Chapter 5: Intersections and Turns

Left turn from two-way road into four-lane highway

Approach the tun with your left wheels as close as possible to the center line. Enter the left lane, to the right of the center line. When traffic permits, you may move out of the left lane.

Left turn from one-way road into two-way road

Approach the turn in the left lane or from the left side of a single lane. As you cross the intersection, enter the two-way road to the tight of its center line, but as close as possible to the center line.

Left turn from two-way road into one-way road

Approach the turn with your left wheels as close as possible to the center line. Make the turn before reaching the center of the intersection, and turn into the left lane of the road you enter.

Left turn from two-way road into two-way road

Approach the turn with your left wheels as close as possible to the center line. Try to use the left side of the intersection to help ensure that you do not interfere with opposing traffic turning left.

Right turn

As you prepare to turn, stay as far to the tight as possible. Avoid making wide, sweeping turns. Unless signs direct you otherwise, turn into the right lane of the road you enter.

To make a three-point turn

1. Signal with your right directional, then pullover to the right and stop. Signal with your left directional, then check carefully for approaching traffic. 2. Turn left, cross the road so you come to a stop while facing the left curb or edge of the road. 3. Check again for traffic. Turn your steering wheels as far to the right as possible then back up to the right curb or edge of the road. 4. Stop, check again for other traffic, then pull away from the curb.

Does a vehicle about to enter a traffic circle or rotary have right-of-way over vehicles already in the circle?

A driver entering a traffic circle, sometimes called a rotary, must yield the right-of-way to drivers already in the circle.

What should you do if you hear a siren nearby but cannot see where the emergency vehicle is?

If you hear a siren or air-horn nearby but do not know exactly where the emergency vehicle is, you should safely pull over to the right-side edge of the road and stop until you are sure it is not approaching you.

Left turn from one-way road into one-way road

Prepare to turn by getting into the left lane, or the left side of a single lane, as close as possible to the left curb or edge of the road. If the road you enter has two lanes, you must turn into its left lane.

How far before a turn must you signal?

The law requires you to signal a turn or lane change with your directional lights or hand signals at least 100 feet.

A vehicle entering a roadway from a driveway, alley, private road, or any other place that is not a roadway, must stop and yield the right-of-way to traffic on the roadway, and to pedestrians.

You are driving out of a parking lot and turning right as you enter a street. A vehicle is approaching from your left. You must stop and wait for the vehicle to pass before turning onto the street. If you were turning left, you would have to yield to vehicles approaching from both directions. If a pedestrian were crossing the parking lot exit, you would have to wait from him or her to cross.

A driver approaching an intersection must yield the right-of-way to traffic already lawfully using the intersection

You are nearing an intersection. The traffic light is green, and you want to drive straight through. Another vehicle is already in the intersection, turning left. You must let that vehicle complete its turn before you enter the intersection.

Drivers must yield to pedestrians legally using marked or unmarked crosswalks, slowing down or stopping if need to be yield.

You are stopped at a red light. A pedestrian steps into the crosswalk, and then the light turns green. You must wait for the pedestrian to cross.

At intersections not controlled by signs or signals, or where two or more drivers stop at STOP signs at the same time and they are at right angles to one another, the driver on the left must yield the right-of-way to the driver on the right.

You are stopped at a stop sign, and you are going to go straight through the intersection. A driver on the intersecting road has stopped at a stop sign on your right, and is also to go straight. You must yield the right-of-way to the other driver.

You are facing a green light, but traffic on the other side of the intersection would keep you from going all the way through the intersection. May you enter the intersection?

You may not enter an intersection if traffic is backed up on the other side and you cannot get all the way through the intersection. Wait until traffic ahead clears, so you do not block the intersection.

If drivers approaching from opposite directions reach an intersection at about the same time, a driver turning left must yield to approaching traffic going straight or turning right.

You want to turn left at an intersection ahead. A vehicle us approaching from the opposite direction, going straight ahead. You must wait for approaching traffic to go through before you turn.