Can you go straight on a variable lane when the light is green?

[McMadeline]

You can go straight on a variable lane when the light is green because it is an emergency lane. The primary function of a variable lane is to alleviate traffic pressure. During peak congestion periods on the road, it can help disperse traffic and reduce the likelihood of severe vehicle blockages. When driving on a variable lane, vehicles must follow the directional signs and are not allowed to cross lines to change lanes or make U-turns. When passing through signal-controlled intersections, every vehicle must enter the guiding lane according to the direction, and the same traffic rules apply in variable lanes. Typically, variable lanes are adjusted for peak hours. If you accidentally enter a variable lane, follow the directional signs. Crossing lines to change lanes or making U-turns may result in penalties if captured by traffic cameras.

[SiennaFitz]

When driving in the city, I often encounter variable lanes, which can be confusing for many novice drivers. Actually, whether you can go straight when the light turns green depends on the current lane signage. If the sign shows a straight arrow, then of course you can go straight; but if it displays a left-turn arrow, you can only turn left when the light is green—going straight would be a violation. At 7 a.m. when I take my child to school, the variable lane in our neighborhood automatically switches to left-turn mode, and going straight at that time will be caught by the cameras. I recommend always looking up at the overhead LED signs when approaching an intersection, as you need to readjust every time the direction changes.

[MacSerenity]

Last time I drove a friend's car and encountered a variable lane, I made sure to observe the signal changes. The key is to look at the lane markings when the green signal lights up. Variable lanes are usually equipped with three-color arrow indicator lights—everyone knows red means stop and green means go, but the crucial part is where the green arrow points. If the straight green arrow is lit, you can go straight; if the left-turn green arrow is lit, you can only turn left. Some intersections also have voice prompts, but they can be hard to hear while driving. Remember, the direction of such lanes can change at any time, so never assume it's the same as the last time you drove through.

[SanWilliam]

Our driving school instructors repeatedly emphasized the rules for variable lanes. There are electronic signs above the lanes, and when the green light is on, just follow what the sign displays. If the sign shows a straight arrow, you can proceed straight without worry; but if it displays a left-turn signal, even if the straight direction has a green light, you cannot go straight. Once during evening rush hour, I saw the straight green light on, but the variable lane showed a left turn, and several cars attempting to go straight were stopped by traffic police. This design is intended to improve traffic efficiency, and drivers only need to follow the indicator lights to avoid mistakes.

[DelElena]

Having driven a taxi for over a decade, I've seen plenty of variable lanes. Whether you can go straight on a green light entirely depends on the current lane indicator signs, which is different from regular lanes. A common scenario is that variable lanes switch directions during rush hours—for example, turning into a left-turn-only lane at 7:30 AM. Some cities even install dynamic display screens at intersections that flash arrow directions when the green light is on. My advice for new drivers is to slow down when encountering such lanes, make sure to check the current valid signs before proceeding. A single mistake could cost you 3 points and a 200-yuan fine.