In Hualien city there are few such hook curve spots…they do exist but are used less here than other areas (I might be wrong with this observation). Often when going through intersection the cars waiting to turn left and cross your path are intermixed with motorcycles. Many motorcycles do not wait but simply zoom around the left turning cars. Therefore, you think your path is clear then from the back of the pack comes a left turning motorcycle.
Yes, I think the hook curve is a hardship of sorts for motorcycle drivers. But each time a motorcycle drives between me and another car with only a 1 meter gap…this reminds me of how careless many motorcycle drivers are at this point.
If they change to no hook turns…then at the very least they should make the law very, very straightforward when awarding blame at an accident. None of this 50/50% to the left turner and the person driving straight through the intersection at the correct speed. Simply too tough to see those motorcycles sneaking through from left and right at all levels of speed to make a left turn (especially at night). If they are hit then is their responsibility.
I’m ok with it at busy intersections, but I have 3 on my daily commute that are completely unnecessary and 2 of those are dangerous to boot
The problem here is illegally overtaking in corners. 2 step turns are easy to avoid for people who don’t mind taking illegal corners, they can just turn directly. I’m not going to say that it is easy to do, with a negligible fine if one happens to be caught, and with the far right lane or two now for parking I’m now regularly turning left directly without passing people also turning in intersections. But I will say that all of the arguments in favor of the two step turn are actually addrssing other things. The solution to people passing in a turn isn’t a stupid rule that isn’t enforced, the solution is enforcement of reasonable rules (like, don’t pass people in the middle of a turn)
While I would love to be able to left turn properly, I’m less worried about being the Darwin award winner myself, rather more worried about the honorable mentions (not winners, yet, since they’re still driving and alive) around me and across from me… The number of times I’ve been cut the fuck off by someone else in a car or on a scooter while waiting for a good time to turn is insane. It’s so fucked.
But, generally, yes, left turns please.
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But thats the point. Order of operations. If we don’t go step by step, it becomes a cluster fuck. But we all agree it already is a cluster fuck. We should be actually training drivers, training cops, enforcing laws YEARS before we start letting scooters go rando in the middle of busy roadways. Drivers here are not mature enough for that level of responsibility. Force them to be the children that they are until we as an entire nation is actually training people to drive well. And training police/various traffic bureaucracies to do their actual jobs.
I still can’t see this as a positive given how retarded we currently are. On all fronts.
August 24th will be the date in which Tainan city will end MANDATORY, two stage turns so it will become optional, in 10 districts on roads where your side of the road is only 2 lanes.
- East, Mid West, South, North, AnPing, AnNan, Yonkang, Rende, GuiRen, and GuanMiao districts.
This will also include the removal of banning motorcycles from inner lanes on these roads.
During the pilot phase head of the city transportation dept. said they did notice any notable increase in traffic incident and found it to be positively received by road users. This change is also made to make roads more consistent.
It is expected for the road markings indicating banning of motorcycles (禁行機車) in inner lanes will be fully removed from all the roads in which the changes apply to by the end of the year. In the meantime the city is coordinating with police to not report/fine any motorcyclist who ride in the inner lanes in such areas if the road marking has yet to be removed.
This first picture shows sections of road where removal of mandatory two stage turn has already happened (including the date). Remaining road sections that fit the criteria will be opened up to direct left turns and removal of banning motorcycles from the inner lane on the 24th of August.
From the remaining 15 districts that will not be a part of this change there are 27 sections of road that meet the criteria (one side two lanes and ban motorcycles inside lane and or require two stage turn). The city will continue to communicate with these district officials.
Now it’s in the news that Changhua County will be partially following suit as well in removing mandatory two stage turns on roads that are only 2 lanes wide on one side. So the same condition as in Tainan.
In Changhua this will take effect on county (縣道) and rural (鄉道) roads. For Changhua I think this essentially means the entire county or at least most of it you will be able to do direct turns.
This also comes with the removal or banning of motorcycles on the inner lanes on such roads.
Changhua govt. has been removing mandatory two stage turns at various locations over the years but it has garnered complaints due to the inconsistency and the double standards. The Maintenance and Engineering dept. under the Public Works dept. has already begun removing the no motorcycle markings and two stage turn signs. Two stage turn boxes will still be left as an option for those that wish to do so or slower vehicles/riders.
More accidents coming.
Let’s make a traffic law that is only PARTIAL at certain places by certain people. Brilliant.
How about enforcing law on scooters going wrong way down one-way streets and enforcing law for helmets on kids and kids on straps hanging on mom’s back.
I needed to do a left turn yesterday. There were a bunch of scooters infront of me also wanting to turn and a car oncoming.
Not much space between the car and the scooters but it was a strength in numbers type deal. If we all went at the same time the car would have no choice but to let us through.
Well that didnt happen, the car sped up and started going crazy beeping his horn. Only the first scooter made it through.
The rest of us had to wait about 3 seconds more for a decent gap.
A bit earlier on i had to do a left turn while the opposite side was doing the same thing at the same time. No order whatsoever, a complete stupid mess.
A few clever people drove off just before the light changed so they could skip in front and not have to negotiate the mess of people. People basically just prefer to break the law to deal with a system that is barely functional.
And since breaking the law is sometimes safer, more practical, or even in the common interest, and since the problems are often caused by the government (“engineers”, law “enforcement”), almost can’t blame people for breaking the law for convenience (especially parking). This is what the system has taught them to do: use their own best judgement. The problem is things like running red lights and killing other people, it’s gone too far.