Double left turn lanes with big trucks on outer lane (Dallas: insurance, construction)

[nitynity]

How do you handle this scenario if you are driving on the inner lane taking the turn and happened to have a big truck/trailer parallel to you on the right lane?


I had two encounters in the last two weeks. First time I tried to slow down since I wasn't sure if the other truck hauling a long trailer behind will cross over onto my lane. Ended up getting rear ended by the car behind me. Today, another incident with a construction truck at the same exact location speeding past from behind on the right lane and taking left turn parallel to me. I kept my speed hoping nothing happens. Kinda scary though.

[RoamingTX]

Originally Posted by nitynity

How do you handle this scenario if you are driving on the inner lane taking the turn and happened to have a big truck/trailer parallel to you on the right lane?


I had two encounters in the last two weeks. First time I tried to slow down since I wasn't sure if the other truck hauling a long trailer behind will cross over onto my lane. Ended up getting rear ended by the car behind me. Today, another incident with a construction truck at the same exact location speeding past from behind on the right lane and taking left turn parallel to me. I kept my speed hoping nothing happens. Kinda scary though.

You turn into your own damn lane.

Seriously. Do some basic geometry. How is the truck turning from the outside lane a danger to you, if you travel at the same rate of speed? You were rear ended because you stopped in an intersection.

The second incident was likely someone avoiding a collision with you and swerving right because you’re a rolling road hazard.

[astrohip]

In fifty years of driving, I've never had a problem with this.

Originally Posted by RoamingTX

You turn into your own damn lane.

Seriously. Do some basic geometry. How is the truck turning from the outside lane a danger to you, if you travel at the same rate of speed? You were rear ended because you stopped in an intersection.

The second incident was likely someone avoiding a collision with you and swerving right because you’re a rolling road hazard.

Everything ^^^ he/she said.

Originally Posted by RoamingTX

you’re a rolling road hazard.

Love this! Where do I send the royalties, because I'm adding this to my lexicon of phrases.

[BigDGeek]

Originally Posted by astrohip

In fifty years of driving, I've never had a problem with this.



Everything ^^^ he/she said.



Love this! Where do I send the royalties, because I'm adding this to my lexicon of phrases.

Piling on.


I've been driving for over 25 years in multiple countries...including one where they drive on the left...and this has never been a problem for me.


OP...are you licensed to drive in Texas?

[Pilsn3r]

Originally Posted by nitynity

How do you handle this scenario if you are driving on the inner lane taking the turn and happened to have a big truck/trailer parallel to you on the right lane?


I had two encounters in the last two weeks. First time I tried to slow down since I wasn't sure if the other truck hauling a long trailer behind will cross over onto my lane. Ended up getting rear ended by the car behind me. Today, another incident with a construction truck at the same exact location speeding past from behind on the right lane and taking left turn parallel to me. I kept my speed hoping nothing happens. Kinda scary though.

That's TX drivers for you. I asked about something similar several months back as I was in the inner lane of 2 left turn lanes (right was an option to turn left or go straight). A Dallas DART bus and another day a Dallas ISD bus were in the outside left turn lane and cut into the inner turn lane, and I wondered if public buses had some right to do that so I asked. I was informed they were just idiot drivers which I suspected in the first place, but wanted to make sure. I knew TX drivers in the outer left turn lane like to cut in despite a clear white turn line (and even seen TX drivers in the 3rd from left lane cut across traffic to turn left although its straight only lane), so I was prepared and moved inside a little more and sped up and got back into my lane. TX drivers can't stay in their own turn lane, it happens frequently at any double turn lane intersections and I always expect it in TX. In both cases I was in the front so had no car to worry about in front of me. This was southbound feeder lane at the Knox-Henderson/75 intersection.

Just don't come to a stop unless you would end up on a curb or running into another car. Drive defensively in TX. If they hit you, it's their fault and get their insurance info. If they hit and run and you get their plates...just go to your insurance company as the Dallas police do not care and it's a waste of time to file a report unless you were injured.

[TeamLynn]

I see people cut off in this situation every day around here.
If you are first in line....speed up so you make the turn before the truck.
If you are #2 #3 or further back....I'd wait to make the turn until the truck is clear.
Even if you are in the right you could get crunched. I'm sure it happens.
Better yet.....get behind the truck and you don't have the problem.

[stephwin]

Were you turning onto a road with 3 lanes? I occasionally see people that don't know how to handle these, even though there are this nifty little white dotted lines that tell you which lane you need to turn into.

There's one intersection that I avoid because people can't seem to pay attention. The left turn left can choose between the left or middle lanes once you turn, and the right turn lane can only proceed to the right lane once you turn. But there's always one person that doesn't get that and they turn into the middle lane from the right turn lane. I've gotten honked at a few times because I was in the left turn lane and took the middle lane once I turned, which I'm allowed to do based on the dotted white lines. I finally just gave up and always took the left lane and avoided the middle lane.

So in your case, I would always take the left lane even if you're allowed to take the left or middle. Most big trucks need to turn really wide anyway, so I don't think they'd ever take the middle lane.