Massachusetts · Handbook chapter 6 · 8 min read

Chapter 6: Lanes, turns, rotaries and right-of-way

Speed limits, signaling distances, lane use, highway driving, turns and U-turns, Massachusetts right-of-way rules, how to drive a rotary or roundabout, passing rules and the Move Over law.

Why this chapter matters

Massachusetts is famous for its rotaries, and the exam expects you to know how to use them, along with the default speed limits, signaling distances and who goes first. Key numbers: 20, 30, 40, 50 mph, signal 100 feet before a turn and 500 feet on a highway, and 400 feet of clear view to pass.

Speed limits

The basic rule: never drive faster than is safe for traffic, the road, the weather, visibility and the people on foot or on bikes, whatever the posted limit. All limits assume ideal conditions. Driving 40 mph in a heavy rainstorm on a 50 mph highway can still earn a ticket.

Where no limit is posted, a speed over these is not reasonable and proper:

• A thickly settled district is where buildings are less than 200 feet apart for at least a quarter mile.
• Limited-access highways such as Interstates are posted from 50 to 65 mph.
• The Massachusetts Turnpike has a 40 mph minimum, and the Boston Harbor tunnels have a 20 mph minimum.

Signaling

Signal whenever you change lanes, turn at an intersection or into a driveway, pull away from or toward the curb, or enter or leave an expressway. Turn the signal off when you are done. The order is always mirrors and blind spot, signal, then move.

• Signal at least 100 feet before a turn, and at least 500 feet before a turn or exit on a highway. Signal before you brake.
• If your lights fail, use the three hand signals from the driver's window: arm straight out for a left turn, arm bent up for a right turn, arm bent down to slow or stop. You must know them for the road test.

Using lanes

• On a road with two or more lanes your way, drive in the right lane except to pass, turn left, or get around a blocked lane.
• Never change lanes in the middle of an intersection.
• Do not use a breakdown lane for travel or passing unless signs allow it at certain times.
• On a curve where you cannot see ahead, keep right and slow down.
• Stay out of restricted lanes (bus, carpool, bicycle) except to prepare for a turn.

Highway driving

• Get into the proper lane early, yield to traffic already on the highway, and speed up to match it as you merge.
• Missed your exit? Never stop or back up. Take the next exit and find your way back.
• Signal an exit at least 500 feet before the ramp, then slow to the ramp's posted speed.
• On three or more lanes, the right lane is for slower traffic, the middle for faster traffic and the left for passing.
• Do not drive in another driver's blind spot, and do not follow a truck or bus closely.
• Avoid highway hypnosis: on long trips stop about every two hours or 100 miles.
• If you break down, get into the breakdown lane as far from traffic as you can and stay in the vehicle.

Turns

1. Plan ahead and signal at least 100 feet before turning.
2. Slow down and check mirrors and your blind spot.
3. Yield where required.
4. Turn from the lane nearest the one you are entering: the far right lane for a right turn, the lane nearest the center for a left. Change lanes only after the turn.

Once you start a turn, finish it. If you change your mind, carry on to the next intersection and come back.

• U-turns are made from the lane nearest the center line, only where legal, and never on a hill crest, near a curve or anywhere you or other drivers cannot see 500 feet away.
• A center two-way left-turn lane is only for turning, never for traveling.
• A three-point turn is for a narrow street with light traffic, good visibility and no driveway to use. Wait for a gap of 20 to 30 seconds.

Right-of-way rules

Right-of-way is given, not taken. If another driver does not yield, let them go.

• Pedestrians: always yield to people in the roadway, and to people in the crosswalk when your light turns green. People on the sidewalk or crossing a driveway or alley have the right-of-way.
• Blind pedestrians: under the White Cane Law, come to a complete stop for a person with a white cane or guide dog and stay stopped until they have crossed. Do not honk or wave them on, and never pass another vehicle that has stopped.
• Uncontrolled intersections: slow down and yield to any vehicle that has entered from your right or is approaching from your right.
• Four-way stops: vehicles go in the order they stopped. If two stop together, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right.
• Left turns: yield to oncoming vehicles, vehicles already in the intersection, and pedestrians or bicyclists in your path.
• Driveways, private roads and unpaved roads: stop before entering a paved road and yield to everyone on it.
• Throughways: yield to traffic on the throughway.
• A small road meeting a big one: on a one- or two-lane road meeting a divided highway or a road with three or more lanes, you yield.
• Courtesy crashes: being waved through stopped traffic does not give you the right-of-way. Oncoming traffic still has it.

Rotaries and roundabouts

A rotary is a large circle where several roads meet, with YIELD signs at the entrances and a central island. Big rotaries handle traffic at up to 40 mph.

• Traffic travels counter-clockwise.
• Yield to vehicles already in the rotary (unless signs or police direct otherwise) and to pedestrians.
• Signal as at any intersection, and use your right signal when you are about to exit.
• Single-lane rotary: enter from the right lane of your road and exit into the right lane of the new road.
• Multi-lane rotary, if no signs say otherwise: for a quarter turn or going straight, enter from the right lane, stay in it and exit right. For a three-quarter turn or a U-turn, enter from the left lane, travel in the inner lane and exit into the right lane.
• Missed your exit? Do not stop. Go around again when it is safe.

A roundabout works the same way but is smaller, usually with yield lines and crosswalks, and keeps speeds at 25 mph or less.

Passing

• Pass on the left, only when necessary and safe, and never above the speed limit. If in doubt, do not pass.
• Never pass using a breakdown lane, the shoulder or a sidewalk.
• Before crossing a broken yellow line to pass, make sure you have a clear view of at least 400 feet ahead.
• Move back only when you can see the passed vehicle's headlights in your mirror, and before any oncoming vehicle is within 200 feet.
• You may pass on the right only on a road wide enough for two or more lines of traffic, when the vehicle ahead is turning left, on a one-way street, or on a road where all traffic goes one way.
• When you are being passed, slow down and keep right. Do not speed up.
• Do not pass a vehicle that is stopped or turning. It may be stopped for someone you cannot see.

The Move Over law

When you approach a stationary emergency vehicle with flashing lights, including police, fire and ambulance vehicles, highway maintenance vehicles and tow or recovery trucks:

• Slow down to a speed that is reasonable and safe for the conditions.
• On a highway with at least four lanes (at least two going your way), move over so there is an empty lane between you and the stopped vehicle. That may mean moving left or right.
• If you cannot move over safely, you must still slow down and proceed with caution.