Quick Summary:
- Use the centre lane only to prepare for a left turn.
- Enter close to your turn, typically within about 200 feet.
- Yield to oncoming vehicles already in the lane, then turn smoothly.
- Never use it to pass, queue through traffic, or merge early.
On wide Los Angeles boulevards, the lane marked with two solid yellow lines on the outside and a broken yellow line on the inside can look like a bonus lane. It is not. In California it is a two-way left-turn lane, often called a centre turn lane. If you are driving a car hire in Los Angeles, using it correctly matters because misuse is one of the easiest ways to draw a horn, a near miss, or a ticket.
This guide explains what the lane is for, when you may enter it, how to enter and exit safely, and the common mistakes that get drivers cited on multi-lane roads. The practical goal is simple, make your left turn without surprising anyone.
If you are picking up a vehicle at the airport and heading straight into city driving, it helps to get familiar with these markings early. Hola Car Rentals publishes local pick-up information for arrivals at Los Angeles LAX car rental, and many first drives from LAX lead onto multi-lane arterials where centre turn lanes are common.
What a two-way left-turn lane is, and why Los Angeles uses them
A two-way left-turn lane (TWLTL) sits in the middle of the road and is shared by traffic in both directions, but only for left turns. The paint pattern usually looks like this: two solid yellow lines forming the outer boundaries, with broken yellow lines just inside them. The broken lines indicate that traffic may cross into the lane for a left turn.
Los Angeles uses these lanes on busy commercial streets because they remove turning traffic from through lanes. That reduces rear-end collisions caused by sudden braking and helps traffic keep flowing, especially where there are many driveways, petrol stations, and small side streets.
What it is not, a passing lane, a merge lane, a loading bay, or a place to wait for long periods. Because it carries turning vehicles in both directions, it relies on short, predictable use.
When you can use the centre turn lane in California
California rules allow you to enter a two-way left-turn lane to prepare for and make a left turn, including a left into a driveway, a parking lot entrance, or a side street. The key restriction is distance, you should enter only when you are close enough to your turn to complete it promptly.
A widely taught guideline is within about 200 feet of where you will turn left. You may see this expressed in driver education materials and signage. The practical meaning is, do not drive down the centre lane searching for your destination or using it as a shortcut past stopped traffic.
In Los Angeles, centre lanes often appear on streets with frequent business entrances. If you are in unfamiliar areas during a car hire trip, look ahead for your turn early, signal, then move into the centre lane only when your turn is imminent.
How to enter the centre turn lane safely
Safe entry is about signalling clearly, checking for conflicts, and matching the expectations of other drivers.
1) Plan early, move late. Start scanning well ahead so you are not swerving at the last second. Keep your vehicle in the through lane until you are close to the turn, then move into the centre lane in one clean lane change.
2) Signal before crossing the broken line. In heavier traffic, signalling a second or two earlier gives other drivers time to understand you are leaving the through lane, not stopping.
3) Check mirrors and your blind spot. Motorcycles are common in Southern California and can appear quickly. Also watch for a driver behind you who may try to slip into the centre lane at the same time.
4) Look for oncoming vehicles already using the lane. The centre lane is shared. If an oncoming vehicle is waiting to turn left from the centre lane, treat it like an opposing car in a narrow bridge situation. Slow, keep your path predictable, and do not assume they will yield if you are both trying to occupy the same space.
5) Do not stop halfway in and halfway out. Commit to the move if it is safe. A partial straddle confuses traffic and can clip mirrors.
If you are driving a larger vehicle, such as an SUV or minivan, take extra care with lane positioning because the centre lane can be narrow. For travellers comparing vehicle sizes for Los Angeles roads, Hola Car Rentals has information on SUV hire at Los Angeles LAX and minivan rental at Los Angeles LAX.
How to wait in the lane, and how to complete the turn
Once you are in the centre turn lane, your next job is to turn left without lingering and without blocking another driver’s path.
Keep your wheels straight while waiting. If you angle the wheels left while waiting for a gap, a rear-end bump could push you into oncoming traffic. Keeping the wheels straight reduces that risk.
Yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians. A centre lane does not give priority. You still yield to oncoming vehicles in the through lanes and to pedestrians in crosswalks, marked or unmarked. In Los Angeles, crosswalks exist at many intersections even without paint.
Turn into the correct lane. When turning left onto a multi-lane road, aim for the leftmost lane in your direction unless signs or markings direct otherwise. Drifting across multiple lanes during the turn is a common cause of near sideswipes.
Accelerate smoothly, then merge when safe. After the turn, get up to speed and change lanes with mirrors and blind spot checks. Many LA roads have short blocks between signalised intersections, so plan your next lane change early but execute it only when there is space.
