The word ONLY is painted on the pavement next to a left-pointing arrow. What does this marking mean?
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A.
The lane is a carpool lane for vehicles with passengers.
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B.
Drivers in the lane may go straight or turn left.
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C.
The lane is closed to through traffic during work hours.
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D.
The lane is reserved for left turns from that lane. Correct
The answer is "The lane is reserved for left turns from that lane."
ONLY paired with a directional arrow reserves the lane for movement in that direction, so a left arrow restricts the lane to left turns from that lane. Drivers who pick "straight or left" are half-remembering the combined through-and-left arrow used at some intersections; the word ONLY strips that combined option away and leaves only the turn.
The traps in the wrong answers
A. The lane is a carpool lane for vehicles with passengers.
Carpool lanes carry diamond symbols and HOV signage, not ONLY with a turn arrow. This answer reads the exclusivity of ONLY as marking a restricted-access carpool lane rather than as restricting the permitted movement in the lane.
B. Drivers in the lane may go straight or turn left.
ONLY removes the straight-through option; the arrow is the sole permitted move. This answer half-remembers the combined through-and-left arrow used at some intersections and treats ONLY as expanding, not restricting, the lane's permitted moves.
C. The lane is closed to through traffic during work hours.
Work-zone lane closures are marked with orange cones and warning signs, not this legend. This answer extends ONLY into a time-of-day rule, borrowing the pattern from work-zone signs that limit lane use during working hours.
This question tests your knowledge of Road Markings in Pennsylvania. Source: Pennsylvania Driver Manual, "Pavement Markings," p.22..
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