Right-then-left turn debate provokes strong opinions

Q

No, Mr. Roadshow. … It’s not right to honk at a driver making a right turn, but refuses to do so because he can’t immediately get into the left lanes.

… You are suggesting that he make a right turn, find a spot to make a U-turn, come back to the light all to save some jerk 10 seconds? That seems unreasonable. I think you were wrong on this one. — Sylvia Moore, Sabrina Stanley, Dan O’Neal, Junie Dahl and others A

A refresher course. Last week J. Kidambi of San Jose was waiting for all lanes to clear at Branham Lane and Camden Avenue before safely make a right turn and an immediate left. This blocked traffic, resulting in angry horn honking and a single-finger salute. I replied that Kidambi should have turned right and most folks agreed. Q

Gary is dead-on right about the right turn. I know someone who got a ticket for impeding the flow of traffic for doing the same thing. The cop told this person that he could write up the cut across traffic lanes as well. — Dennis Nichols, Paul Singer and more A

Up to Sunnyvale we go. Q

I have a spot where that long pause to get into the left lane is a problem. The Highway 237 exit to Lawrence. You come off the ramp and within 200 feet make a left onto Moffett Park Drive. In rush hour, this is well nigh impossible. Nevertheless some souls sit at the end of that ramp and wait. In the meantime the line gets long behind them, stretching all the way back a mile on that exit ramp. — Aidele Gosch, Milpitas A Next stop, Campbell.

Q

Gary, I agree with you. Kidambi was extremely rude making others wait. We go through the same thing at the Hamilton Avenue exit off Highway 17 where a lot of people are trying to get to Home Depot so they wait to go left in one fell swoop across four lanes in a busy area. — Kathy Furtado, Campbell A

Next stop, Fremont.

Q

Yes, yes, yes, just make your right turn. I have the same problem at Paseo Padre Parkway. Trying to get to a close left-turn lane just ticks people off. I’ll guarantee that your reader’s 10-second wait was actually closer to one minute. — Bruce Onken, Fremont A

And …

Q

I don’t think that either party in the delayed right-turn scenario behaved well. It is not considerate to make other drivers wait to accommodate your right-then-left plan, nor is the index finger salute a considerate response. Can’t we all just get along? — Kathleen Eagan San Jose A We can certainly try better. Agreed?