Left turn in Armenia: which lane, signs, tram tracks

Before a left turn, move early into the left edge lane of the roadway intended for that direction (Rules, point 40). There are three exceptions: entering a roundabout, a sign or marking that allows the maneuver from another lane, and the impossibility of doing it from that lane because of the vehicle's size or another reason. A sign that allows a left turn also allows a U-turn.

If sign 5.15.1 or 5.15.2 stands before the intersection, driving on tram tracks at the intersection is prohibited: the left turn is made from the lane the sign shows, not from the tracks (points 40 and 59).

What point 40 requires

Before a turn you move early into the edge lane of the roadway intended for that direction. "Early" means before the maneuver, not at the moment of turning. For a left turn this is the left edge lane, for a right turn the right edge lane. The exceptions:

• entering a roundabout;
• a sign or marking allows the maneuver from other lanes too;
• the vehicle's size or another reason makes it impossible to do it from that lane.

In the last case, switch on the hazard lights and give way to vehicles approaching from both directions, same and oncoming (point 43).

A signal gives you no priority. You switch the left indicator on early and off right after the maneuver, but "I signaled, so I go first" is wrong (point 36).

Signs that show the directions

• 4.1.1–4.1.6. You may drive only in the directions of the arrows, and signs that allow a left turn also allow a U-turn. They do not apply to public transport vehicles.
• 5.15.1 "Directions of traffic by lanes" and 5.15.2 "Directions of traffic by lane". A sign that allows a left turn from the left edge lane allows a U-turn from it.
• A sign does not change the rule for a right turn. Sign 4.1.6 "Turn right or left" allows only the right and left directions, but if neither the sign nor the marking allows a right turn from other lanes, it is made from the right edge lane (point 40).

For sign groups and how they differ, see the article on road sign groups. U-turn questions are covered separately in the article on U-turn rules.

Tram tracks

You may use same-direction tram tracks for a left turn or U-turn. But if signs 5.15.1 or 5.15.2 stand before the intersection, driving on the tram tracks at the intersection is prohibited. Then the left turn is made from the left edge lane, not from the tracks (Rules, points 40 and 59).

When there are many lanes

• On two-way roads with four or more lanes, driving into the oncoming side is prohibited (point 53).
• On a marked two-way road with three lanes, where the middle lane is used for both directions, you may enter the middle lane only to overtake, bypass, turn left or make a U-turn, and entering the left edge lane is prohibited (point 54).
• With three or more lanes in one direction, the left edge lane may be taken only in heavy traffic when the other lanes are occupied, and to overtake, turn left or make a U-turn. Trucks with a maximum authorized mass over 3.5 t and vehicles on regular passenger routes may use it only to turn left or make a U-turn (point 57).

On overtaking, see the article on overtaking rules.

Whom to give way to

Outside an intersection, for a left turn or U-turn you give way to oncoming vehicles and to a tram moving in your direction (point 44).

At an intersection, if you and the oncoming car are on equal terms (both on the main road or both on the secondary road), when turning left you give way to oncoming vehicles going straight or right (point 99). Other right-of-way cases are in the article on right of way at intersections.

Typical traps

• "With sign 5.15.2 you can turn left from the tram tracks": wrong. Driving on the tracks at the intersection is prohibited.
• "With sign 4.1.6 you can turn right from any lane": wrong. A right turn is made from the right edge lane.
• "A sign that allows a left turn does not allow a U-turn": wrong. It does.
• "I signaled, so I go first": wrong. A signal gives no priority.
• "If the road is one-way before the intersection, you can turn left from the right lane": wrong. The rule does not change, and the turn is made from the left edge lane (point 40).

Before a left turn: four questions

1. Which lane am I in: the left edge lane, or does a sign or marking allow the maneuver from another lane?
2. Which directions does the sign before the intersection allow (4.1.x, 5.15.x)?
3. Are there tram tracks, and is there a sign 5.15.1 or 5.15.2?
4. Whom must I give way to: oncoming vehicles, a tram going my way, or other road users under the intersection rules?

Four exam questions explained

Below are four group 1 questions about the left turn. Each describes the picture, the correct answer, why the other options are wrong, and the point of the Rules.

Where can you go from the left lane with sign 4.1.6

In the picture. Above the road is sign 4.1.6 "Turn right or left". The driver is in the left lane. The road has markings 1.3 and 1.5.

Correct answer. Left and in the opposite direction: a left turn or a U-turn.

Why the others are wrong. "Only left" is incomplete: signs that allow a left turn also allow a U-turn. "Right, left and in the opposite direction" is wrong: a right turn must be made from the right edge lane, because neither the sign nor the marking allows it from other lanes. Sign 4.1.6 allows only the right and left directions.

Rule. Rules, point 40. Sign: 4.1.6.

Practice: group 1

May you drive on tram tracks when sign 5.15.2 stands before the intersection

In the picture. Tram tracks run along the middle of the road. Blue signs above show the directions of traffic by lane (5.15.2). Passenger cars drive on the right. Markings: 1.1 and 1.5.

Correct answer. No, you may not drive on the tram tracks.

Why the others are wrong. Same-direction tram tracks may normally be used for a left turn or U-turn. But if sign 5.15.1 or 5.15.2 stands before the intersection, driving on the tram tracks at the intersection is prohibited. Here sign 5.15.2 allows the left turn from the left lane, so "Yes" and "Only when making a U-turn or left turn" are wrong.

Rule. Rules, points 40 and 59. Sign: 5.15.2.

Practice: group 1

Which path allows a left turn when a one-way road ends at the intersection

In the picture. At the intersection stand signs 5.6 "End of one-way road" and 1.21 "Two-way traffic". Two paths, A and B. The turn on A starts from the right lane, on B from the left edge lane.

Correct answer. Only path B.

Why the others are wrong. Before the intersection the road is one-way, as signs 5.6 and 1.21 show. Before a left turn the driver must take the left edge lane of the carriageway in advance, as on path B. The turn on A starts from the right lane, so "only A" and "any" are wrong.

Rule. Rules, point 40. Signs: 5.6, 1.21.

Practice: group 1

Which path allows a left turn with sign 5.15.1 and tram tracks

In the picture. Sign 5.15.1 "Directions of traffic by lanes" stands before the intersection. Tram tracks run along the road, and a tram is visible ahead. Path A goes over the tram tracks, path B starts from the left edge lane.

Correct answer. Only path B.

Why the others are wrong. Sign 5.15.1 allows a left turn from the left edge lane. With such a sign, driving on tram tracks at the intersection is prohibited. So path A, which crosses the tracks, is wrong, and so is "any".

Rule. Rules, points 40 and 59. Sign: 5.15.1.

Practice: group 1

How to reinforce it

In left-turn questions the answer almost always depends on the sign code, the marking and the lane the car is in. You can go through the practice set "Maneuvers, U-turns and giving way" (group 1) without signing up, and the same rules with point references are in the theory for group 1. When you get steady results on this topic, test yourself in the exam simulation.

See also: U-turns and direction signs.

See also: the hardest exam questions by bibip data.