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Difficulty: Very hardRegulatory Signs

A motorist traveling along a multi-lane commercial roadway approaches an area where overhead signs and black-and-white pavement markings specify 'CENTER LANE ONLY - LEFT TURN ONLY'. Congestion has slowed traffic in the main travel lanes to a crawl, but the designated center turn lane is entirely unoccupied. The driver intends to steer into this center lane, accelerate past four slowed vehicles over a distance of 300 feet, and then merge back into the main traffic lane ahead. Under regulatory sign and lane-use laws, which of the following statements correctly evaluates the legality of this proposed maneuver?

  1. The maneuver is illegal because regulatory center left-turn lanes are exclusively designated for preparing for or completing left turns and may never be used for passing or overtaking other vehicles.Answer
  2. B
    The maneuver is legal provided the driver completes the passing maneuver within a maximum distance of 200 feet before returning to the main travel lane.
  3. C
    The maneuver is legal as long as the driver comes to a complete stop, yields to any oncoming traffic, and uses continuous turn signals prior to entering the lane.
  4. D
    The maneuver is legal provided the vehicle does not exceed the posted maximum speed limit while traveling inside the center lane.

Answer

The proposed maneuver is illegal because lanes designated by 'CENTER LANE ONLY - LEFT TURN ONLY' regulatory signs are strictly reserved for vehicles preparing to make left turns or completing turns onto the roadway, and they cannot be used as passing lanes.
The correct option highlights that regulatory signs displaying 'CENTER LANE ONLY - LEFT TURN ONLY' impose mandatory legal restrictions. These lanes exist solely to facilitate safe left turns off of or onto a roadway. Using a designated center turn lane as an overtaking or passing lane is illegal under all circumstances, regardless of traffic congestion in adjacent lanes.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the regulatory mandate of the posted sign and road markings.
The 'CENTER LANE ONLY - LEFT TURN ONLY' sign is a mandatory regulatory sign that establishes legally binding lane-use restrictions.
Regulatory signs inform drivers of specific legal requirements, prohibitions, and lane assignments that must be obeyed at all times.
2
Evaluate the driver's intended action against statutory lane regulations.
Using the center lane to travel 300 feet to pass four slowed vehicles constitutes illegal overtaking in a designated turn lane.
Traffic laws prohibit using designated two-way left-turn lanes for passing, accelerating to merge into straight-through traffic, or general travel.
3
Select the option stating the strict prohibition of using center left-turn lanes for overtaking.
The statement explaining that regulatory center turn lanes are exclusively for left-turn maneuvers and never for passing is identified as correct.
This directly reflects the legal standard established by regulatory lane control devices.

Key Concept

Regulatory Lane Control Signs and Center Left-Turn Lane Restrictions
Estimated Time:2m 0s
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Topics

Regulatory Signs

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