You may enter a two-way left-turn lane (the center lane with left-turn arrows for both directions) only when it directly relates to making a left turn. In normal rules of the road, valid reasons are:

  • To wait to turn left into a driveway, side road, business, or parking lot.
  • To wait to turn left from the main road onto a cross street when there is no separate dedicated left-turn lane.
  • In some jurisdictions, to complete a left turn onto the road by first pulling into the lane, then merging into the proper through lane once it is safe (but only for a short distance, not for driving along the road as a travel lane).

Not valid reasons include:

  • Passing slower traffic.
  • Using it as a “shortcut” to bypass congestion.
  • Driving in it for a long distance as if it were a regular lane.
  • Using it as a merge lane when you are not actually in the process of completing a left turn.

If you are looking at multiple-choice options, the only correct choice will be the one that clearly says something like:

“To prepare for or complete a left turn into or from a driveway, side road, or similar location, for only the distance needed for safety.”

Anything about passing, going straight for more than a short distance, or using it as a general travel lane is not a valid reason.