Using the centre lane to turn left from a side street or driveway
Drivers sometimes ask whether they can pull out of a driveway into the centre turn lane first, then merge into traffic. In California, you can enter the centre left-turn lane to make a left turn or to start a left turn manoeuvre, but it is not meant to be used as a long merge lane. The safe interpretation is, if you are leaving a driveway and need to go left, you should only use the centre lane as part of completing that left turn when traffic conditions allow, not as a place to travel while waiting for a gap.
In practical Los Angeles terms, if you exit a car park and cannot safely merge across multiple lanes, consider turning right first, then making a U-turn where legal or using a signalised intersection to change direction. That may take longer, but it is often safer and less stressful in unfamiliar traffic patterns.
Ticketable mistakes drivers make on multi-lane roads
These are the centre-turn-lane errors most likely to attract enforcement or cause conflicts, especially on busy corridors with frequent driveways.
Using the centre lane to pass slow or stopped traffic. This is one of the most common misunderstandings. Even if the lane looks open, using it to overtake is unsafe because another driver may be entering it from the opposite direction to turn left.
Driving in the lane for too long. Treat the lane as a short staging area, not a travel lane. Enter close to your turn, then complete it. Long-distance use increases the chances of meeting an opposing driver doing the same thing.
Entering too early to “queue” for a left. On congested streets, drivers sometimes slip into the centre lane well in advance to avoid a backed-up through lane. That can block legitimate left turns from the opposite direction and can lead to road rage or collisions.
Stopping in the lane without turning. Waiting for a friend, checking your phone, or pausing to find an address in the centre lane is hazardous. If you need to stop, pull into a legal parking space or a driveway.
Turning from the wrong lane. Some drivers cut across from a through lane directly into a driveway without using the centre lane, or they turn left from the centre lane when it is actually a painted median that prohibits entry. Always confirm the marking pattern, broken yellow lines indicate permissible entry, double solid yellow indicates you must not cross.
Confusing a centre lane with a median opening. Some roads use a raised median with occasional breaks. Those breaks allow turning, but you cannot travel along the median area. Do not assume every centre space is a turn lane.
How centre turn lanes interact with U-turns and intersections
In parts of Los Angeles, U-turns are permitted at many signalised intersections unless a sign prohibits them. A two-way left-turn lane is generally not designed as a U-turn bay, and making a U-turn mid-block from the centre lane can be risky and may be unlawful depending on the exact location and traffic control. If you need to reverse direction, a signalised intersection with clear sight lines is usually the safest choice.
At intersections, pay attention to lane markings. Some centre lanes end and become dedicated left-turn pockets with arrows. When that happens, use the designated pocket rather than drifting in the centre lane through the intersection.
Defensive driving tips specific to Los Angeles
Expect last-second turns. LA streets have dense signage, driveways, and shopping centres. Leave extra following distance so you can respond if someone brakes to enter the centre lane.
Watch for delivery vehicles. Vans may stop suddenly near entrances. If you are in a car hire, keep your speed steady and avoid sudden lane changes into the centre lane.
Be cautious at night. The lane markings can be harder to read on older pavement. Slow slightly, look for the broken yellow line, and do not cross any double solid yellow boundaries.
Give space to opposing left-turners. If you see an oncoming car already positioned in the centre lane, assume they may turn unexpectedly. Do not accelerate into the lane to “claim” it.
Many visitors start their trip either at LAX or nearby Orange County airports. If your route takes you between regions, you may notice different road designs but the same rules. Hola Car Rentals also provides pick-up guidance around car hire at Santa Ana Airport (SNA) and details on van rental at Santa Ana (SNA), both useful if you are planning day trips that include busy arterial roads.
FAQ
Can I use the centre turn lane to merge into traffic after leaving a driveway? Use it only as part of completing a left turn when safe, not as a long merge lane. If you cannot merge safely, turn right and change direction later.
How far can I drive in a two-way left-turn lane before turning? The intent is short use close to your turn, commonly taught as about 200 feet. Driving along it to bypass traffic can be ticketable and is unsafe.
What do the yellow lines mean on a centre turn lane? Two solid yellow lines on the outside mark the lane boundary, and the inner broken yellow lines indicate where you may enter to turn left.
Is it legal to pass a stopped car by using the centre turn lane? No. The lane is for left turns only, not passing or travelling. Another vehicle may be approaching in the same lane from the opposite direction.
What should I do if someone is coming towards me in the centre lane? Slow down and stay in your through lane unless you are already committed to a safe left turn. The centre lane is shared, so avoid trying to “meet” them there.
