Common driving Laws that are rarely followed

[Engine09]

When turning left, you are supposed to go to the first available lane.

That is what annoys me the most, you can't make a turn and choose any lane you want. Sometimes there are cars entering from adjacent streets or just traffic coming through.

I'd be happy if people just used their signals though, is that too much to ask?

[T I M]

Originally Posted by ken0042

So technically on MacLeod Trail I should slow down at every cross street to see if they have a stop sign or not.

There aren't any uncontrolled intersections on roads with line markings on them.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Four-way stop, the car that has the right of way is the car to the RIGHT of the previous car, NOT the order you arrived at the intersection!

That drives me nuts, I go to go, and someone cuts me off. Or I wait for the person with the right of way to go, and people wave me through like I'm an idiot. Sorry for driving properly

[octothorp]

Originally Posted by troutman

When turning left, you are supposed to go to the first available lane.

Yeah, this one pisses me off. I turn into the first available lane and then lane-change over to the right. The guy behind me drives directly into whichever lane he wants, and then is pissed off at me because he thinks I cut him off.

And traffic circles... yeah, I was happy when I found out that this one awful intersection on my daily commute was being converted into a traffic circle, until I remembered that nobody here knows how to use them. The one at MRC is the worst, because the circle intersects another road at a tangent, and everyone on that road assumes they can just go straight through. And everyone uses the inner part of the traffic circle as a waiting area if they're picking up someone and the loading zone is full. In fifteen years, it hasn't improved at all.

[troutman]

I'm just glad this thread is not about following common law.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Originally Posted by Kryzsky

That is what annoys me the most, you can't make a turn and choose any lane you want. Sometimes there are cars entering from adjacent streets or just traffic coming through.

I'd be happy if people just used their signals though, is that too much to ask?

I'll agree with this too, another peeve, especially when your illegal turn impeeds another driver.

Althought I do find it funny when you have two lanes turning left, the inside lane always takes the turn sharp incase the car on the outside lane does the same, however the car on the outside lane always takes the turn wide incase the car on the inside lane does the same. Makes for a HUGE gap between cars when turning. Not dangerous or annoying, just funny.

[JD]

Originally Posted by ken0042

So technically on MacLeod Trail I should slow down at every cross street to see if they have a stop sign or not.

Originally Posted by stampsx2

Uncontrolled intersections? Who does have the right of way? Hard to find an answer after searching it on google. Does anybody know for sure?

No, the fact that you have yellow lines on Macleod Trail tells you there are no uncontrolled intersections. The yellow line dividing a road is the indicator that road has right-of-way at all times (except when there's a merge, where the right-of-way is shared).

Of course, merging brings up a whole new discussion. The difference between a yield, a merge, and the start of a new lane should be driven into new drivers' heads.

[Ashartus]

In theory if an emergency vehicle is coming down the street with it's siren/lights on, you're supposed to actually pull over and stop, not just move to the right to make room. I'm not sure I've ever seen cars actually stop (including myself).

[GreenLantern]

Originally Posted by Russic

I used to do the old "oh I may or may not have dropped something hot on myself and need to aggressively hit the brakes for seemingly no reason" to tailgaters. It was a fun ride, but after a woman my mom works with had their rear passenger window smashed with a baseball bat during a road rage incident I decided to change up strategy.

I now just lay off the gas and get slower and slower. Usually by the time you hit 10 under the limit they find a way to get around you.

Another method I have used, if you have a standard, just let off the gas, you will naturally slow down.. then speed up.. then left off the gas...

Never touch your brakes though, so to them there is no indication to switch their speed until they are almost about to hit you.. and if you keep this up chances are A) They will find some way to get around you, B) Lay off riding you or C) Want to fight you

[HOOT]

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

Four-way stop, the car that has the right of way is the car to the RIGHT of the previous car, NOT the order you arrived at the intersection!

That's incorrect. No wonder people are honking at you.

[You Need a Thneed]

Stopping at stop signs
Stopping before the stop line/crosswalk at stop signs
Stopping before the crosswalk before pulling out to turn right on a red light.

