Washington State Department of Licensing Knowledge Test

What is the first rule of a safe and legal turn?

1. Yield to oncoming traffic

2. Signal your intentions

3. Check your mirrors

4. Move into the proper lane well before the turn

The correct answer is: Move into the proper lane well before the turn

The first rule of a safe and legal turn is to move into the proper lane well before the turn. This involves ensuring that you are positioned correctly in the lane that allows for a safe and efficient turn. Proper lane positioning not only helps you make the turn smoothly but also minimizes the risk of collisions with other vehicles or pedestrians. By moving into the correct lane ahead of time, you are signaling to other drivers your intentions without the need for abrupt lane changes at the last moment. This contributes to the overall safety of the maneuver. Additionally, consistently positioning yourself in the correct lane prepares drivers around you to anticipate your movements, which helps maintain the flow of traffic. Other options, while also important for safe turning practices, occur after establishing the right lane. For example, signaling intentions and checking mirrors are crucial steps, but they are secondary to ensuring you are in the correct lane to begin with. Therefore, moving into the proper lane well before the turn is fundamental to executing a turn safely and legally.