to-change-lanes-in-an-intersection/#comment-1277 Looking at the rims and tires is an old motorcyclist's trick. The top of the tires travel twice as fast as the rest of the vehicle (think about it), so it's easier to see if the vehicle is moving or not, i.e. is the vehicle going to pull in front of you from the stop sign on the side street. Looking at the rims and tires is an old motorcyclist’s trick. The top of the tires travel twice as fast as the rest of the vehicle (think about it), so it’s easier to see if the vehicle is moving or not, i.e. is the vehicle going to pull in front of you from the stop sign on the side street.

]]> By: I-95, U-405 http://www.lacantdrive.com/2008/05/30/is-it-legal-to-change-lanes-in-an-intersection/comment-page-1/#comment-1269 I-95, U-405 Sat, 31 May 2008 23:14:27 +0000 http://www.lacantdrive.com/2008/05/30/is-it-legal-to-change-lanes-in-an-intersection/#comment-1269 H, you are in the right. Legally, you must come to a complete stop before the limit line before proceeding with a right turn on red. The "California roll" at red lights and at stop signs are illegal, though everyone seems to do it. At camera-enforced intersections, if you do not come to a complete stop before making a right on red, the cameras will take your photo and cite you for running a red light (assuming that they're working properly). FYI, when traffic cops look to see whether or not you make a full stop at red lights or stop signs, they look at your rims and your tires. Rotation has to completely cease for them to consider that you came to a complete stop. H, you are in the right.

Legally, you must come to a complete stop before the limit line before proceeding with a right turn on red. The “California roll” at red lights and at stop signs are illegal, though everyone seems to do it. At camera-enforced intersections, if you do not come to a complete stop before making a right on red, the cameras will take your photo and cite you for running a red light (assuming that they’re working properly).

FYI, when traffic cops look to see whether or not you make a full stop at red lights or stop signs, they look at your rims and your tires. Rotation has to completely cease for them to consider that you came to a complete stop.

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