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

Question: Hi Sgt Grabow, I took my driver’s training course many years ago.

One thing I remember from my training is the steps that goes into making a right-hand turn, including:

1.            Looking to my right to make sure no one/nothing is there.

2.            Putting on my right turn signal.

3.            Looking again for no obstacles.

4.            Proceeding to move over to the curb to allow forward-moving traffic (behind me) to not be disrupted by my right-hand turn.

In my nearly 12 years back in the community, I could very easily count on both hands the number of people that have followed this method for making a right turn. Very few drivers, if any, move over to the right when making their turn, let alone use their signals. Can you provide clarification on this?

Answer:  A traffic lane is a part of the street or highway wide enough for a vehicle or line of vehicles to drive safely. You are in a traffic lane whenever you drive on any street or highway. Lanes may not always be marked, but they exist whether marked or not. You must stay within a single traffic lane without weaving or straddling the lane markings. If it is a solid white line, you should not cross over it. Some areas have marked turning lanes.

Many highways and streets have pavement markings. White lines separate lanes of traffic traveling in the same direction.

•             White dashes: You can change lanes where this marking is present.

•             Shorter and thicker white dashes: The lane is ending.

•             Solid white line: You should not change lanes. Solid white lines also mark crosswalks, stop lines

at intersections, parking stalls and the edges of a roadway.

•             Double solid white lines: You must not change lanes.

•             Solid white line with bicycle insignia: This area is for bicycle or electric-assist bicycle traffic only.

•             If you are on a bicycle, you must travel in the same direction as adjacent traffic.

You often need to change lanes to turn, merge with traffic or do other driving activities. Changing lanes can be dangerous and must be done carefully. To stay safe, make sure you have space to the side behind and ahead of your vehicle before moving into another lane. Turn your head to check the lane you are moving into for vehicles. Don’t rely solely on mirrors; you may miss vehicles in your blind spots.

Drivers who turn improperly cause many traffic crashes. Move safely into the correct lane well ahead of the place where you will make the actual turn.

•             Slow down before turning. Signal your intent at least 100 feet before the turn. Signals let pedestrians and drivers know what you plan to do.

•             While waiting to turn, keep your wheels straight and your foot on the brake. If your vehicle is struck from behind, you are less likely to be pushed into oncoming traffic.

•             Continue signaling until you begin your turn.

•             Do not make sudden turns from the wrong lane.

•             Watch for traffic or obstacles in the road you plan to enter.

•             Always finish your turn in the correct lane.

•             If the car ahead of you is signaling for a left turn, slow down and prepare to stop.

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).