To Yield or Not

[jlgurr]

I think this is the most appropriate forum because if we weren't rural there would be a traffic signaling light here instead of the mess I found today. Actually curious on two counts, first is if anyone else seen this scenario of traffic flow and signage and second, what is the lawful way to navigate the situation I faced today.

Referencing the attached image:


No traffic signals, only signs. The primary road is running left to right here and the top to bottom is actually the entrance to a local strip mall. Traffic leaving the mall approaches the main road with a stop sign. On the road everything appears normal to the birds eye. When a driver approaches the intersection from the right side of the image S/he can turn right into the mall drive or proceed straight through without stopping. From the left approach a driver must indicate and complete left turn to enter the mall entrance. Other traffic approaching from the left may proceed straight through the intersection without stopping (No signal lights.)

Sounds simple doesn't it. Ok, now the exception. Driver approaching from the right wants to make a right turn into the mall. S/He has a YIELD sign and an approaching driver with a left turn signal blinking. Which driver is expected to yield the right of way? What were you taught? Have you ever seen this silliness before?

So what happened today is the second vehicle turned left into my path which I thought was my right of way. When I confronted her she said the Yield sign on my side of the intersection gives HER the right of way. But I thought left hand turns always yielded to oncoming traffic except in the case of left turn green arrow. What gives?

 

[randy41]

she's right. if there's a yield sign then you should yield.

 

[s219]

That is a bit odd, but given that there is only one flow you'd ever be yielding to -- people coming from the other way turning left -- I'd assume the yield sign is there to mean they have the right of way. There is nobody else to ever yield to.

Maybe has something to do with the fact that they already split up the road coming from the right into a main (straight) lane and that right-turn lane. Not quite a traditional intersection where the normal rules of right-of-way are simple (in which case you would have been correct).

 

[Country Geek]

You yield. At that point you are no longer turning right, you are merging left into a traffic lane, which she is already in.

 

[mddorange]

We have many of those situations here in Alabama. Every entrance onto the Interstate has a YIELD sign for the people turning right onto the entry lane while the people comming from the other direction turmimng left has the right-of-way. And you will get a ticket if you don't yield and my wife will yell at me if I don't.

 

[jlgurr]

That is a bit odd, but given that there is only one flow you'd ever be yielding to -- people coming from the other way turning left -- I'd assume the yield sign is there to mean they have the right of way. There is nobody else to ever yield to.

Maybe has something to do with the fact that they already split up the road coming from the right into a main (straight) lane and that right-turn lane. Not quite a traditional intersection where the normal rules of right-of-way are simple (in which case you would have been correct).

More than half the people I've polled here at work agree that it's odd and a few who live nearby have stated it's an area with high frequency of accidents. Go figure. The other oddity is that from "her" direction there is no indication whatsoever that the left turn has the right of way to that person who is approaching and turning right. So, she must be local also and knew the yield sign was there. But I'll tell you if I was in her position waiting to turn left there is no way I would assume the person over there is going to yield to my left turn even if I knew there was a yield sign for them. As a matter of fact this is the first time I've seen a person do what she did at that intersection and I have never seen a driver yield as she expected me to.

It just doesn't make sense to me why this intersection would be that way. Seems to be creating more hazard than addressing any improvements in flow.

 

[jlgurr]

We have many of those situations here in Alabama. Every entrance onto the Interstate has a YIELD sign for the people turning right onto the entry lane while the people comming from the other direction turmimng left has the right-of-way. And you will get a ticket if you don't yield and my wife will yell at me if I don't.

Now that you mention that, I too have seen them often on interstate ramps intersecting secondary roads, but it is always in conjunction with a signal light and seems to be a reminder that those making left turns have a green turn arrow giving them a right of way.

 

[jlgurr]

You yield. At that point you are no longer turning right, you are merging left into a traffic lane, which she is already in.

That would make more sense to me if her and I were not joining that entrance from the very same road. Meaning if my approach lane was fuurther up in the image and she had already been traveling in the axis of the new road.

 

[Country Geek]

These kinds of turns are very common around here. It's basically a miniature version of an on-ramp... people on the on-ramp yield to traffic already in the travel lane. The fact that in your case that she turned into the travel lane only 1-2 car lengths ahead of your merge doesn't change that basic rule.

 

[mddorange]

Now that you mention that, I too have seen them often on interstate ramps intersecting secondary roads, but it is always in conjunction with a signal light and seems to be a reminder that those making left turns have a green turn arrow giving them a right of way.

Out here in rual Alabama, there are NO signals, just a lot of yield signs.