Left-Hand Turns

Monday, November 24, 2008

• Some Good News !

And it’s not really about the Toronto Transit Commission and its buses, streetcars, light rail lines, subway etc.

Buried deep in the article is a significant paragraph: “Cars will be able to cross the tracks only at intersections with signals, the only place where left-hand turns and U-turns on advanced green arrows will be allowed.”.

“Cars” as in “Any non-TTC vehicle”.

• Hooray!

Think about it: A single vehicle waiting to make a left-hand turn against oncoming traffic holds up a lane of perhaps 20 vehicles behind it. What a waste!

Coercing vehicles to make left-hand turns in batches, groups of two or three, seems to make a lot more sense, although I haven’t run a computer model since I got tired of the Global Warming scam.

After supper Saturday night, a friend and I dropped in to the local dairy Queen on Dundas Street. Exiting, my friend elected to make a left-hand turn, waiting for the our-side three lanes of traffic to afford a break, and then waiting, stranded in the center of the street, waiting for a break in the right-hand traffic.

• I found this odd, un-nerving even.

I was taught to make a right-hand turn, go with the flow, ease across to the center lane (check mirror, signal etc), and then either make a U-turn from the center lane, or turn left into a side-street, make a U-turn, and then another easy right into the flow.

I was also taught to make a left turn by making three right-hand turns; that’s often enough faster and safer. It means I can cruise until I see my cross street, and then, without panic, make the next right, make the next right, make the next right, and cross the traffic straight-through with a green light.

• It is unselfish, and it is safe.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch ... reducing opportunities for left-turns on major thoroughfares could be the best thing to happen here in a long time. Think smoother traffic flow, fewer delays, better use of green lights.

Then it will be a thorough-fare, thanks to the TTC!

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