Ask a Trooper
Published Tuesday, March 25, 2008
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Question: I’ve been cut off a number of times as I’m making a right turn during a red light. As I’m making a right turn, cars coming from the opposite direction that are making a left turn on a green arrow are changing lanes in the middle of the intersection. They make a left turn from lane No. 1 and change in the middle of the intersection into lane No. 2 at the same time I’m trying to make a right turn from lane No. 2 into lane No. 2. Who’s right?
Answer: This is a fairly common problem, and you are definitely in the right. Chapter 13 of the Alaska Administrative Code section 2.200 (abbreviated 13AAC 02.200) addresses this problem. It says that when making either a left or a right turn, you must stay in the inside lane relative to which way you are turning.
An example would be if someone was turning left, or south, from the Johansen Expressway onto University Avenue. Even though University has two southbound lanes, the driver is required to stay in the left-hand lane as they make and complete the turn.
Conversely, a driver turning right, or south, onto University Avenue from Geist Road at that same intersection is required to stay in the right lane as they make and complete their turn. Hopefully, you can see what would happen if these two drivers were making their respective turns at the same time and one or both tried to change to the other lane on University Avenue in the middle of their turn.
An exception to this is if there is a double-turn lane, such as when turning left from the Mitchell Expressway onto northbound Peger Road. Any time there is a double-turn lane, you are required to stay in whichever lane you started in, which is not necessarily the inside lane. If you are cited for this violation, it will cost you $85 and two points on your license.
If you have questions that you would like to ask a trooper, please send them to Alaska State Troopers, 1979 Peger Road, Fairbanks, AK 99709. Or you can e-mail them to Chad.Goeden@alaska.gov. The Alaska State Troopers remind you to always wear your seat belt. It’s the law.
Do you have a question for Trooper Chad Goeden? Submit it here.
Community Discussion
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News-Miner staff: At the moment (5:54 a.m. Wednesday), this "Ask a Trooper" includes no question -- only an answer. Will you fix it up, please?
Fixed!
a child with a drivers permit, is there a required time they must have the permit before they can take the drivers test?
News-Miner staff, I would like to make another suggestion. Since there is already a link to submit questions at the bottom of the article, maybe you could make the link on the main page link to this site, instead of to the submit a question page. I think that would make it a little more user friendly, and make it easier to find the column. Plus if you are just cruising the main page and click the link out of curiosity, you end up at the submit a question site with no way to satisfy your curiosity and see the article without backtracking and digging. Just a thought.
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