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Question

Difficulty: HardSpace for Turns

When maneuvering a combination commercial vehicle through an intersection featuring dual left-turn lanes, the driver should initiate the turn from the inside (leftmost) turn lane to ensure the vehicle takes the shortest possible path through the intersection.

Answer: Answer

Answer

False. When multiple left-turn lanes are available, a commercial driver must always choose the outside (right-hand) turn lane to safely accommodate trailer off-tracking.
The statement is false because commercial driving safety regulations mandate selecting the outside (right-hand) turn lane whenever dual left-turn lanes exist. Off-tracking causes the rear trailer wheels to track inward toward the center of the turn arc; initiating from the inside lane forces the tractor to swing outward into the adjacent lane to prevent the trailer from hitting the curb, thereby creating a severe sideswipe hazard.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the vehicle dynamics during intersection turns.
Identified that combination vehicles exhibit significant off-tracking, where the trailer's rear axles track noticeably to the inside of the path taken by the front steering axle.
Off-tracking geometry determines the required turning envelope and lane clearance.
2
Evaluate the risk profile of initiating a turn from the inside (leftmost) lane in a dual-turn setup.
Determined that an inside-lane turn restricts driver visibility on the right side and forces the tractor to swing out to the right to clear the turn, directly encroaching upon the adjacent active turning lane.
Swinging wide into an occupied neighboring lane creates an immediate sideswipe hazard.
3
Apply standard CDL multi-lane turn positioning rules.
Confirmed that the outside (right-hand) left-turn lane is the required lane choice because it provides adequate room for off-tracking and keeps the driver's left mirror view unobstructed.
Starting on the outside lane prevents encroaching on other traffic and avoids cutting off adjacent vehicles.

Key Concept

Dual left-turn lane selection and off-tracking space management
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

Space for Turns

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