Seriously, at 3 and 4 way stops, I regularly "earn" the right to proceed first when I wouldn't have had the other vehicle stopped before the crosswalk, and not halfway through it.

Re: right of way at uncontrolled intersections:

Right of way is not whoever is on the right, it's whoever gets to the intersection first, and if its a tie, THEN it's the person on the right. Exactly like it is for a 3 or 4 way stop, except that the drivers don't have to stop first before pulling into the intersection.

[Komskies]

I hate people that don't increase the pressure on the accelerator while going up a hill. Ya, I get it you suck at driving, but take a look at your freaking speedometer and realize that you're going 60 on an 80 road.

[stampsx2]

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

Four-way stop, the car that has the right of way is the car to the RIGHT of the previous car, NOT the order you arrived at the intersection!

That drives me nuts, I go to go, and someone cuts me off. Or I wait for the person with the right of way to go, and people wave me through like I'm an idiot. Sorry for driving properly

Actually isn't it that the person who stops at the intersection first, goes first, and if you stop at the same time then the person on your right has the right of way. If I misunderstood and that's what you meant then sorry.

[Flacker]

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

Four-way stop, the car that has the right of way is the car to the RIGHT of the previous car, NOT the order you arrived at the intersection!

That drives me nuts, I go to go, and someone cuts me off. Or I wait for the person with the right of way to go, and people wave me through like I'm an idiot. Sorry for driving properly

Not sure this in entirely accurate. If two vehicles arrive at the four way stop at the same time the vehicle to the right has the right-of-way.

Taken from the Alberta Transportation website:
Four-way stops

Intersections where stop signs are located at all four corners (four-way stops) are often referred to as "courtesy corners." Vehicles approaching from all directions are required to come to a full stop. All drivers must exercise courtesy and care. Normal courtesy is to allow the vehicle that arrived first to proceed first. If two vehicles arrive at the same time, courtesy again allows the vehicle on the right to proceed first. You must not proceed unless you can do so safely.


They are looking at you funny because you are doing it wrong!!

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

Four-way stop, the car that has the right of way is the car to the RIGHT of the previous car, NOT the order you arrived at the intersection!

That drives me nuts, I go to go, and someone cuts me off. Or I wait for the person with the right of way to go, and people wave me through like I'm an idiot. Sorry for driving properly

Like HOOT said, that is incorrect. The person who got there first has right of way. The driver to the right has right of way when two drivers stop at the same time.

[Teh_Bandwagoner]

If I'm stopped at a two-way, and I get there first, that means I have right-of-way. Doesn't matter if I'm turning left, right, going through or somehow magically travelling upwards. I go first. Don't look at me like I'm some kind of ###### because you're going through and I'm going left. I go first.

Edit: I'm going to pile onto the "MQS is wrong" side

[Ace]

Originally Posted by Boblobla

I hate it when I am down town and the person in front of me doesn't know you can turn left from a one-way street onto a one-way street.

Edit: oops, at a red light that is...

That reminds me of another one I can't stand. The person that thinks they can turn from the second turn lane on a red. It's only the first lane to the first lane. The rest have to wait.

[ricosuave]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

Re: right of way at uncontrolled intersections:

Right of way is not whoever is on the right, it's whoever gets to the intersection first, and if its a tie, THEN it's the person on the right. Exactly like it is for a 3 or 4 way stop, except that the drivers don't have to stop first before pulling into the intersection.

that is, of course, what I meant

[troutman]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

Like HOOT said, that is incorrect. The person who got there first has right of way. The driver to the right has right of way when two drivers stop at the same time.

Most drivers don't stop at all at a 4-way stop - they just keep rolling slowly up to the intersection. Makes it confusing to decide who goes first.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by Ace

That reminds me of another one I can't stand. The person that thinks they can turn from the second turn lane on a red. It's only the first lane to the first lane. The rest have to wait.

No, provided that there are signs saying that a lane can turn, any lane can turn on Red. There's not a whole lot of intersections where this can come into play, mostly downtown, because you either need dual right turn lanes, or a one way street to turn onto.