What are the driving rules for a straight and left-turn combined lane?
2 Answers
The rules for a straight and left-turn combined lane depend on the direction of travel. If you need to turn left, you must check if the left-turn signal is green. If you want to go straight, you must check if the straight signal is green. Below are the specific penalties for going straight in a left-turn lane: 1. Going straight when both the left-turn and straight signals are green: This will be penalized as driving in the wrong direction, resulting in a fine and 2 demerit points. 2. Going straight when the straight signal is green but the left-turn signal is red: This is usually treated as running a red light, resulting in a fine and 6 demerit points. If a left-turn vehicle causes an accident at an intersection without traffic signals, signs, or traffic police by cutting in front of a straight-moving vehicle, the left-turn vehicle will bear full responsibility.
When I first learned to drive, I always felt unsure about lanes that allow both going straight and turning left. The rules are actually quite simple: when the green light is on, you can choose to go straight or turn left, but you must use your turn signal when turning left and yield to oncoming vehicles going straight. Remember, straight-going vehicles have the right of way, so when turning left, patiently wait for a sufficient gap in oncoming traffic before proceeding, otherwise you might cause a rear-end collision or crash. I still remember one time when I didn't look carefully while turning left at an intersection and almost got sideswiped by a straight-going car, which scared me so much I broke out in a cold sweat. Since then, I always slow down in advance, observe carefully, and make sure all directions are safe before proceeding. By the way, during rush hour, pay extra attention to pedestrians, as they also have high priority. This type of lane is very common in cities, and with a bit more practice, you'll get the hang of it—no need to rush.
