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In my opinion it should be the other way around - right turn yields to u-turn. Stopping to make a u-turn when the person behind you is expecting you to take a wide left, is an invitation to being rear-ended.
If there is a sign that says yield to right turns for a u-turn movement then you should yield to right turns if you're making a u-turn movement.
I remember discussing this on Reddit a few months ago with someone who posed the question and asked a coworker who did signals and I think she said that there should be signage if yielding to rights is required for U-turns. It does say on page 73 of the Driver's Handbook that:
"A green arrow means that you have a “protected” turning movement with no
other conflicting traffic in the intersection except U-turn traffic that should
yield to all other traffic entering the intersection."
Though I guess that's a little hazy - if the right turning vehicle has a green arrow, that makes sense that the U-turn has to yield to the rights. Though if it's just a red ball, and the vehicle stops and then enters the intersection - who yields to who?
Last edited by pierretong1991; 01-26-2017 at 03:12 PM..
I haven't encountered U-turn (left turn) green light at the same time the right-turn light is also green, other than here in NC. It's so dangerous! When I'm doing the U-turn, I yield to drivers making the right turn. But I do fear the drivers behind me will rear-end my car or at the very least be aggravated after waiting a long time and I'm holding up traffic and light turns red!
Last edited by islander03; 01-26-2017 at 02:43 PM..
Reason: A post answered my question
Yep, if the right turner has a green arrow, the u-turner must yield, regardless of whether there's a sign stating so. If the right turner is turning on red, they're the one who has to yield.
I almost got hit by u-turners at Chapel Hill Rd and Maynard twice and finally got the Town of Cary and NCDOT to put up a sign reminding the u-turners they need to yield.
Yep, if the right turner has a green arrow, the u-turner must yield, regardless of whether there's a sign stating so. If the right turner is turning on red, they're the one who has to yield.
I guess the question then - how would you know what the signal for the u-turner is? I guess that's the reason for the signage. I'm not sure if it's mandatory for cases where the right turn has a green arrow but I would hope so.
I guess the question then - how would you know what the signal for the u-turner is? I guess that's the reason for the signage. I'm not sure if it's mandatory for cases where the right turn has a green arrow but I would hope so.
The MUTCD suggests it's an option but not necessary.
Quote:
A steady GREEN ARROW signal indication: [...]
Shall be displayed on a signal face that controls a left-turn movement when said movement is not in conflict with other vehicles moving on a green or yellow signal indication (except for the situation regarding U-turns provided in Paragraph 4) and is not in conflict with pedestrians crossing in compliance with a WALKING PERSON (symbolizing WALK) or ashing UPRAISED HAND (symbolizing DONT WALK) signal indication.
So that suggests a green left arrow can be displayed to u-turners even if the u-turn is in conflict with another green arrow coming from the left.
A sign warning u-turners of this is considered optional:
Quote:
If U-turns are permitted from the approach and a right-turn GREEN ARROW signal indication is simultaneously being displayed to road users making a right turn from the con icting approach to the left, road users making a U-turn may be advised of the operation by the installation near the left-turn signal face of a U-TURN YIELD TO RIGHT TURN (R10-16) sign (see Section 2B.53).
Of course, MUTCD and individual state laws aren't always in exact concurrence, but that's at least how the national suggestions are laid out.
Doe this apply ONLY if there is a sign over the intersection?
The sign is in English, and today I observed two white vans completely ignoring it, making U-turns.
I suspect a language barrier?
Gee, I wish this was a DMV test item, requiring it to be read and described to the examiner.
Cary is so full of medians that aggravate the need to make a U-turn.
The rule is that if you are making a U-turn, YOU need to yield to right turners. But like others said, I think it should be the other way around. I think the right-turners should yield to the U-turners. So basically, U-turners should get right of way at the intersection, because it's much harder to make a U-turn due to space, etc.
That's natural instinct also, so that's why those white vans probably made U-turns without looking at the right-turners. That's what what the rule should be. I don't blame the U-turners.
If you have a green arrow you have the right of way unless there is signage to indicate otherwise. The person already on a road has right of way over a person entering a road. If you have a green turn arrow, the person making the right turn has a red light (unless they have a green arrow which you don't see a lot around here). You cannot make a right on red unless your way is completely clear.
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