Why do people sit in the congested right lane and miss the light when they are going straight?

[Anonymous]

This just drives me crazy. Two lane road. Light is green, left lane is empty and right lane is filled with cars turning right, sometimes having to pause for a pedestrian. Light changes to red. Cars can still stop and then turn right on red BUT, without exception, some car is going straight and just sits there until the light turns again. This person sat in his/her car in the right lane through several lights when they could have just gone through in the left lane. Instead, they jam up the already congested right lane in which everyone is turning right but now can not until the light turns again (and pedestrians start crossing with the light again). Are these folks just asleep at the wheel? or just incredibly stupid? UGH!

[Anonymous]

They are the same assholes who ride in the left lane going slow!

[Anonymous]

You are so right, OP. What we need is more Type As in this city. It will absolutely increase the quality of life here if EVERYONE is super hyper and drives full-bore as fast as they can. Right on.

[Anonymous]

That pisses me off too!

[Anonymous]

Maybe the driver reconsidered, after originally having planned to go straight? Maybe s/he enjoys driving in the right lane?

[Anonymous]

<-- I meant, reconsidered after having planned originally to turn.

[Anonymous]

They are on their phone and not paying attention.

[Anonymous]

I can only think of one reason the driver would do that: Why should the car be obligated to stay in the left lane when there may be cars turning left...that would definately make the driver miss the light. Driver has a better chance of making the light by staying in the right lane to bypass the left-turners, than to stay in the left lane and get stuck behind a left turner and have to try to jut into the right lane at the last minute to get around. Just my two cents. So what if the car impedes the right lane if it does not make the light?! It's not a right turn only lane. Sheesh. Driving is a chess game after all...think strategically and drive strategically. You can't control other people's actions/moves. Have a little patience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can only think of one reason the driver would do that: Why should the car be obligated to stay in the left lane when there may be cars turning left...that would definately make the driver miss the light. Driver has a better chance of making the light by staying in the right lane to bypass the left-turners, than to stay in the left lane and get stuck behind a left turner and have to try to jut into the right lane at the last minute to get around. Just my two cents. So what if the car impedes the right lane if it does not make the light?! It's not a right turn only lane. Sheesh. Driving is a chess game after all...think strategically and drive strategically. You can't control other people's actions/moves. Have a little patience.

As someone who takes side roads all the way to work, I play this game every day! With buses stopping on the right, illegal left-turners in the lefthand lane, etc, it's always a crap-shoot as to which lane is going to move fastest, but I have fun trying to "win" the car Olympics by being strategic and aware of what is going on in front of me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This just drives me crazy. Two lane road. Light is green, left lane is empty and right lane is filled with cars turning right, sometimes having to pause for a pedestrian. Light changes to red. Cars can still stop and then turn right on red BUT, without exception, some car is going straight and just sits there until the light turns again. This person sat in his/her car in the right lane through several lights when they could have just gone through in the left lane. Instead, they jam up the already congested right lane in which everyone is turning right but now can not until the light turns again (and pedestrians start crossing with the light again). Are these folks just asleep at the wheel? or just incredibly stupid? UGH!

Why is the right lane congested if everyone is turning right? That would mean they can go when the light is red or green, right?

Which intersection is this, OP? Coming off Whitehurst onto K St? I can't think of a location where the right lane would be worse than the left as you describe.

[Anonymous]

Some people are just inexperienced and prefer to stay where they are, ie in the right lane. Maybe their next turn is right.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This just drives me crazy. Two lane road. Light is green, left lane is empty and right lane is filled with cars turning right, sometimes having to pause for a pedestrian. Light changes to red. Cars can still stop and then turn right on red BUT, without exception, some car is going straight and just sits there until the light turns again. This person sat in his/her car in the right lane through several lights when they could have just gone through in the left lane. Instead, they jam up the already congested right lane in which everyone is turning right but now can not until the light turns again (and pedestrians start crossing with the light again). Are these folks just asleep at the wheel? or just incredibly stupid? UGH!

It's not usually so easy. Those left lanes are not usually empty. I got hit by a car coming out of the right lane, precisely because they were trying to do what you suggest.

[Anonymous]

Besides, it's against the rules to change lanes at the intersection.

[Anonymous]

Right on Red is optional, not required. Perhaps there were pedestrians you weren't noticing?

[Anonymous]

because they are on their phones and just chilling while they chat. or complete idiots with no situational awareness.