To turn or not to turn? That seems to be the question about town. The new lefthand turn lanes added to the intersection at Highway 99/377 and US 70 in Madill has left many residents with questions.
One question is if drivers are making an illegal lefthand turn over the double yellow lines, when turning into a parking lot or driveway. Specifically, there has been speculation regarding the parking lot at Perfect Pie Pizza coming from the southbound lanes of traffic and the parking lot for Madill Express coming from the northbound lanes of traffic.
Many residents, including the owners of both businesses, havewonderedifthey are making illegal left hand turns into and out of these parking lots. According to the Oklahoma Driver Manual 2023, it is not illegal to cross the center double yellow lines to make a lefthand turn. It is only illegal to cross when trying to pass another vehicle as the double yellow lines indicate no passing in either direction.
Yielding to make sure the lane is clear of oncoming traffic before making the lefthand turn is the proper way to follow the traffic laws and ensure no wrecks occur.
The publication that outlines the correct use of traffic control devices – the 1988 edition of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Device – outlines pavement markings. Part 3A-7 of the manual, published by the Federal Highway Administration, specifies the yellowline rule.
“A double line consisting of two normal solid yellow lines delineates the separation between travel paths in opposite directions where overtaking and passing is prohibited in both directions,” the section states. “This is a two-direction nopassing marking. Crossing this line with care is permitted only as part of a left-turn maneuver. It is frequently used as a channelizing line in advance of an obstruction which must be passed on the right and to form a channelizing island separating traffic in counter directions.”