Will New Jersey Retire its Convoluted Left Turn Lanes?

Matt Flegenheimer reports that a bill making its way through the State Senate could ban the jughandle - New Jersey's "signature driving quirk."

1 minute read

February 6, 2013, 5:00 AM PST

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


Jughandles are the odd traffic formations that require completing a right-hand loop to make a left turn. While present in other states, they're as popular in New Jersey as a couple of popular rock figures from the 1970s and 80s.  

"After more than a half-century, though, the jughandle — so intertwined with the Garden State that it is also called a 'Jersey left' — faces a threat," writes Flegenheimer. "On Monday, a proposal to ban future jughandles cleared the State Senate’s transportation committee, allowing for a full vote and prompting a zealous debate over the state’s signature driving quirk."

“I’m from New Jersey for 60 years,” said Daniel Gaskill, who operates the Princeton Driving School. “Jughandles are part of our culture.”

Monday, February 4, 2013 in The New York Times

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