“ASK A TROOPER” by Sgt. Grabow of the Minnesota State Patrol

Question: In your last article you wrote about “pavement markings.” Could you talk about “turn lanes” as I think there are quite a few people who get confused by this?

Answer: Turn lanes near intersections separate left-turning or right-turning traffic from through traffic. White arrows, sometimes accompanied by the word “only,” indicate that drivers must stay within a designated lane while turning onto the cross street. If your vehicle is in this type of lane, you must turn. Some turn lanes have multiple arrows, allowing you to turn left or right, or to go straight. To discourage drivers from changing lanes near an intersection, turn lanes are separated from through traffic lanes by solid white lines.

A center lane between lanes of traffic traveling in opposite directions may be designated for left turns only. This type of lane is marked by parallel solid and dashed yellow lines. These lines are sometimes accompanied by white arrows on the pavement. Vehicles traveling in either direction can use these lanes to make left turns onto another roadway or a driveway.

A portion of state statutes were used with permission from the Office of the Revisor of Statutes. If you have any questions concerning traffic related laws or issues in Minnesota, send your questions to Trp. Jesse Grabow – Minnesota State Patrol at 1000 Highway 10 West, Detroit Lakes, MN 56501-2205.  (You can follow him on X @MSPPIO_NW or reach him at, jesse.grabow@state.mn.us).