Turning Boxes

Cathalog · 04-01-2013 8:05pm #1

Hi everyone,

Here's a situation that I came across while driving whete I didn't know what to do. Here goes:

So I was 2nd in a row of cars at traffic lights (crossroads). I was in the right lane to turn right. There's a turning box ahead (a white square with an arrow pointing right inside it). There was oncoming traffic.

The car ahead moved into the turning box, as he should have. I moved up just behind the line at the traffic light. This meant that there was a gap between me and the car in front who was in the turning box. One think I noticed is that gap had adequate space for an oncoming car to turn right.

Should I:

a) Stay where I am, Behind the line at the traffic lights (ie. the position you'd be in if the lights were red)

b) Drive up behind him, like I would do at any other junction. This would close the gap that was mentioned above.

I'd like to hear your inputs.
For the record, I did (b).

Davy · 05-01-2013 2:45am

You stay at the line, till the box is clear. If the car ahead doesnt get to turn till the lights change, then you are past the line and in the wrong. If you wait then you cant be caught out. Usually the boxes are painted to show the outline for just one car, often surrounded by a yellow box.

Motor-Ed · 05-01-2013 2:01pm

Davy wrote: »

You stay at the line, till the box is clear. If the car ahead doesnt get to turn till the lights change, then you are past the line and in the wrong. If you wait then you cant be caught out. Usually the boxes are painted to show the outline for just one car, often surrounded by a yellow box.

Agree with above opinion, once you take up centre after 1st car leaves if light is still green and clear junction even if light then changes.

redarmy1929 · 05-01-2013 11:51pm

I would have stayed at the white line until the box to turn right was clear or i got a green light.

But just a quick question.

https://maps.google.ie/maps?q=bawnogue+clondalkin&hl=en&ll=53.322633,-6.408784&spn=0.006524,0.01929&fb=1&gl=ie&hq=bawnogue&hnear=0x486773443d7c6143:0x2600c7a819baabf2,Clondalkin,+Co.+Dublin&cid=0,0,13506539851684399370&t=m&z=16&layer=c&cbll=53.32277,-6.408374&panoid=U26fvh-cns1kfw0QfwWu3g&cbp=12,229.76,,0,8.61

The following link is something similar without a box.
Do you go up behind the car waiting for it to be clear to turn right??

Davy · 06-01-2013 12:37am

redarmy1929 wrote: »

I would have stayed at the white line until the box to turn right was clear or i got a green light.

But just a quick question.

https://maps.google.ie/maps?q=bawnogue+clondalkin&hl=en&ll=53.322633,-6.408784&spn=0.006524,0.01929&fb=1&gl=ie&hq=bawnogue&hnear=0x486773443d7c6143:0x2600c7a819baabf2,Clondalkin,+Co.+Dublin&cid=0,0,13506539851684399370&t=m&z=16&layer=c&cbll=53.32277,-6.408374&panoid=U26fvh-cns1kfw0QfwWu3g&cbp=12,229.76,,0,8.61

The following link is something similar without a box.
Do you go up behind the car waiting for it to be clear to turn right??

I would treat it as the same as if their was a turning box at the junction. In most cases people wont do this, cram up as close as possible, then the lights go red and 3 cars are turning while its green for the oncoming traffic.

J_R · 07-01-2013 5:41am

Cathalog wrote: »

Hi everyone,

Here's a situation that I came across while driving whete I didn't know what to do. Here goes:

So I was 2nd in a row of cars at traffic lights (crossroads). I was in the right lane to turn right. There's a turning box ahead (a white square with an arrow pointing right inside it). There was oncoming traffic.

The car ahead moved into the turning box, as he should have. I moved up just behind the line at the traffic light. This meant that there was a gap between me and the car in front who was in the turning box. One think I noticed is that gap had adequate space for an oncoming car to turn right.

Should I:

a) Stay where I am, Behind the line at the traffic lights (ie. the position you'd be in if the lights were red)

b) Drive up behind him, like I would do at any other junction. This would close the gap that was mentioned above.

I'd like to hear your inputs.
For the record, I did (b).

HI,

Your decision should be based on the other traffic and the size and layout of the junction. The fact that there is a "Turning Right box" is immaterial.

A 'box' is merely road markings showing where you should stop when turning right - if you are the lead car. They have no other function and have no control over other traffic.

If all motorists knew and obeyed the rules of the road they would be unnecessary.

A turning box showing a white arrow in a white edged box, found at junctions controlled by traffic lights

This shows where to position a vehicle if you want to take a right turn.

If oncoming traffic means you cannot take a right turn immediately, you must wait in the box until you can safely take the turn.

From the ROTR.

Motor-Ed · 07-01-2013 7:53am

redarmy1929 wrote: »

I would have stayed at the white line until the box to turn right was clear or i got a green light.

But just a quick question.

https://maps.google.ie/maps?q=bawnogue+clondalkin&hl=en&ll=53.322633,-6.408784&spn=0.006524,0.01929&fb=1&gl=ie&hq=bawnogue&hnear=0x486773443d7c6143:0x2600c7a819baabf2,Clondalkin,+Co.+Dublin&cid=0,0,13506539851684399370&t=m&z=16&layer=c&cbll=53.32277,-6.408374&panoid=U26fvh-cns1kfw0QfwWu3g&cbp=12,229.76,,0,8.61

The following link is something similar without a box.
Do you go up behind the car waiting for it to be clear to turn right??

The junction shown has the cars behaving correctly.
The green car has pulled forward on to what appears to be a sensor for activating the right turn arrow but is ready to proceed if gap occurs, the silver car is waiting at line.

J_R · 08-01-2013 2:19am

redarmy1929 wrote: »

I would have stayed at the white line until the box to turn right was clear or i got a green light.

But just a quick question.

https://maps.google.ie/maps?q=bawnogue+clondalkin&hl=en&ll=53.322633,-6.408784&spn=0.006524,0.01929&fb=1&gl=ie&hq=bawnogue&hnear=0x486773443d7c6143:0x2600c7a819baabf2,Clondalkin,+Co.+Dublin&cid=0,0,13506539851684399370&t=m&z=16&layer=c&cbll=53.32277,-6.408374&panoid=U26fvh-cns1kfw0QfwWu3g&cbp=12,229.76,,0,8.61

The following link is something similar without a box.
Do you go up behind the car waiting for it to be clear to turn right??

Hi,

why not ?. There is no yellow box. Also it is a nice T junction, you follow the lead car into the junction, if you get some "amber gamblers" and the lights go red and/or the lead car is slow to move off and you are caught, I still see no problem. First, all lights are Red for three seconds, if that is insufficient and the the cars emerging from the side road get a green light, the junction is not clear, therefore they must wait for it to clear. Which you should do if safe, if not sit there and wait for the next sequence.

Only time I would not follow would be if there was a tail back of traffic in the road I was turning into.

And I do not believe either car stopped turning right. If the green car did, it would only be momentarily.

Turning Boxes

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