3 Tips to Drive in a Reversible Lane for You

There are times when the amount of vehicles on the road is much higher than what they can go through it normally. Occasionally strikes occur, such as exit and return operations. It is then that traffic agents can improve the flow of traffic with a reversible lane, adding (on roads with more than one lane per the direction of movement), one in the opposite direction to the usual one.

As you would expect, as one is traveling with his vehicle through a lane that is not usual, special rules apply that affect maximum speed, signaling, priorities. The infractions that made through the misuse of this type of lanes as very serious. Hence it is convenient to know how to drive.

Preparation and access to the reversible lane

Within the different types of lanes, the reversible lane is one of the most used classes. Article 40 of the Traffic Regulation defines them as two double marks that delimit a lane on both sides.

A reversible lane can use in the direction of circulation that best suits the traffic density at that time. It can regulate by lane traffic lights, cones, or lights. Its purpose, as we said at the beginning, is to offer the driver an additional lane to be able to drive.

Access to the additional lane is done through the median, in a section without a barrier. That is where agents of the Civil Guard of traffic are located, accompanying the operators who have installed the separation between lanes and conveniently signaling the access point. It would help if you kept in mind that sometimes there is a small slope in the area where you leave the lane and where you join the other. So watch the speed and direction.

Rules of movement in the reversible lane

Imagine the typical Spanish highway, two lanes per the direction of movement, separated by a wide median. In a section, it passes during a certain time to have three lanes towards the busiest direction and only one towards the least needed. In one of the roads, cars will coexist for a few kilometers on both traffic networks, separated by a line of cones.

For the safety of all while driving through a reversible lane, you must meet these rules:

• Limited access to motorcycles and cars. It is forbidden to drive for the rest, including passenger cars with a trailer.
• It will circulate both day and night with the short-range or low beam.
• If there is only one lane enabled (it is the most common), the speed must maintain between 60 and 80 km / h.
• It is forbidden to invade the opposite lane and break the line of cones, and of course, forward. The reason is obvious, avoid a frontal collision in an area without escape.
  • If the traffic light has a green arrow, the lane is open in your direction of travel.
  • If the traffic light has a red cross, you cannot drive through it.
  • If the traffic light has a yellow arrow to the side, it is time to leave the lane.
• On the floor, these rails are delimited by double white dashed marks and double-pointed arrows. If you use them, remember to turn on the lights and circulate more slowly.

VAO Bus Rail

• It is a conventional reversible lane but bounded by a barrier, not by cones. They are lanes for High Occupancy Vehicles, for vehicles occupied by two or more occupants and motorcycles (also cars without emissions). Its sense of circulation varies according to the needs. An example of this is the A6 lane at the entrance to Madrid.