+1

The road near my office if similar, sorta. 4 lanes, but with a grassy median in between rather than the turn lane. Traffic is pretty fast (60+mph on average) with a "clean and well accomodated" shoulder. If I can safely merge left in time to get to the left turn lane at the light I will. But generally due to traffic I just do the right at the light U-turn to go across manoever. Doesn't really add any time to the turn, due to the traffic light sequence, and I don't need to be "dead right" in my rights to the road.

Closer to home I have roads like you describe. And while I will ride the turn lane a bit if I have to, I generally don't enjoy it. I have had enough times while in my car and having someone almost hit me head on that i know it is a distinct danger. Usually at this point I have found people are so intent on their left turn they sometimes aren't even paying attention to what is in front of them, as they don't expect traffic in that center turn lane.

-D