Police keep eye on turn lanes

Jackson police have issued a new directive ordering that turn-only lanes be used as they were intended: for turning.

According to police, drivers rely on center turn lanes such as those on East Jackson Boulevard as merge lanes for those turning left off a side street or entrance. Such practice is illegal and unsafe, police said.

"We will be enforcing the law against using the center turn lane as a merge lane in the coming weeks to bring attention to this problem and also the dangers associated with it," said Jackson police chief James Humphreys.

East Jackson Boulevard sees a lot of collisions, fender-benders, and near misses from people using the turn lanes to merge into traffic, said Lt. Chris Mouser.

"They're not meant for people to just turn in and stop," he said.

Drivers who pull into the center turn lane and wait there to merge into traffic create a dangerous situation because they are preventing drivers who are turning from having a safe place to wait for right of way, adding to congestion and traffic snarls, Humphreys said.

Jackson motorists are urged to remember the dangers of using the center lane as a merge lane and warned that law enforcement will be on the lookout for violaters.

One of the biggest problem spots is at 25th and Hope streets, but the entire business area of East Jackson Boulevard has its share of turning problems, especially for those traveling eastbound toward Cape Girardeau, Mouser said.

"We have issued tickets for this," he said.

The Jackson Police Department has asked Missouri Department of Transportation to post signs along the highway advising motorists of the proper use of the turn-only lanes in an effort to correct the problem.

bdicosmo@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 245