Is this turn legal?

[Ivory Lee Spurlock]

I've made that kind of right turn at least two times over the years whenever I happened to miss the dedicated right turn lane. Each time there was no sign saying not to turn, so I didn't think nothing about it and turned right, after I looked to make sure there were no vehicles coming.

[CarnivalGal]

Originally Posted by Ivory Lee Spurlock

I've made that kind of right turn at least two times over the years whenever I happened to miss the dedicated right turn lane. Each time there was no sign saying not to turn, so I didn't think nothing about it and turned right, after I looked to make sure there were no vehicles coming.

Not the case here. Big, huge, highway-sized signs. And most of the cars doing it have local school or neighborhood decals, so it's an intersection and street they drive past probably every day.

[Ivory Lee Spurlock]

Originally Posted by CarnivalGal

Not the case here. Big, huge, highway-sized signs. And most of the cars doing it have local school or neighborhood decals, so it's an intersection and street they drive past probably every day.

If the sign says "No Right Turn", then don't turn right. One must go straight, or forward.

If the sign says "No Right Turn On Red", then it's absolutely ok to turn right once the light turns green, but not before.

If there is NOT a "No Right Turn" sign posted, then it's OK to turn right after stopping.

That's how I look at it. Unless, I'm missing something, it seems pretty much black and white.

[Need4Camaro]

Originally Posted by Ivory Lee Spurlock

If the sign says "No Right Turn", then don't turn right. One must go straight, or forward.

If the sign says "No Right Turn On Red", then it's absolutely ok to turn right once the light turns green, but not before.

If there is NOT a "No Right Turn" sign posted, then it's OK to turn right after stopping.

That's how I look at it. Unless, I'm missing something, it seems pretty much black and white.

Legally speaking you're right but I think the issue is that there is a dedicated lane separated from the flow of traffic, almost like an exit only lane, that turns right onto the FM2222 Bypass where as cars on FM620 who pass this slip lane are generally expected to proceed straight, but some are skipping the slip lane and turning right at the intersection instead to beat traffic and this may either catch someone off guard, or impede the flow of traffic.

By the way its designed, you would never think people would attempt to turn right at the intersection given the ample opportunity to use the slip lane. Someone behind someone making a right turn at the intersection instead of the slip lane may not expect someone to stop at the intersection to make the turn given the huge opportunity to turn at the slip lane, and it also interrupts the flow of traffic which the slip lane is designed to alleviate.

Personally I think its a case where engineers either did not consider it or more clarification needs to be made at the intersection as to whether or not the turn is legal, usually by arrows in the lanes or sign (there are none) or a no right turn sign.

[Ivory Lee Spurlock]

Originally Posted by Need4Camaro

By the way its designed, you would never think people would attempt to turn right at the intersection given the ample opportunity to use the slip lane. Someone behind someone making a right turn at the intersection instead of the slip lane may not expect someone to stop at the intersection to make the turn given the huge opportunity to turn at the slip lane, and it also interrupts the flow of traffic which the slip lane is designed to alleviate.

It's easy to do if you're not familiar with the area and you don't realize the next cross street is where you want to turn until you're already passed the dedicated right turn lane. That's how I happened to turn right from the non-dedicated right lane. All 50 years or so I been driving in Houston and Austin I never noticed you could turn right after missing the dedicated turn lane until the last 2 or 3 years. It must be something new the highway department is trying out.

[Need4Camaro]

For that intersection in particular there are large overhead freeway style signs advising about the turn and where it goes though, infact if you miss it then the intersection (which is much less marked) would probably be even less of a give away.

In this case people are turning at the intersection to cut infront of traffic waiting in the slip lane.