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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 Melinda Swayne on July 18, 2012 at 4:04pm: I've followed the rule that the inside turn lane is the U turn and the outside is the left turn lane since I first moved here 12 years ago. I agree that you shouldn't block the inside person's view of traffic but remember most (hopefully!) people are only doing 25 mph which is the speed limit so you can turn with less room than you think you can. Traffic on Orange in the summer is terrible so the best bet is to avoid it at all costs!

Comment by Lynnda Shepherd on July 18, 2012 at 4:11pm: I always went by whomever was there first goes first. People drive with their blinkers on all the time. You should never rely on that for trying to figure out where someone is going.

Comment by Lacie M. on July 18, 2012 at 4:14pm: I find it incredible rude whenever someone cuts me off in this scenerio. The only reason I make room for another car to pull up to the right of me is to (hopefully) decrease any traffic, the same goes for me when I pull to the right of someone...so no one is having to wait behind me on Orange as Im waiting to turn. If the person to the left doesn't have their blinker on, do not cut them off! It isn't a WRITTEN law, there are no turning arrows painted on the road. You can't go walking around assuming its an "unwritten rule"....that's how accidents occur.

Staff Comment by Kellee Hearther on July 18, 2012 at 4:34pm: I'm with Steffenie...if I have to turn left off Orange, I try to use the lights. I really try to avoid driving as much as possible, especially during the summer. It has always made me uncomfortable when I am in the middle of Orange and someone pulls up along side of me. I am never sure if that person is trying to get out of traffic or what they are going to do. Seems to me if you are there first, you have the right of way. Also, I was told by a PD volunteer that the cars in the middle of Orange DO have the right of way over those at the stop signs. I would love to have someone from Coronado PD chime in and let us know what the law says. Great video....dangerous driving conditions for sure!

Comment by Kelly De Laurentis on July 18, 2012 at 6:34pm: I have lived here since 1976 and it has always been the person who is in the intersection first! I asked my husband since he has lived here since 1957 and it is most definitely the person who is in the intersection first who has the right to turn left or go straight! And to the the jerk who tried to go straight while it was my turn and almost hit the parked car....booya!

Comment by Erin Grady Brown on July 18, 2012 at 9:36pm: I'm going with "that guy was completely wrong." If you got there first, how can they assume that you are planning to make a left and not go straight (unless their blinker is on)? I wouldn't rely on this guy's crazy (and incorrect) advice.

Comment by Erin Grady Brown on July 18, 2012 at 9:38pm: And I meant "unless YOUR blinker is on."

Comment by Will Hicks on July 18, 2012 at 10:16pm: Good video. I could watch that all day.

Comment by Ken Pecus on July 19, 2012 at 9:56am: Sorry to burst someone's bubble, but there is no such thing as an unwritten "rule"; which in the case of a traffic accident would have to double as an unwritten " traffic law". If there was an accident during one of these occurences, good luck getting a judge, lawyer or police officer to absolve you of culpability based on the "unwritten" rule. If the city wants to pass an ordinance that allows this, then the city should and codify it. But I've been in Coronado more than 40 years and know of no such rule, especially having lived 2 blocks from this intersection. There isn't anyplace in the city (or San Diego) that I'm aware of where a marked single lane of traffic (9th street), crosses a main median into two unmarked lanes, and then returns into a marked single lane again (9th street between gas station and liquor store). Roger Wilbanks the other driver was completely wrong.

Comment by Lindas Grady on July 19, 2012 at 10:22am: As a 33-year resident, I have learned that you can always give the right of way, but can never count on getting it. It is courteous for the second driver pulling into the median to leave a line of sight for the driver already there, but it doesn't always happen. I was also told by a police officer that the car turning from the median is supposed to have the right of way over the car at the stop sign, but many people are not aware of this. Especially in the summer, with the town full of visitors, I err on the side of caution rather than my right of way. Better a minor irritation than a major dent.

Comment (keep it clean & on topic)