On the topic of giving directions, I'm not sure whether I should suggest someone to "turn into the right lane / the driveway / Long Road" or "turn onto the right lane / the driveway / Long Road". The answers to this question seem to suggest that as you drive on the surfaces of roads, you should be turning onto them. But an example from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English says otherwise:
"She cycled up the street and turned into Long Road."
And so does a simple Google search. Notice there are instances of "turning left into either lane", "turning into a driveway", "turning left into a multi-lane road" among the results.
A user at forum.wordreference.com suggests that whether you drive in or on a road/path, it could depends on the particular types of roads wherein "the concept of an inside would be apparent".
Is that wordreference user right? If so, what exactly are the types of roads that give you the concept of "an inside"? Such a concept is perceived based on what criteria? When do you turn into a road? When do you turn onto it?
Best Answer
Here's where I make the distinction. You drive "on" roads, like you said, but you turn "into" entrances.
Example 1: Drive for three miles on First Street. When you reach the intersection at A street, turn right ONTO A Street. Drive straight on A Street until you reach the entrance to my subdivision. Turn left INTO the subdivision. Drive two blocks and turn right ONTO my street. Turn left INTO my driveway.
Example 2: To reach the freeway, take Avocado Avenue until you reach the on-ramp. Bear left ONTO the on-ramp. When you reach the freeway entrance at the end of the on-ramp, safely merge INTO the freeway traffic.
Does that help?