Louisiana Lanes & Turns practice test

Key Louisiana facts: Lanes & Turns

• Louisiana law prohibits traveling more than 200 feet in a shared center left-turn lane. Chapter 3, Signs, Traffic Lights, and Pavement Markings, Regulatory Signs, Shared Center Lane Left Turn Only, PDF p. 32; Chapter 6, Traffic Laws and Regulations, Shared Center Left Turn Lane, PDF p. 96
• Louisiana law says vehicles should travel in the right-hand lane except when preparing for a left turn, passing, or when the right lanes are congested. Chapter 3, Signs, Traffic Lights, and Pavement Markings, Lane Markings, PDF p. 40
• A vehicle in the left-hand lane may not travel slower than vehicles to its right; slower vehicles keep to the right lane. Chapter 3, Signs, Traffic Lights, and Pavement Markings, Lane Markings, PDF p. 40
• On interstates with three or more lanes each way, the right lane is for entering and exiting, the middle lane is often used for travel and the leftmost lane for passing. Chapter 7, Interstate Driving and Rural Roads, Right-Hand Lane, PDF p. 106
• A pass must be completed before coming within 100 feet of a vehicle approaching from the opposite direction. Chapter 5, Safe Driving Habits, Passing on the Left, PDF p. 76

Sample Lanes & Turns questions

On a two-lane road, passing within 100 feet of which of these is unsafe and against the law, according to the guide?

• A mailbox
• A gas station
• A bridge or tunnel
• A billboard

Show the answer

A bridge or tunnel

The guide lists bridges and tunnels along with intersections and railroad crossings. R.S. 32:76 applies the bridge and tunnel limit where your view is obstructed.

Source: Louisiana Class D & E Driver's Guide, Chapter 5, Safe Driving Habits, Passing on the Left, PDF p. 76; Louisiana Revised Statutes, R.S. 32:76, Subsection A(2)-(3)

On an interstate with three or more lanes in each direction, what is the middle lane often used for?

• Entering and exiting
• Through travel
• Emergency stops
• Passing only

Show the answer

Through travel

Use the right lane to enter and exit, the middle lane for through travel and the leftmost lane for passing.

Source: Louisiana Class D & E Driver's Guide, Chapter 7, Interstate Driving and Rural Roads, Right-Hand Lane, PDF p. 106

On a hill or curve, when is it unlawful to turn your vehicle around?

• Only at night, when your headlights are on
• Only on interstates and other divided highways
• When drivers cannot see your vehicle within 500 feet
• Never, as long as you signal and go slowly

Show the answer

When drivers cannot see your vehicle within 500 feet

Do not turn around where approaching drivers cannot see your vehicle within 500 feet.

Source: Louisiana Class D & E Driver's Guide, Chapter 6, Traffic Laws and Regulations, You May Not Turn Around, PDF p. 95

When passing on a two-lane road, you must finish before you get within how far of an oncoming vehicle?

• 50 feet
• 300 feet
• 100 feet
• 500 feet

Show the answer

100 feet

Complete the pass before you come within 100 feet of a vehicle approaching from the other way.

Source: Louisiana Class D & E Driver's Guide, Chapter 5, Safe Driving Habits, Passing on the Left, PDF p. 76

How far behind the vehicle you want to pass should you be when you start the pass?

• Right on its bumper
• At least two seconds
• About one car length
• Half a second

Show the answer

At least two seconds

Starting from at least two seconds back keeps you from clipping the rear side of the other vehicle.

Source: Louisiana Class D & E Driver's Guide, Chapter 5, Safe Driving Habits, Safety Tips on Passing, PDF p. 78

Under Louisiana law, when may you leave the right-hand lane of a multilane road?

• Only when you are driving on an interstate highway
• To prepare for a left turn, to pass, or when the right lanes are congested
• Whenever you want to go faster than the traffic around you
• Only at night, when traffic is light

Show the answer

To prepare for a left turn, to pass, or when the right lanes are congested

Vehicles should keep to the right lane except for those three reasons.

Source: Louisiana Class D & E Driver's Guide, Chapter 3, Signs, Traffic Lights, and Pavement Markings, Lane Markings, PDF p. 40

How far ahead must you be able to see before you try to pass, according to the guide?

