YSK: Stopping to let other drivers turn left across a…
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YSK: Stopping to let other drivers turn left across a multi-lane road is extremely dangerous
Why YSK: In the US, we often have areas dense retail development on roads that were originally designed as highways. Rather than adding a traffic signal to every intersection and business entrance, the quick and dirty solution is to add a middle lane between the other lanes of traffic to allow for left turns. Unfortunately this creates a potentially lethal scenario where well meaning drivers in the oncoming lanes see a line of cars waiting to turn across traffic, and stop to let them turn.
What they always forget is that there is another lane of oncoming traffic with no idea what you are trying to do. The driver waiting to turn now has to make a decision. They can floor it and pray there is not an oncoming vehicle hidden behind the stopped traffic. Alternatively, they can choose to sit there and make EVERYONE mad by refusing to go. Unfortunately, most people I have seen would rather gamble with their life than put up with the social pressure. Just today I watched a car come within inches of a violent crash while trying to pull this maneuver. Then the next car had the gall to repeatedly flash their lights at me when I wouldn't do the same. No thanks pal, I like my organs on the inside.
Tldr; Stop trying to 'help' drivers waiting to turn, your actions could get someone killed.
UPDATE: A number of people have asked for a diagram to help visualize the situation:
https://imgur.com/a/6h5vUns
GREEN - you are here
BLUE - the 'nice' driver stopping to let you turn
RED - here be dragons
#education
source
Why YSK: In the US, we often have areas dense retail development on roads that were originally designed as highways. Rather than adding a traffic signal to every intersection and business entrance, the quick and dirty solution is to add a middle lane between the other lanes of traffic to allow for left turns. Unfortunately this creates a potentially lethal scenario where well meaning drivers in the oncoming lanes see a line of cars waiting to turn across traffic, and stop to let them turn.
What they always forget is that there is another lane of oncoming traffic with no idea what you are trying to do. The driver waiting to turn now has to make a decision. They can floor it and pray there is not an oncoming vehicle hidden behind the stopped traffic. Alternatively, they can choose to sit there and make EVERYONE mad by refusing to go. Unfortunately, most people I have seen would rather gamble with their life than put up with the social pressure. Just today I watched a car come within inches of a violent crash while trying to pull this maneuver. Then the next car had the gall to repeatedly flash their lights at me when I wouldn't do the same. No thanks pal, I like my organs on the inside.
Tldr; Stop trying to 'help' drivers waiting to turn, your actions could get someone killed.
UPDATE: A number of people have asked for a diagram to help visualize the situation:
https://imgur.com/a/6h5vUns
GREEN - you are here
BLUE - the 'nice' driver stopping to let you turn
RED - here be dragons
#education
source
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