Positioning, lanes and turning

A large part of driving is about being in the right place on the road at the right time. Good positioning (placering) makes you predictable to others and gives you better visibility and more time. Here we go through the rules for positioning, lanes and turns.

The basic rule: keep to the right

Vehicles must be driven on the carriageway (körbanan) (Traffic Ordinance (trafikförordningen) 3 kap. 6 §). If there are several lanes (körfält) in the same direction, the main rule is that you must drive in the lane furthest to the right (trafikförordningen 3 kap. 7 §). The left lane is used for overtaking or when you are going to turn left.

There is an important exception. On roads where the maximum permitted speed is 70 km/h or lower and there are at least two lanes in the same direction, you may choose the lane that is most suitable with regard to your onward journey (trafikförordningen 3 kap. 7 §). In town you can therefore move into the left lane in good time if you are going to turn left further ahead.

If the carriageway has four or more lanes for traffic in both directions, you may not drive in the lanes to the left of the middle (trafikförordningen 3 kap. 8 §), even if no line would prevent you.

The hard shoulder

The hard shoulder (vägrenen) is not an extra lane for cars. It is to be used by, among others, cyclists when there is no cycle track, class I mopeds (moped klass I) and vehicles that may not drive faster than 40 km/h. Other vehicles may use the hard shoulder temporarily if it is needed to make things easier for other traffic (trafikförordningen 3 kap. 12 §), for example to let a car that wants to overtake get past on a narrow country road. In that case, watch out for cyclists and pedestrians.

Changing lanes

A lane change may only be made if it can be done without danger or unnecessary obstruction to others (trafikförordningen 3 kap. 43 §). Work in this order:

1. Look in the rear-view mirror and the side mirror.
2. Indicate in good time (trafikförordningen 3 kap. 65 §).
3. Check the blind spot (döda vinkeln) with a quick look over your shoulder.
4. Change lanes smoothly without slowing down unnecessarily.
5. Switch off the indicator.

If a solid line separates the lanes, you may not change lanes at all (trafikförordningen 3 kap. 9 §).

When lanes merge

When two lanes become one, drivers must adapt to the new situation with mutual consideration (under ömsesidigt hänsynstagande) (trafikförordningen 3 kap. 44 §). In practice it works best like a zip: the cars take turns to move in where the lanes meet. Nobody has absolute priority, and everyone needs to cooperate.

Positioning before a junction

If the carriageway before a junction has two or more lanes in the same direction, you must get into the right position in good time (trafikförordningen 3 kap. 25 §):

• Right lane if you are going to turn right.
• Left lane if you are going to turn left.
• The most suitable lane if you are going straight ahead.

Look for lane arrows on the road surface and signs above the road. They show which lane leads where.

Turning

You may only turn if it can be done without danger or unnecessary obstruction to others, and you must pay particular attention to the traffic behind you (trafikförordningen 3 kap. 26 §).

Right turn

When turning right, you must keep as close to the right-hand edge of the carriageway as is reasonably possible (trafikförordningen 3 kap. 26 §). Watch out for cyclists and moped riders who may come up on your right-hand side, especially if you are driving a large vehicle or towing a trailer. Look in the right side mirror and over your shoulder before you turn.

Left turn

When turning left, you must keep as close to the middle of the carriageway as possible. On a one-way carriageway you instead position yourself as close to the left-hand edge as possible (trafikförordningen 3 kap. 26 §). Before you turn, you must let oncoming traffic go first (trafikförordningen 3 kap. 24 §).

After the turn

The turn must be made so that, when you leave the junction, you are on the right of the carriageway you are entering (trafikförordningen 3 kap. 26 §). If you enter a carriageway with several lanes, you may choose the lane that best suits the traffic around you and your onward journey (trafikförordningen 3 kap. 27 §).

Two left turns facing each other

When two vehicles from opposite directions turn left at the same junction, they may keep to the left of each other when they meet, that is, turn in front of each other, if this can be done without danger or inconvenience (trafikförordningen 3 kap. 27 §). This is permitted but not required. It often gives a better view of the other traffic than turning around each other.

Cyclists at junctions

Cyclists and class II moped riders may keep to the right before a junction even when they are going to turn left. They then cross the junction and only turn when it can be done safely (trafikförordningen 3 kap. 28 §). So expect that a cyclist to your right may be heading left.

Moving off from the side of the road

When you pull out from the side of the road you must indicate and make sure it can be done without danger or unnecessary obstruction to others (trafikförordningen 3 kap. 43 och 65 §§). Look over your left shoulder before you pull out. There may be a cyclist in the blind spot.

Turning round and reversing

You may turn round or reverse only if it can be done without danger or obstruction to other road users (trafikförordningen 3 kap. 46 §). Some advice:

• Choose a place with good visibility in all directions and little traffic.
• Reverse slowly and look backwards, not only at the reversing camera.
• Children can be hard to see behind a car. Walk round the car before you reverse out of a driveway.
• If visibility is poor, ask someone to guide you.

On a motorway (motorväg) and an expressway (motortrafikled) it is completely forbidden to turn round and reverse. We cover that in the chapter on motorways.

Remember

• Drive in the right lane if there are several. At 70 km/h or lower you may choose the lane that suits your onward journey.
• Get into the right lane in good time before a junction: right for a right turn, left for a left turn.
• Mirror, indicator, blind spot. The indicator does not give you priority.
• When turning left: close to the middle, or close to the left-hand edge on a one-way road. Let oncoming traffic go first.
• When lanes merge, mutual consideration applies, like a zip.
• Turn round and reverse only when it can be done without danger or obstruction to others.