New York State Driver's License Chapter 5

Three Point Turn

1. Signal with your right turn signal, then pull over to the right and stop. Signal with your left turn signal, then check carefully for traffic coming toward you. 2. Turn left, go across the road so you come to a stop while you face the left curb or edge of the road. 3. Look again for traffic. Turn your steering wheel as far to the right as possible, then reverse the vehicle to the right curb or edge of the road. 4. Stop, check again for other traffic, then pull away from the curb.

Turns

Always signal before you turn or change lanes. It is important that other highway users know your intentions. The law requires you to signal a turn or lane change with your turn lights or hand signals at least 100 feet (30 m) ahead. A good safety tip is, when possible, to signal your intention to turn before you begin to brake or make the turn.

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 go across the intersection, enter the two-way road to the right of its center line, but as close as possible to the center line. Be alert for traffic that approaches from the road to the left. Motorcycles are hard to see, and it is hard to judge their speed and distance away.

LEFT TURN FROM TWO-WAY ROAD INTO FOUR-LANE HIGHWAY

Approach the turn 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 can move out of the left lane.

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 make sure that you do not interfere with traffic headed toward you that wants to turn left. Keep to the right of the centerline of the road you enter, but as close as possible to the center line. Be alert for traffic, heading toward you from the left and from the lane you are about to go across. Motorcycles headed toward you are hard to see and it is difficult to judge their speed and distance away. Drivers often fail to see a motorcycle headed toward them and hit it while they turn across a traffic lane.

Right Turn

As you prepare to turn, get as far to the right as possible. Do not make wide, sweeping turns. Unless signs direct you to do otherwise, turn into the right lane of the road you enter.

Turn Signals

Left- Arm Out Right- Arm Up Stop- Arm Down

LEFT TURN FROM ONE-WAY ROAD INTO ONE-WAY ROAD

Move into the left lane when you prepare to turn, or move to 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.

Blue Green and Amber Lights

Personal vehicles driven by volunteer fire fighters responding to alarms are allowed to display blue lights and those driven by volunteer ambulance or rescue squad members can display green lights. Amber lights on hazard vehicles such as snow plows and tow trucks warn other drivers of possible dangers. Flashing amber lights are also used on rural mail delivery vehicles and school buses to warn traffic of their presence. The vehicles that display blue, green or amber lights are not authorized emergency vehicles. Their drivers must obey all traffic laws. While you are not required to yield the right-of-way, you should yield as a courtesy if you safely can.

Tips for Turning

Reduce your speed. Be alert for traffic on all sides. Take special caution to check for motorcycles. Most crashes that involve motorcycles and other vehicles are caused because the driver of the other vehicle has failed to see the motorcycle. Remember that your rear wheels will travel inside the path of the front wheels, nearer to the curb (right turn) or to traffic headed toward you (left turn). Watch for pedestrians, bicyclists and moped riders, especially on right turns. They are often difficult to see in traffic.

Right of Way

Traffic signs, signals and pavement markings do not always resolve traffic conflicts. A green light, for example, does not resolve the conflict of when a car turns left at an intersection while an approaching car goes straight through the intersection. This set of rules help resolve these conflicts. They tell you who goes first and who must wait in different conditions.

Emergency Vehicles

You must yield the right-of-way to fire, ambulance, police and other authorized vehicles when they respond to emergencies. They will display lights that are flashing red, red and blue or red and white and sound a siren or air-horn. When you hear or see this vehicle heading toward you from any direction, safely pull over immediately to the right edge of the road and stop. Wait until the vehicle passes before you drive on. If you are in an intersection, drive out of it before you pull over. You must pull over and stop even if it is headed toward you in the opposite lane of a two-way roadway. If you hear a siren or air-horn close by but do not know exactly where it is, you can safely pull over to the right-side edge of the road and stop until you are sure it is not headed toward you. These vehicles that uses lights and a siren or air-horn can be unpredictable. The driver can legally exceed the speed limit, pass red lights and STOP or YIELD signs, go the wrong way on one-way streets and turn in directions not normally allowed. Although emergency vehicle drivers are required to be careful, be very cautious when an emergency vehicle heads toward you.

U-Turn

any turn you make so you can proceed in the opposite direction. Do not try on a highway unless absolutely necessary. If you must turn around, use a parking lot, driveway or other area, and, if possible, enter the roadway as you move forward, not backing up. You can make this turn only from the left portion of the lane nearest to the centerline of the roadway, never from the right lane. Unless signs tell you otherwise, when you get permission to proceed by a green arrow left-turn traffic signal, provided it is allowed and you yield to other traffic. You can not do this near the top of a hill, a curve or another location where other drivers can not see your vehicle from 500 feet (150 m) away in either direction. It is also illegal in business districts of New York City and where NO U-TURN signs are provided. You can never turn on a limited access expressway, even if paths connect your side of the expressway with the other side. In addition, it is prohibited for a vehicle to do this in a school zone. Unless prohibited, a three-point turn may be used to turn around on a narrow, two-way street. You may be required to make a three-point turn on your road test.