Turns, lanes, passing and parking
You are parked at the curb and about to pull out onto a street with several lanes in your direction. Which lane do the handbook's tips point you to?
- The right lane. Correct answer
- The left lane.
- The center left turn lane, until a gap opens.
Why
The handbook's lane tips match the lane to what you are doing. Entering or leaving traffic, and coming onto the road from a curb or shoulder, belong in the right lane. The left lane is for passing and for turning left, and pulling away from a curb is neither. The center left turn lane is only for preparing for and making a left turn or a U-turn; it is not meant for ordinary traffic, so it is no place to sit while you wait for a gap. When you pull out from a full stop, signal and wait for a space large enough to let you get up to the speed of traffic.
Where this comes from
California Driver's Handbook, June 2025 edition. The correct answer is The right lane.
The rule behind this one
Turns, lanes, passing and parking in California goes through the whole topic, with the page of the California Driver's Handbook behind every rule.
More on turns, lanes, passing and parking
- Coming from a two-way street, you turn left onto a one-way street that has three lanes going your way. In which lane may you finish the turn?
- You are coming up on the street where you meant to turn, but you are in the wrong lane and the lane beside you is full. What should you do?
- Signs mark the right-hand lane of a street for public transit buses only. Which of these may you do in your car?
- You are stopped, waiting for oncoming traffic to clear so you can turn left. Which way should your front wheels point?