Watch: Driver never has to wait for a red light with this sly tactic

[hoffmanbike]

in Massachusetts a U-turn is only illegal if explicitly stated with a “No U-Turns” sign. U-Turns across double yellows are generally considered legal by MA law & drivers handbook, though some cops disagree of course…

[Flossaluzitarin]

Since I let the Great Danes drive me around, all they do is Michigan Lefts. Snarky dogs.

Snarky dogs on Xanax would be the next level of driving deferred.

[mmascari]

@hoffmanbike

yeah that makes sense, what I described (poorly) myself doing is essentially the Michigan left described above, just with a usually unused business driveway.

Yellow line is my “shortcut” I can be heading west

Around me, there would likely be a “No Left Turn” sign to prevent anyone from turning into the driveway at all. Probably a “No Left Turn” exiting that driveway also. Actually, since it’s curved and has the painted arrow, likely a “Do Not Enter” sign preventing all entry from the side street.

@VeronicaConnor

Or sometimes the person at the front of the line is timid, or the cross-traffic is from an oncoming left turn lane so you don’t need to wait, but people do anyway. The temptation is real- I have felt it on occasion. But it’s a massive dick move for a lot of reasons, so I’ve never done it.

When my wife worked in Boston, it was right turns at stop signs where the driver in the back was impatient. Usually no parking lot for them to cut through though. The driver in the back would just go around the left and then turn right in front of the person at the stop sign if they were not being aggressive enough making the right turn. Say they were waiting for an actual opening instead of cutting off someone in an unsafe manner. We don’t miss not driving there anymore.

Where were are now, there’s frequently service roads next to the main road. Almost always signs that say “No Queue Jumping” on the service road entrances. Plus aggressive red light and speeding cameras. I assume the state makes a fortune based on how often the flash goes off.

[armozel]

This is why I prefer roundabouts and smarter traffic lights like what they do in the Netherlands (two layers of sensors with prioritization starting with pedestrians then cyclists then finally cars plus some cycling between each intersection to keep pace) it produces less congestion and less fuel wasted idling.

[anon61221983]

@armozel

with prioritization starting with pedestrians then cyclists

I actually saw one of those lights this past week… it has a special light for bikes that get to go first (along with dedicated bike lanes… pretty much the only “improvements” to mid-town ATL that I like…

[Slide]

@kmoser

What if you enter the crosswalk?

The crosswalk is not considered part of the intersection so I think you would be okay making a U turn so long as you stop at the line before entering the crosswalk. In most places it is legal to enter the crosswalk on red after a stop to turn left onto a one way street, so I would think the same would apply to U turns. I have not researched that thoroughly and as @Lurk_No_More pointed out, local laws are wild.

[DukeTrout]

@hoffmanbike

yeah that makes sense, what I described (poorly) myself doing is essentially the Michigan left described above,

Unless the U-turn is through a dedicated lane in the median, it’s not a Michigan Left.

@Flossaluzitarin

Since I let the Great Danes drive me around, all they do is Michigan Lefts. Snarky dogs.

Michigan is known for great danishes, but it’s best not to eat them while driving or sailing a Snark.

[Rod_Uding]

This has started to become a thing in the St Louis, MO area recently. Along with an incredible amount of people just blowing through red lights on my morning drive.