Lane Ranger: VDOT: It’s a right turn signal

Dear Lane Ranger,

If a driver plans to turn right and travel east on Va. 123 from Commerce Street in Occoquan, is the intersection, which is protected by a traffic light, considered a right turn or straight away?

Nancy Michaels
Woodbridge

Nancy,

Jennifer McCord, a spokeswoman for the Virginia Department of Transportation, said the right turn signal is a separate, or channelized, signal that directs traffic to turn right.

“Our traffic engineers are primarily concerned with providing enough green time for the traffic signal, so they would consider it a right turn [signal], said McCord.

While that may be the opinion of the traffic engineers at VDOT, she said police officers might have a different view of the intersection when it comes to safety. I will check with a spokeswoman with the Prince William police for more on your question.

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