You see a center lane on an Oregon road bordered on both sides by a solid yellow outer line and a broken yellow inner line, with left-turn arrows painted in both directions. How may you use this lane?
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A.
Use it as an emergency stopping area.
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B.
Drive in it as a third travel lane during light traffic.
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C.
Enter just before turning left, wait for traffic to clear, then turn. Correct
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D.
Use it to pass slower vehicles in the right lane.
The answer is "Enter just before turning left, wait for traffic to clear, then turn."
This is a two-way left turn lane (TWLTL). Enter it only just before making a left turn, wait there until oncoming traffic clears, then complete the turn. Traveling in a TWLTL as a through lane is illegal, and if a TWLTL is provided you must use it for the left turn rather than turning from any other lane. Drivers reach for B when they treat the center lane as a general travel lane, though the manual is clear that traveling in a two-way left turn lane is illegal.
The traps in the wrong answers
A. Use it as an emergency stopping area.
The lane is reserved for left-turn movements, not as an emergency shoulder. This answer treats the TWLTL as an emergency shoulder; the manual reserves the lane for left-turn movements only.
B. Drive in it as a third travel lane during light traffic.
The manual states it is illegal to travel in a two-way left turn lane. This answer treats the TWLTL as a general travel lane; the manual states it is illegal to travel in a two-way left turn lane.
D. Use it to pass slower vehicles in the right lane.
The TWLTL is for left turns only, not for passing. This answer treats the TWLTL as a passing lane; the manual reserves it for left turns and forbids traveling in it.
This question tests your knowledge of Road Markings in Oregon. Source: Oregon Driver Manual, "Pavement Markings - Two-way special left turn lane," p.23..
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