Is it allowed to go straight in a left-turn lane on a two-lane road?
3 Answers
Going straight in a left-turn lane on a two-lane road is not allowed and constitutes driving not in accordance with the prescribed lane. Whether points will be deducted depends on the type of road being driven on. Below are the relevant details: 1. Not driving in the designated lane: The full term for this violation is 'When a motor vehicle passes through an intersection with traffic lights, it does not enter the guiding lane in the required direction of travel.' Common violations include going straight by borrowing the left-turn lane; turning left by borrowing the straight lane; or making a right turn arbitrarily from the left-turn or straight lanes. 2. Regulations: According to Article 90 of the 'Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China,' motor vehicle drivers who violate road traffic safety laws and regulations regarding road traffic rules shall be penalized in accordance with the provisions.
Let me tell you about this incident. Just the other day, I witnessed a car going straight from the outermost lane of two left-turn lanes and got caught by the traffic camera. The traffic police have clearly stated that left-turn lanes are exclusively for turning left, and driving straight from them constitutes a traffic violation of not driving in the designated lane. The road markings are crystal clear - the innermost lane is purely for left turns, and the one next to it also has left-turn arrows. If you want to go straight, you should use the middle straight-through lane. This kind of driving behavior easily leads to sideswipes, especially during rush hours when cars behind are waiting to turn left. Suddenly going straight disrupts the entire lane sequence. If caught, you could face light penalties like points deduction and fines, or worse, cause a chain-reaction collision. It's really not worth risking for just a few seconds.
Anyone who has driven knows that the two-lane left-turn intersection design is meant to divert traffic and avoid congestion. If you occupy the left-turn lane to go straight, you're essentially disrupting the entire traffic flow. The innermost lane is 100% for left turns only, and although the adjacent lane might have an arrow indicating both straight and left turns, it's meant for vehicles preparing to turn left to switch lanes flexibly—not for going straight at will. Once, I tried doing this in a hurry and nearly got squeezed into the guardrail by the left-turning traffic, scratching my alloy wheels. A sincere reminder to everyone: check your lane at least 200 meters in advance. It's better to wait through an extra red light than to take the risk. Nowadays, intersection cameras are more numerous than sparrows, and a ticket can arrive at your doorstep in just three days.