• At least a quarter mile
• At least 500 feet
• At least 100 feet
• At least 200 feet

Show the answer

At least a quarter mile

If fog or anything else keeps you from seeing a quarter mile ahead, do not pass.

Source: Louisiana Class D & E Driver's Guide, Chapter 6, Traffic Laws and Regulations, Lane Changing, PDF p. 93

You are driving in the left lane of a multilane road. What does Louisiana law forbid?

• Passing a truck
• Using your turn signal
• Driving at the speed limit
• Going slower than the vehicles to your right

Show the answer

Going slower than the vehicles to your right

A vehicle in the left lane must not go slower than traffic to its right.

Source: Louisiana Class D & E Driver's Guide, Chapter 3, Signs, Traffic Lights, and Pavement Markings, Lane Markings, PDF p. 40

You and an oncoming driver both signal left turns at an intersection. How should you each turn?

• Each turns to the right of the center
• The driver who signaled first turns while the other waits
• Both swing wide into the far lane
• Each turns to the left of the center of the intersection

Show the answer

Each turns to the left of the center of the intersection

When safe, each driver turns to the left of the intersection's center, so the two vehicles do not cut across each other.

Source: Louisiana Class D & E Driver's Guide, Chapter 6, Traffic Laws and Regulations, Left Turn - Two Vehicles, PDF p. 95

What is the farthest you may drive in a shared center left-turn lane in Louisiana?

• 50 feet
• 200 feet
• 500 feet
• 100 feet

Show the answer

200 feet

Louisiana law limits travel in this lane to 200 feet, so do not move into it too early.

Source: Louisiana Class D & E Driver's Guide, Chapter 3, Signs, Traffic Lights, and Pavement Markings, Regulatory Signs, Shared Center Lane Left Turn Only, PDF p. 32; Louisiana Class D & E Driver's Guide, Chapter 6, Traffic Laws and Regulations, Shared Center Left Turn Lane, PDF p. 96

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About these questions

We wrote these practice questions from the facts in the Louisiana Class D & E Driver's Guide (DPSMV2052 (R08/25) on the cover (the table of contents page still prints the older form number DPSMV2052 (R03/2021)), linked from https://expresslane.la.gov/omv/resources/driver-manuals/ to Louisiana DPS's document system, read 2026-11-09. Page numbers cited are PDF pages (printed page = PDF page minus 5 in the main text). Questions and citations use the OMV Driver Manuals page as the official URL because the PDF itself is served from public.powerdms.com, which is not a .gov or .us host. Chapter 10 (Class D chauffeur's license, air brakes) and Chapter 10-A (trailers) are not used: they do not apply to Class E applicants. The guide's phone rules are out of date: it says drivers 17 or younger may not use a wireless device for calls or texts (PDF p. 116) and points to R.S. 32:59 for exceptions (PDF p. 83), but R.S. 32:300.5-300.8 were repealed by Acts 2025, No. 288, and the new R.S. 32:59 (Acts 2025, No. 288; Acts 2026, No. 677; read on legis.la.gov 2026-11-09) bars hand-held use for all drivers, allows hands-free calls and has no age rule; R.S. 32:289.1 still bars any cell phone use in the first year of a first license. Phone questions and phone coverage follow the current statutes, cited as the source; the guide's under-17 rule is not used. Full check of 2026-11-09 found more guide passages that current law no longer matches; questions follow the statute and these pages are not used as sources: work-zone fines 'double' (PDF p. 36; R.S. 32:57(H) sets $500-$1,000), plate destroyed after 3 days (PDF p. 141; R.S. 32:863.1 says 60 days), no stop for a school bus on 4- or 5-lane roads with a two-way left-turn lane (PDF pp. 93-94; not in R.S. 32:80(C)), first DWI fine $1,025 (PDF p. 129; R.S. 14:98.1 caps it at $1,000). edition) and from official sources on road signs. Every answer links to its source, so you can check it and read more.

DMV Decoded is an independent guide, not a government agency. This practice test is not connected to the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV), and your actual test will have different questions. Study the handbook, and check the agency's website for current rules.