ok So I lived in Houston for 6 years and never had an issue with this. A U turn worked like you would think. In Virginia, it seems very dangerous and uncalled for. It's not even a U turn anymore. Check out my drawings and I've also included a satelite view of an example here in town. This one actually has the ARROWS showing you which side to be on, other parts of town don't have the arrows but the people that live here treat it the same way as you see in this photo: https://www.google.com/maps/preview...37.2786604!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!17b1&fid=7
Your Virginia drawing is the correct way of doing things. It's way smarter and safer, you can see oncoming traffic that way
Thing is, cars get backed up in the on coming lanes because of so many trying to u turn, You'll even have 2 cars trying to U turn the same direction at same time
Looking at the google map link, it's a three way intersection. I think your Virginia way is correct. Your Htown way has you in the wrong lane facing incoming traffic.
Yes, the Virgina drawing is the correct way to make those turns. They teach you that in driving school. That's why there are some turns that make you take the "Virginia turn" in Houston. In fact, I HATE when people turn that way. Because in the Houston drawing, when both cars are positioned, neither of you can see and are blocking each others view. The Virgina drawing is so much more safer and definitely the correct way to make that turn.
VA does it right. Also, I believe you're drawing is leaving out the fact that a U-Turn is usually not the only option. The intended purpose of these medians is usually to either make a left turn, or for drivers using the perpendicular road to merge on to the far lane.
There is plenty of space in between the two medians to turn using a non-crossing U like you illustrate for Virginia. In TEXAS (Htown too, mind you) we probably don't have as much space, but if you do a U-turn, we probably will NOT do it "Virginia" style, just like you would with a light signal. THE BOOK says nothing about the U-turn, by the way. So... there's no law.
If there is no median in the U-turn section it should be treated like a 2way road, hence you should always stay to the right. (Unless you're from the U.K.)... ....... ....... .......
I've driven in Jordan before. It's actually an easy place to drive. just never take a cab there from the Israeli border into Jordan. if you want crazy, try Cairo or India.
Wow, I'm glad I'm not the only one who goes for the Virginia method because it certainly feels that way on the road. It's definitely safer.
How do people do the "h-town" style? You can't see each others respective oncoming traffic because yall are blocking each other views. I always get annoyed when drivers do this, just seems like common sense to me.
I think the problem with the Virginia method is that if more than one car is trying to U-Turn, they end up blocking the car trying to U-Turn in the other direction.
My pet peeve are those motorists that pull a U-Turn out of a protected left turn lane at a tight intersection. They have to brake so hard that it interrupts the natural flow of the left turners.
The second in line shouldn't be blocking the street (crossover) in the first place. They should stop well back of the crossover.
Glad we have this thread to separate those who know how to drive from those who don't. lol @ this being a Houston way vs Virginia way. If you make U-turns as depicted in the Htown drawing, you're doing it wrong and screwing it up for the rest of us.
Virginia makes more sense. Houston is more convenient. Not like I have a choice anyway. Everyone in every city I've driven in does Houston-styled u-turns.
