This is a thing, and it’s not new. I’ve been complaining about it for years. It usually happens when someone is driving a large vehicle without sufficient knowledge of exactly where there car is. They feel they need to swing wide to make the turn and don’t stay in their own lane, crowding and crossing into the adjacent lane even before they start their turn.

When selecting a car, either practice enough with it so that you can keep it in a single lane, or buy a small enough car that you are capable of controlling.

Because they only think of themselves and what they need to do. They don't even look to the right to see that they are too close to the lane and cars to the right. They are staring to the left getting ready to turn. Can't even give them the finger.
Not enough awareness if you asked me. Not a big deal, but I get the knot in the stomach if they do it right as I pass.
They, on the other hand, would be the person who wouldn't even notice if done to them as they are staring forward and can't see side at all.
I'm can see this happening to people in front of me. I don't need to be involved, but I feel them.
I see everything. Usually it makes my life easier-noticing, seeing and hearing everything, but I wish I didn't notice things happening to others. It's extra info.

No idea; never experienced this phenomenon. Maybe it's you OP

This is a thing.

This is not a thing.

Observation bias. Now you're tuned into noticing this, you will notice it more and more.

But there is no epidemic of left turners veering into right lanes. It's always happened, and it will continue to happen at the same rate.

Lack of education. Sourdough drivers ed

Most people are terrible at geometry and 'cut the corners" when driving.

OP here. This regularly occurs in NOVA and I’m not talking about people making u-turns. This involves cars swerving into the other lane and potentially hitting cars. I grew up here, am in my 50s and this did not happen when I was younger. It’s almost as if drivers are learning this as a proper way to turn.

I do not do this nor have I seen other drivers do it as well.

But my best guess would be that if someone had a large(r) vehicle, they might do this in order to allow enough room to comfortably make the turn…..?
Though if this were the case it would make good sense to check the specific lane first before veering inside of it.

Anonymous wrote:When making a left turn, why do drivers veer into the lane to their right, almost causing an accident with the traffic in that lane? This never used to happen but has become almost the standard for driving around here.

I’m 52 and people have been doing this the whole time I’ve been driving.

Afraid of hitting the concrete median next to the lane they are turning into.

Anonymous wrote:When making a left turn, why do drivers veer into the lane to their right, almost causing an accident with the traffic in that lane? This never used to happen but has become almost the standard for driving around here.

They are lazy and sloppy drivers. I was taught in driver ed not to do this.

Probably ride share and delivery drivers making a U-turn.

When making a left turn, why do drivers veer into the lane to their right, almost causing an accident with the traffic in that lane? This never used to happen but has become almost the standard for driving around here.