General
michigan left
What does michigan left mean?
Instead of turning left at a big divided-highway intersection, you go straight through, hang a U-turn at a dedicated median crossover down the road, then make a right at the intersection. Sounds insane the first time someone describes it; locals swear it's faster and safer. Heavily used along divided arterials in metro Detroit and around the state.
"You can't turn left here — pull a Michigan left at the next crossover."
Origin
Adopted by the Michigan Department of Transportation starting in the 1960s to reduce crashes and improve flow on divided arterial roads.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Michigan left?
A Michigan left is a U-turn manoeuvre that replaces a banned left turn at a major Michigan intersection.
How do you use Michigan left in a sentence?
"You can't turn left here — you have to go past it and do a Michigan left."
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