AZE.US
New road markings introduced on several streets in Baku have caused confusion among drivers, especially near sections where bus lanes intersect with regular traffic lanes.
Some motorists said they were seeing the markings for the first time and were unsure how to interpret them. The main questions are whether cars may enter a bus lane, whether a right turn can be made from a middle lane, and where drivers are supposed to change lanes before turning.
Azerbaijan’s Land Transport Agency said the markings are known as 1.11 lines. According to the agency, they are used on many roads and allow vehicles moving in the second lane to shift into the right lane before making a right turn.
That does not mean drivers are allowed to turn right directly from the middle lane. They must first move into the right lane at the permitted point marked by the 1.11 line.
The Baku City State Traffic Police Department also said drivers must use the 1.11 marking to enter the right lane before turning right. If a vehicle turns right from a lane where traffic signs require it to continue straight, the driver may be fined.
The fine for such a violation is 40 manats.
In practice, the new markings are meant to organize traffic around bus lanes and reduce disputes over where drivers may change lanes before turning. But for now, they have also exposed a familiar problem in Baku traffic: changes appear on the road first, while clear public explanations often come only after drivers are already confused.
AZE.US