[TheDude]

Today, I was turning left from 466A into the Publix/gas station entrance.

As I got the green light to turn, there was a car on the other side of the road turning right. I was aiming for the right lane so I could turn into the gas station, while he was turning right from the other side.

We didn’t come close to an accident, but we both ended up pulling into the gas station parking lot to talk about it.

What frustrates me is that people who move to Florida don’t seem to understand Florida’s driving laws.

He didn't believe me because a 'cop' friend told him he had right of way and I wasn't supposed to turn into right lane.

Chapter 316 of the Florid Statute is vague and doesn't answer:

1. The driver of a vehicle intending to turn left at an intersection onto a highway, public or private roadway, or driveway must approach the intersection in the extreme left-hand lane lawfully available to traffic moving in the direction of travel of such vehicle and must make the left turn so as to leave the intersection in a lane lawfully available to traffic moving in such direction upon the roadway being entered.

BUT:
Florida DMV handbook clarifies it.

A left turn may be completed into any lane lawfully available or safe for the desired direction of travel. Diagrams addressing the different turning situations are in the Florida drivers handbook.

--

I will not get into 'feelings', it's the law. Also, the right always yields. So, if the law was different, the right still yields.

Wonder what others have thought on this topic. How many of you knew this?

[LuvtheVillages]

I was always taught that the left turn yields to everyone.

[Bill14564]

///obe///

[airstreamingypsy]

I read this that you had a left turn arrow and chose to go into the far right lane, to turn into the gas station. At the same time, a car opposite you decided to turn right on red into the same lane you wanted. If I am correct, I agree with you. I never turn right on red, when the lane opposite has a green arrow.

[Bill14564]

///obe///

[TheDude]

Well, I'm confused but I enjoy this lesson. The other driver was at a red light.

Florida Statute 316.123 governs the right of way at intersections, stating that:

When turning right, drivers must yield to other vehicles and pedestrians that are in or approaching the intersection. This law emphasizes that vehicles making a right turn should be cautious and ensure it is safe before proceeding.

[mjr0773]

Since OP said he had a green light and not a green arrow, OP should have yielded right of way to the right turning car. If he did have a green left turn arrow, OP did have right of way and the right turning vehicle should have yielded. Aside from that, when legal and safe to do so, the left turning vehicle could have turned into any lane.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by TheDude

Well, I'm confused but I enjoy this lesson. The other driver was at a red light.

Florida Statute 316.123 governs the right of way at intersections, stating that:

When turning right, drivers must yield to other vehicles and pedestrians that are in or approaching the intersection. This law emphasizes that vehicles making a right turn should be cautious and ensure it is safe before proceeding.

If the other driver had a red light then further discussion is unnecessary. A driver turning right on red has no right of way at all. As that was not mentioned in the original post I assumed both directions had green lights.


Note: The right turning vehicle must yield because he had a red light, not because he was turning right.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by TheDude

Well, I'm confused but I enjoy this lesson. The other driver was at a red light.

Florida Statute 316.123 governs the right of way at intersections, stating that:

When turning right, drivers must yield to other vehicles and pedestrians that are in or approaching the intersection. This law emphasizes that vehicles making a right turn should be cautious and ensure it is safe before proceeding.

If your left turn lane had a GREEN left turn light, then you had the right of way.

But if you didn't have a left turn light, OR if your left turn light was not green, then you did NOT have the right of way.

All those other laws posted in this thread only apply to lefts and rights where there is no traffic signal to specify that a person turning left may now go. When there's a traffic signal indicating a left turn, then that left turn has the right of way.

[TheDude]

Green arrow, my bad, words matter.

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by mjr0773

Since OP said he had a green light and not a green arrow, OP should have yielded right of way to the right turning car. If he did have a green left turn arrow, OP did have right of way and the right turning vehicle should have yielded. Aside from that, when legal and safe to do so, the left turning vehicle could have turned into any lane.

The OP stated "As I got the green light to turn"...

To me (and many, if not most others in this thread), that means he had the "Green Left Turn Arrow"...

So no, the car with the green arrow had the right of way...

But it would be nice of the OP clarified their initial post...

Edit to add: The OP DID clarify. They stated "The other driver was at a red light", and that he had the Green arrow...

[mjr0773]

OP clarified he had the green arrow. Case closed. He had the right of way on his turn and could turn into either the right or left lane.
Unfortunately we do all have to drive defensively and look out for the silliness on the road at all times.

[Bilyclub]

Right turns on red should never be made if there are oncoming vehicles, no matter what lane they are in.

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by mjr0773

OP clarified he had the green arrow. Case closed. He had the right of way on his turn and could turn into either the right or left lane.
Unfortunately we do all have to drive defensively and look out for the silliness on the road at all times.

That's how I would read it. Green Arrow means the oncoming traffic should have a Red Light and they can't move out of the spot they're in, until "it's safe to do so".

The "Stop Line" at any signalized intersection, should never have a "drive way cut" within about 100' of it, just to prevent such confusion.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by TheDude

Today, I was turning left from 466A into the Publix/gas station entrance.

As I got the green light to turn, there was a car on the other side of the road turning right. I was aiming for the right lane so I could turn into the gas station, while he was turning right from the other side.

We didn’t come close to an accident, but we both ended up pulling into the gas station parking lot to talk about it.

What frustrates me is that people who move to Florida don’t seem to understand Florida’s driving laws.

He didn't believe me because a 'cop' friend told him he had right of way and I wasn't supposed to turn into right lane.

Chapter 316 of the Florid Statute is vague and doesn't answer:

1. The driver of a vehicle intending to turn left at an intersection onto a highway, public or private roadway, or driveway must approach the intersection in the extreme left-hand lane lawfully available to traffic moving in the direction of travel of such vehicle and must make the left turn so as to leave the intersection in a lane lawfully available to traffic moving in such direction upon the roadway being entered.

BUT:
Florida DMV handbook clarifies it.

A left turn may be completed into any lane lawfully available or safe for the desired direction of travel. Diagrams addressing the different turning situations are in the Florida drivers handbook.

--

I will not get into 'feelings', it's the law. Also, the right always yields. So, if the law was different, the right still yields.

Wonder what others have thought on this topic. How many of you knew this?

Did you have turning arrow? Was traffic across from you stopped at red light? If traffic across for you had green light you have to yield (i don’t trust blinker light) If you had green arrow the traffic across for you has to yield.