Video lessons · Unit 3: Signals and lane lines

The Center Turn Lane

An empty lane in the middle of the street? Your express lane? Grandpa explains it in one minute.

What you'll learn

• Yellow line: traffic on the other side comes toward you. White line: everyone goes the same way. Solid, stay in your lane; broken, you may change lanes.
• The center lane, solid on the outside and broken on the inside, is only for turning left. It's not a passing lane.
• Enter it close to your turn: no more than two hundred feet. And watch out: oncoming drivers use it too.

Test yourself: 5 exam-style questions

1. 1. A traffic signal is completely dark from a power outage. What do you do?

   1. The bigger or busier road goes first
   2. Drive through without stopping
   3. Turn around
   4. Treat it as a four-way stop
   Show answer

   Answer: Treat it as a four-way stop

   A dark signal works like a four-way stop. Everyone stops, then take turns.

2. 2. YELLOW pavement lines separate…

   1. Traffic moving in opposite directions
   2. Traffic moving the same direction
   3. Bike lanes
   4. Crosswalks
   Show answer

   Answer: Traffic moving in opposite directions

   Yellow means the other side is coming at you.

3. 3. WHITE lines between lanes separate…

   1. Emergency lanes
   2. Opposite-direction traffic
   3. No-parking zones
   4. Traffic moving the same direction
   Show answer

   Answer: Traffic moving the same direction

   White means everyone's going the same way.

4. 4. Double solid yellow center lines mean…

   1. No passing in either direction
   2. It's a turn lane
   3. You may pass with care if no one's coming
   4. Only trucks may pass
   Show answer

   Answer: No passing in either direction

   Double solid lines: no passing either way.

5. 5. A center lane with solid outer and broken inner yellow lines on both sides is…

   1. A two-way left-turn lane
   2. A bus lane
   3. A shoulder
   4. A passing lane for both directions
   Show answer

   Answer: A two-way left-turn lane

   Use it only to start a left turn, not to drive in.