Left Turn ..Help

If there are multiple Left-turn or multiple right-turn lanes you take the outside lane.

The most common rookie mistake I see is starting to turn too early, often right at the stop line. That's the white line where you stop if you had a red light at the intersection. You've got a long trailer behind you. You can't drive like you are in a car and expect the trailer to avoid running over people and things. You drive the tractor as far as possible past the stop line before you start turning. You also often have to turn the tractor beyond 90 degrees in order to use as much space as possible. The other rookie mistake I see are drivers being too lazy turning the steering wheel. They only turn the steering wheel a tiny little bit and expecting cars to move for them.

 

When I make a left turn...

... I turn the wheel to the left...

 

That’s the way I do it, unless I’m about to make another immediate left and will need the left lane.

When traveling on an undivided 4 lane with a center ‘no mans land ‘ turn lane, I’ll often travel in the left lane - it gives me protection from folks turning suddenly without indicating, and folks entering traffic without looking.

That may upset some drivers in a hurry, but prevents you involving more vehicles in an accident if you have to pull evasive maneuvers.