An arrow painted on the pavement means:
- Drivers in the proper lane may make the movement indicated by the arrow, if they choose to do so.
- Drivers in the proper lane must make the movement indicated by the arrow, but only if traffic lights are not working.
- Drivers in the proper lane must always come to a complete stop before making the movement indicated by the arrow.
- Drivers in the proper lane must make the movement indicated by the arrow while following directions indicated by traffic signals. ✓
Answer: D. Drivers in the proper lane must make the movement indicated by the arrow while following directions indicated by traffic signals.
An arrow painted on the pavement means drivers in the proper lane must make the movement the arrow shows while still obeying traffic signals.
Why this is the answer
The handbook's pavement-marking section says a lane marked with a curved arrow and the word ONLY requires you to turn in the arrow's direction, while a lane with both a curved and straight arrow lets you turn or go straight. So the marking controls what the lane is for, and a required arrow is not optional. The signal section separately covers arrow signals, which control when you may make the movement. Together, the lane arrow tells you the required movement, and the traffic signal tells you when to do it.
Why the other answers are wrong
- A. Drivers in the proper lane may make the movement indicated by the arrow, if they choose to do so. — A pavement arrow can require the movement, as with an ONLY arrow, so it is not simply a choice for drivers in the proper lane.
- B. Drivers in the proper lane must make the movement indicated by the arrow, but only if traffic lights are not working. — Nothing in the handbook says pavement arrows apply only when traffic lights are not working; signals still control when the movement may be made.
- C. Drivers in the proper lane must always come to a complete stop before making the movement indicated by the arrow. — The handbook does not require a complete stop before every movement shown by a pavement arrow; the marking tells you which way the lane goes.
Remember it
Think of an ONLY arrow as a lane instruction: it tells you where the lane goes, while the light tells you when you may go.