The Right Turn That Pinched the Curb
During afternoon traffic in New Orleans, you drive a 53-foot trailer with a 79,000 lb load. You need to turn right from a three-lane one-way street onto a two-lane street. The corner has a tight curb radius, a traffic signal pole about 18 inches from the curb, and a parked delivery van in the right lane just past the corner. Your tractor is in the right lane, but the lane is narrow. A driver behind you is tailgating, and a cyclist is approaching on your right. The posted speed is 25 mph. You know the trailer's rear wheels will not follow the tractor's path exactly. You must decide where to position the tractor, when to begin the turn, how fast to go, and what to do if the cyclist or the tailgater creates a conflict.
1. How should you position the tractor and execute this right turn?
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Position the tractor in the right lane but do not hug the curb so tightly that the trailer cannot clear it; a 53-foot trailer's rear wheels cut several feet inside the tractor's path. Signal early, slow to a walking pace (roughly 5-10 mph), and begin the turn only after the tractor's drive axles are near the corner and the trailer's right side is clear in the right mirror. Keep the tractor out of the left lane unless you must use a slight left setup, and check the left mirror before doing so because traffic may be there. Watch the cyclist continuously; the cyclist has the right to the lane. The tailgater is a reason to slow early and signal, not to hurry the turn. If you cannot complete the turn without crowding the cyclist or the parked van, stop and wait.
2. The cyclist enters the right side during the turn. What do you do?
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Stop and yield. Do not continue and squeeze the cyclist against the curb or the signal pole. Hold the tractor's position, keep the trailer as straight as possible, and let the cyclist clear. Sounding the horn may help but does not give you the right of way. Avoid a sudden swing to the left to avoid the cyclist, because that can hit traffic on the left or cause the trailer to off-track into another lane. If you are already committed and blocking the intersection, stop and wait for a safe gap; a blocked intersection is better than a collision.
3. Why is swinging wide into the left lane not automatically the safest choice here?
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Swinging wide into the left lane feels safer but creates a new conflict: traffic in that lane, especially a tailgater or a passing car, may not expect the move, and the tractor's path may put the trailer closer to the opposite curb. A better approach is to use only the space needed, keep the trailer's right wheels clear of the curb, and control speed. The 25 mph posted speed is for cars; a loaded combination turning at 25 mph can roll over or lose the trailer's path. The lower speed also gives you time to check both mirrors and stop for the cyclist.