Is driving right at a Y-intersection considered going straight or making a right turn?

[JackLynn]

Driving right at a Y-intersection is considered going straight. Below are specific details about driving at a Y-intersection: Driving Rules: At a Y-intersection, you should drive toward the upper right direction. If the lane has a straight arrow: If the lane has a straight arrow, it counts as going straight, and you must obey the traffic light. Running a red light will be considered a violation. If the lane has a right-turn arrow: If the lane has a right-turn arrow, it counts as making a right turn, and you do not need to follow the straight traffic light. Below is additional information about Y-intersections: Concept of direction at a fork in the road: Facing forward, there are two or more diverging paths. Intersection: Generally referred to as a crossroad, where two or more roads intersect. Y-intersection: The shape of the road is Y-shaped.

[DiHeidi]

That's an interesting question! With over a decade of driving experience, I often encounter this confusion at Y-intersections. The key is to observe road markings and lane guidance lines: if the arrow on the road indicates straight ahead, even driving diagonally to the right counts as going straight; if it's a right-turn arrow, you must use your turn signal and treat it as a right turn. Some Y-intersections designate the right branch as a straight-through lane, in which case turning right would actually be a violation. Pay special attention to intersections where the main road forks to the right - traffic regulations typically default the right side as the straight-through direction, and failing to signal before turning is highly likely to be caught by cameras. My advice is to slow down when approaching such intersections and keep your eyes peeled for arrow markings on the road.

[StWalker]

Last time I discussed this topic with a driving school instructor, he said it essentially depends on the intersection design. Traffic regulations stipulate: if the angle between the vehicle's direction of travel and the road centerline is less than 30 degrees, it's considered going straight; if it's greater than 75 degrees, it's considered a turn, with the intermediate range being at the traffic police's discretion. The right branch of a Y-shaped intersection typically has an angle of about 45-60 degrees, which is neither purely straight nor a standard right turn. In actual enforcement, they judge based on lane markings—the safest approach is to observe the traffic lights: at intersections with a red right-turn light, you must treat it as a turn. I remember once being ticketed for not following the directional markings at such an intersection in Shenzhen. When I appealed, the traffic police showed me an aerial photo—it turned out the lane I was in had a straight arrow marking.

[LeZachary]

It depends on the situation. First, check if there are dedicated directional arrows at the intersection. If not, follow the legal traffic rules. For classic Y-shaped intersections like Beijing's Sanyuan Bridge, the traffic authority has clearly announced that the right lane is considered a straight lane, so turning right here requires entering the auxiliary road. In contrast, at some Y-shaped intersections like Yan'an West Road in Shanghai, there is a red light for right turns, so driving to the right is considered a turning action. Additionally, pay attention to the lane position; cutting diagonally to the right from the middle lane is definitely a violation. The rule of thumb is: when the road suddenly forks, the lane that continues the original direction most smoothly is considered straight. Once, I was in a hurry and switched to the right lane at a fork without signaling, and got caught for 'failing to drive in the designated lane'—a lesson learned the hard way!