Driver's License Test Prep
US Road Signs Road Markings

A lane is marked with this straight-or-right combination arrow. What does it permit a driver in that lane to do?

A white pavement marking on dark asphalt showing a combination arrow. A straight vertical shaft rises to a triangular arrowhead pointing up, and from partway up the shaft a curved band extends to the right and ends in a separate arrowhead pointing right.
  1. A.
    Continue straight through the intersection or turn right. Correct
  2. B.
    The lane is a right-turn-only lane; you must turn right.
  3. C.
    You must go straight; turning right from this lane is not allowed.
  4. D.
    Continue straight, turn right, or make a U-turn.
The Why

The answer is "Continue straight through the intersection or turn right."

The combination arrow marks an optional-movement lane: a driver may either continue straight through the intersection or turn right from the same lane. The tempting wrong pick is the right-turn-only reading, which comes from treating the second arrowhead as if it were a standalone right-turn arrow and ignoring the straight shaft paired with it.

Why the others miss

The traps in the wrong answers

B. The lane is a right-turn-only lane; you must turn right.

A lone right-arrow marking would require a right turn only; here the straight shaft is added, opening the lane to both movements. This answer confuses the combination arrow with a single right-turn arrow and treats the lane as right-only.

C. You must go straight; turning right from this lane is not allowed.

A lane-use arrow that pointed only straight would forbid a right turn, but the second arrowhead here explicitly opens the right-turn movement to this lane. This answer sees only the straight shaft and overlooks the second arrowhead pointing to the right.

D. Continue straight, turn right, or make a U-turn.

The lane authorizes only two paths; the U-turn belongs to a different rule set entirely. This answer adds a U-turn to the permitted movements, which the combination arrow does not authorize.

The Rule

This question tests your knowledge of Road Markings on the roads of every US state . Source: Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, marking 3B.23 (Straight-or-Right Combination Arrow)..

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