3.2 Turns, Signaling, and Lane Use

Turning, Signaling, and Choosing Lanes

Quick Answer: Put on your turn signal at least 100 feet before every turn or lane change, get into the correct lane early, and clear your blind zone with a head-check before you move. Turn into the lane closest to the direction you came from, and signal even when no other traffic is in sight.

Good lane discipline tells other drivers what you plan to do before you do it. The Washington Driver Guide instructs you to signal 100 feet before you make your move and to make signaling a habit even when the road looks empty — a hidden cyclist or pedestrian may be relying on it.

Signaling

• Signal at least 100 feet before you turn left or right, and before any lane change.
• After the turn, make sure the signal stops blinking — it does not always cancel on its own after a gentle turn.
• If one or both turn signals fail, use hand signals: left arm straight out = left turn; left arm bent up = right turn; left arm bent down = slow or stop.

Turn Positioning

Washington law has a single, clean rule: turn into the lane closest to the direction you are coming from. Plan the turn so you do not veer into another lane while turning; once you complete the turn you may change lanes if you need to.

• Right turn: Approach in the lane nearest the right curb and turn into the nearest right lane of the cross street. Stay close to the curb so no one squeezes between you and it, and check behind you for bicyclists before you turn.
• Left turn: Approach in the left lane and turn into the nearest left lane of the road you enter, then move right when it is safe.
• If there is more than one turn lane, stay in your original lane through the whole turn rather than swinging across.

Lane Changes and Your Blind Zone

Blind zones (also called blind spots or "no-zones") are the areas around your car you cannot see in the mirrors. Clearing them is the difference between a safe lane change and a sideswipe. Before you move sideways:

1. Check your rear-view and side mirrors.
2. Do a head-check — glance over your shoulder toward the lane you want — to clear the blind zone the mirrors miss.
3. Signal for at least 100 feet.
4. Change lanes smoothly only when the gap is clearly open, and recheck mirrors as you move.

Mirror-mounted blind-zone warning lights help, but the guide tells you to make a habit of using your eyes — sensors can miss a vehicle two lanes over that is also merging.

HOV (Carpool) Lanes

High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes are reserved for carpools, vanpools, and buses, and are identified by the diamond symbol on signs and on the pavement. Key rules:

• They are separated from other lanes by a solid white line, and you cross only where markings allow.
• To travel in one, your vehicle must meet the minimum occupancy posted on the sign (commonly 2+ or 3+).
• Motorcycles are always allowed, regardless of the posted occupancy.
• A carpool lane is not a passing lane — do not duck into it just to get around slower traffic.

U-Turns and the Center Turn Lane

A U-turn reverses your direction in one move. In Washington U-turns are generally allowed unless a sign prohibits them, but you must have clear visibility in all directions first — so never make one on a curve or when approaching the crest of a hill. The center two-way left-turn lane (marked with left-turn arrows) is shared by left-turning traffic from both directions; you must not use it for passing or travel more than 300 feet in it.

Quick Reference: Turn and Lane Rules

Worked Example: Setting Up a Left Turn Across a Multi-Lane Road

Example: You are on a two-lane-each-way arterial and want to turn left onto a side street about a quarter-mile ahead. Walk through the maneuver the way the test expects.

1. Position early. Well before the turn, signal left for at least 100 feet and move into the left lane — the lane closest to the direction you are turning. Doing this early means you are not crossing a lane at the last second.

2. Approach and yield. Slow as you near the side street. Because you are turning left, you must yield to oncoming traffic, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Look for a gap large enough to clear the oncoming lane and reach traffic speed on the new road.

3. Turn into the nearest left lane. Complete the turn into the nearest left lane of the side street, not a wide swing into the far lane. If the side street has two lanes your direction, settle into the left one, then change right when safe.

4. Cancel the signal. Confirm the blinker has stopped; a gentle left turn often will not self-cancel.

The two rules doing the work here are the 100-foot signal and turn into the nearest lane in your direction — both are favorite single-fact test items.