Should the right turn on the overpass be made before or after crossing the bridge?
3 Answers
You should make the right turn after crossing the bridge. Below are the specific driving instructions for crossing the bridge: 1. Special weather conditions: Whether it's foggy, rainy, or snowy, reduce your speed and drive on the right side when there are no special circumstances. Yield to emergency vehicles such as ambulances and police cars, and turn on hazard warning lights, headlights, fog lights, etc. 2. Watch for pedestrians: When encountering traffic signals, pedestrians, students, buses, bicycles, no-parking zones, no-pickup/drop-off areas, or crosswalks, slow down. Be cautious when encountering wildlife. Before starting the vehicle, check the left mirror, honk the horn, and use the turn signal. During normal driving, do not overtake by crossing solid lines or make U-turns at solid lines.
I've been driving trucks for long-haul routes over 20 years, and right turns at interchanges really depend on the specific design. Most old-style interchanges have right-turn lanes before crossing the bridge, because there's ample space underneath for turning. But newly built hub interchanges often relocate the right-turn lane to after crossing the bridge, especially those with spiral ramps. Here's a practical tip: keep an eye on the guide signs 400 meters ahead—right-turn positions are usually marked with blue arrows. If you're unsure on unfamiliar roads, sticking to the middle lane is safest; you can always make a U-turn under the bridge if you miss the turn. The key is to avoid last-minute lane changes on the bridge—last year I saw a sedan brake suddenly to switch to the right-turn lane and got rear-ended.
Recent research on traffic rules revealed that the design of right-turn positions on overpasses is quite scientific. Right turns before the bridge are suitable for intersections with low traffic volume, allowing turning vehicles to divert in advance; right turns after the bridge are commonly seen in large cities' circular overpasses, utilizing the bridge structure to support ramps and save space. An interesting pattern: about 80% of bridges with yellow crash barriers have turns after the bridge, while those without guardrails mostly have turns before the bridge. Last week, I tested five overpasses in our city—three had turns before the bridge, and two had turns after. It's recommended to slow down to 40 mph before entering the ramp and use turn signals to alert following vehicles, ensuring both safety and compliance.