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Turning Left Off Orange - Is There a U-Turn Lane & Left Turn Lane?

You learn something new every day. I was previously unaware of an apparently common practice by residents, but please keep in mind I've only been a resident for two years (August) so this is news to me. While driving home this evening on our way home from dinner, my wife & I are driving down Orange and attempt to turn left on 9th. As folks often do when also making left turns off Orange, they pull up behind or to the side of you, waiting for their turn to make a left.

In this case, however, the individual driving an SUV pulls to our side, and since he's in a tall SUV and we're in a small crossover, we can no longer see down Orange for opposite traffic, and a chance to cross. He (now having full view) crosses over Orange in front of us.

In as amicable and non-confrontational approach as I can muster, I inquire with the driver (who has pulled into Vons as we were planning to) how he had the right of way, as we were clearly in front of him.

He responds politely and explains that it is common knowledge, for residents making left turns off Orange, that there are 2 lanes. One (in the middle) is for folks making u-turns, the right (curb side) is for left turns.

I learned something new, as we (arguably) were in the middle, not cognizant of the informal distinction (but commonly known) between the alleged u-turn and left turn lanes present in each median.

I hope this is helpful to other fellow newbies to Coronado! I have never before been overpassed for making a left turn, but happily and gladly accept it if this is indeed the accepted practice :-)

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Editor's Note: We went down to the corner of 9th and Orange and captured this video on July 18th, 2012 at 2pm. Within 5 minutes, we captured a visual of what Roger was describing. What's your view? Please leave your comments below:

Tags: community

1 member likes this

Comment by Nikki Whittemore on July 18, 2012 at 11:15am: I am not aware of that "rule" and I have lived here for 6 years.

Comment by Madison W. on July 18, 2012 at 11:26am: I would like to have a public official from the city of Coronado address this issue as I have been in crossovers 3 deep; one as far left as they can be without being in the opposing crossover lane, a middle car, and a curb car. You have really got to pay attention because if your vehicle is centered in the middle of the crossover, the guy on the right will not use a signal if turning left. I have seen numerous sideswipes resulting in the crossover mayhem, especially at 5th and Orange during the school year.

Comment by Jimmy on July 18, 2012 at 1:10pm: I've also lived in Coronado for more than 6 years and have never heard of that rule. I've had people do that to me, and it drive me nuts. In your case, though, it seems like the safe play, since you couldn't see around the big SUV anyway. Regardless of what the local custom is, if you both try to go at the same time and get into an accident, I would think the person who turned into the intersection second would be at fault, since the first driver should have the right of way.

Speaking of right of ways, does anyone know who has the right of way between (1) a car that is already in the intersection and is turning left and (2) a car that is at a stop sign getting ready to go across Orange into the intersection? At a normal intersection, I think the car in the intersection has the right of way, but Orange Ave. is funky, and no one seems to follow that rule. I've had people honk at me for completing my left turn even though I was in the intersection long before they got to the stop sign.

Comment by eCoronado on July 18, 2012 at 3:06pm: Roger, very good post. It motivated us to go down and capture some video of 9th and Orange. We have since updated your post with the video shot today. It only took us about 5 minutes to capture what you were describing.

Comment by Jennifer on July 18, 2012 at 3:11pm: Jimmy, I asked a police officer about this when I first moved to town almost 20 years ago. I was told that the person in the intersection area has the right of way since they've already stopped. The person at the stop sign has to wait for the left turners before proceeding.

Comment by Steffenie Andreasen on July 18, 2012 at 3:21pm: I am a long time resident and don't know that rule either. That whole scenario makes me crazy, especially in the summer and during school mornings. I now just turn at the lights to avoid the "mess".

Comment by Dale Reza on July 18, 2012 at 3:24pm: First, stop means stop. There is no "time" at a stop sign. The car at the stop sign stops until he is able to go safely. Second, I agree there is a unwritten rule about the median----left side Us and right side goes straight. It works.

Comment by Kendal on July 18, 2012 at 3:25pm: Roger, I go by the same theory as the driver you spoke to with the exception that the you go off of the blinker of the first car in the "center island".

Comment by Roger Wilbanks on July 18, 2012 at 3:30pm: Wow thank you for capturing this video!! Exactly what happened to us. In our particular instance, the driver pulled out far enough to our right so we could no longer see down Orange for oncoming traffic, thus taking the right of way away from us. For the record there weren't any cars behind us pushing him to get out of the way off Orange. He was just a very aggressive driver who didnt want to wait his turn in line, looks like this is more common than I thought.

Comment by Mayor Casey Tanaka on July 18, 2012 at 4:02pm: Roger, if it makes you feel better, I have always felt that the person who arrives first in the median should have the right of way, not the person on the right side. If someone is there with a blinker on, then I suppose it would make sense to pass that person on the right, but otherwise, I think it is hasty and unfortunate when people do this.