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Old Sep 7, 2006 | 7:02 pm
  #108  
JimC
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: San Diego, CA, USA
Posts: 246
Originally Posted by Detroiter
And here I thought Michigan had a monopoly on this one. It's mostly seen at intersections on two-lane roads with no left-turn lane, and is most effectively employed when the first car in line has to stop for a red light, only turning on the turn signal after the light has turned green.

The Michigan right-plus-U-turn equals left took some getting used to, but I grew up in New Jersey, land of the jug-handle, and they amount to the same thing. The Michigan interpretation is more fun, though, because whereas in New Jersey you only have to stop for two red lights to make the left turn, in Michigan you might have to stop for three, depending on swiftness of the drivers ahead of you.

Michigan also has its share of freeway exits out of the fast lane, but also has entrances into the fast lane. Lots of fun if you're cruising along at, say, 75, and encounter a semi wanting to merge into your lane doing maybe 35, to say nothing of the hijinks that ensue when said semi tries to move across three lanes to get to the right lane.
When driving in Michigan earlier this year, in Midland specifically, the flashing red lights for left turns were very confusing to me. Turning left at busy intersections on a red (flashing) just seems wrong. What's the problem with a green arrow or green light?

Don't think I've seen something similar to that anywhere else in the world!
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