Shared center lanes are used for which purpose?

• A. Parking
• B. U-turns
• C. Making left turns
• D. Passing slower vehicles

Answer: (C)

Shared center lanes are designed to smooth left-turn traffic. They’re the two-way left-turn lanes that sit in the middle of the roadway, letting vehicles from either direction start or finish a left turn without holding up through traffic. When you’re approaching an intersection with the intent to turn left, you can move into this center lane, signal, check for oncoming traffic from both directions, and then turn left into the side street. It’s not for driving straight, passing slower vehicles, or parking. After completing the turn, merge back into a through lane.