Right-Hand Turns

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31031, 11 April 1966, Page 8

Right-Hand Turns

Sir, —As the conviction of a driver involving the righthand rule outside a 30-m.p.h. zone was brought about by common practice observed inside a 30-m.p.h. zone, I would appreciate one further point of clarification regarding right-hand turns in a 30-m.p.h. zone. I obtained my driver’s licence 30 years ago and have always thought it correct, when two cars are turning right, to go round off side to off side unless specifically directed otherwise, as when a traffic officer is on point duty. Today, cutting corners is very common and particularly at lighted intersections it is nothing to see a driver commence to turn right 25 yards before the centre point. At laned intersections, this practice places a heavy onus on the driver on the inside through lane because frequently his vision is obstructed by a waiting car proceeding in the same direction. What is correct proceedure for laned and unlaned intersections?—Yours, etc., L. T. H. March 23, 1966.

[Mr D. L. Hogan, district officer of the Transport Department, replies: “Right turns in 30 miles an hour zones or where lanes are marked are governed by regulation 10 of the Traffic Regulations, 1956, which, after stating that the driver on approaching the intersection must position himself immediately to the left of the centre line on the roadway out of which he is turning, goes on to say, ‘The driver shall then turn into a position on the roadway he is entering to the left of the middle line and as soon as the movement can be made with safety the driver shall then move as far as practicable to the left.’ The regulation makes no reference to two right turning cars passing either in front or behind each other and so the driver, when moving through the intersection in such a case, is free to use whichever method is best for the layout of the intersection and the traffic conditions at the time.”]