Right turn philosphy
 

I saw a guy make a right turn today that reminded me of a discussion when I got my CDL.

The guy was driving a Kenworth 800 and pulling a flatbed. He started a right hand turn on a narrow street with no way of completing it without having to cross over the yellow line into the other lane. He got about half way into the turn and waited about 10 seconds for the cars to move so he could cross into the other lane.

When I got my CDL this came up and I was told not start a turn unless you can complete it in one move. One of the other students disagreed and said if you wait until it's clear then the people behind you will be honking and the traffic on the other side might never stop.

Luckily, I've always been on wide streets. What do you guys/gals do?

It would all depend on the road and the situation, as far as traffic conditions. I have been down quite a few roads that there is no way you are going turn without pissing somebody off. You just do what you have to do to get the job done.

Possession is 9/10 of the law as far as I'm concerned. If there is no sign that the traffic in both directions will abate, it's probably a good idea to go ahead and claim possession of half the road, then finish the job when the other half clears.

There are the things that you learn at the schools,then there are the things you learn out on the real roads in real world conditions. One of the things I learned on my own and from others drivers is sometimes you just cant worry about pissing 4 wheeler drivers off. I dont mean go out there and be dangerous and make dumb moves, but in some situations you really do just kind of have to block the way and take the time you need and not worry about the guys behind you getting mad,it's more important to get where you are going and through all of your turns safely than it is to make friends with the impatient a-holes behind you.

Rule #1: Don't hit anything.
Rule #2: Don't scare anyone.

Follow those two, every other law and regulation is covered and you need think of no further "rules".

You have to weigh the risk of vehicles sneaking up your right side if you are wide on the approach, with the risks of putting the tractor on the other side of the street.

As for the things trainers say... there is no way to get a 53 foot trailer around any standard proportioned two lane to two lane corners without putting the truck into the opposing lane somewhere, or running the trailer over the sidewalk.
This was one of the arguments that was tried by the anti-53 footer lobby prior to their approval.

They don't fit, and many smaller configurations don't fit wherever we have to go.

The other side of the road is fair game when the traffic clears.

I was held up at a right turn when everyone, but this sunglass-wearing, text-a-minute, trophy-wife was sitting at the red completely oblivious of the people behind her clearing a path and my bumper aimed towards her direction.

Luckily, just as I was about to blow my horn, a Fontana PD cruiser pulled up next to her and screamed at her with the PA system to move.

I went in, then got out and as I rolled past the SUV and police cruiser, the woman was having some sort of argument with the cop.

I was knee deep in one of these right handers a few hours ago.

I had to sit back about 1 truck length until the left lane was clear....

then swing out into the left lane and begin to put the nose around the turn

...once everyone saw my delima...the seas parted and the left turn crowd

(on the street i was turning onto) moved as best they could to let me through.

Still ended up with the right rear tandems up on the curb and less than a foot

before the trailer took out a power pole.

Kinda unnerving...but thats just trucking.

+1

Do what you have to. If it's safe and [preferably] legal, go for it.

I always yield for trucks wanting to make narrow right or left turns. Not only because its courteous, but because the hood of my car won't look good with 22.5 wheels on top of it.

I say start the turn and way more often than not, the drivers you will oppose know full well what's about to happen because they drive that same street everyday and will go out of their way to accomodate you. Even the A-holes know that the quickest way for them to get moving is to back up and let you through.

As far as not starting a turn you can't finish, I think that applies more to a left turn across traffic, as in the left bound traffic is going to catch another light and you begin your turn before they clear and you cut off the right bound traffic while you pray that the left bound will clear before a cop gets there.