A designated traffic lane at an intersection that allows vehicles to turn onto an intersecting roadway without entering the primary conflict zone of the intersection. Slip lanes are typically separated from the main traffic lanes by a raised traffic island or painted markings. Traffic engineers use them to increase intersection capacity and reduce delay for turning vehicles, though they often require pedestrian crossings to be carefully managed.
We need to design a slip lane at the northeast corner to handle the heavy right-turn volume during the morning peak.
Also heard as
- channelized turn lane
- filter lane
Do not mix it up with
- Traffic island: A traffic island is the physical barrier or painted area that separates the slip lane from the main intersection.
Related terms
Traffic island
A raised or painted area in a roadway designed to separate traffic streams or protect pedestrians.
Ghost island
A painted area on a roadway, usually filled with diagonal hatching, designed to separate traffic streams.
Yield line
A pavement marking showing drivers exactly where to wait when giving way to conflicting traffic.