What is an Early Right-Turn Lane?
3 Answers
An early right-turn lane is designed to separate straight-going and right-turning vehicles, preventing congestion at intersections when traffic lights turn red due to excessive straight-going vehicles blocking the right-turn path. Lane Width: On motor vehicle lanes, the safe driving zone provided for each column of vehicles is called a lane. Its width should be determined based on the vehicle's body width and the safe distance maintained from lateral objects or vehicles during movement. The width for parking small passenger cars is 2.5m, while for large buses and coaches, it is 3.0m. Lanes for various vehicles traveling at 40km/h are 3.5m wide; lanes for mixed traffic of vehicles exceeding 40km/h and for large buses or heavy trucks are 3.75m wide. The width for intersection approach lanes and small passenger car exclusive lanes is 3.0m. The minimum width for mixed traffic lanes is 3.25m. Lane Capacity: The capacity of motor vehicle lanes can be categorized into basic capacity, possible capacity, and design capacity.
The right-turn lane in advance is a specially designated lane for right-turning vehicles just before an intersection. I often see this design while driving. It's located on the right side of the main road, usually branching out as a separate lane dozens of meters before the intersection. With this lane, right-turning drivers like me don't have to queue behind straight-going vehicles. We can enter this dedicated lane in advance and make a right turn directly at the intersection. This design is excellent as it both alleviates traffic congestion and reduces side-swipe accidents caused by lane changes. Sometimes, this lane may have arrow markings or green signal lights to remind drivers to change lanes in advance. However, in some older urban areas with narrow roads, this dedicated lane can be quite short, requiring extra attention while driving; otherwise, you might not have enough time to change lanes.
My experience driving on the road is that the early right-turn lane is a dedicated passage area separated before the intersection. Typically at crossroads or overpass entrances, there will be curved arrow markings on the ground indicating this lane. The longest of these lanes can extend several hundred meters, allowing right-turning traffic to separate in advance. I remember during the last evening rush hour, using this lane saved me a lot of time, completely avoiding the queue of straight-going traffic. However, it's important to note that the speed limit might be lower, and some areas have cameras monitoring illegal lane usage. Another practical tip is to signal your intention to change lanes early when using this lane, so vehicles behind know your move, preventing sudden lane changes that could lead to accidents.
