Do You Know the Rules of the Road for Making a Left Turn?

Making a left turn is one of the most dangerous tasks for a driver. You must be able to decide when it is safe to turn into oncoming traffic without being hit. At the same time, you may worry about being rear-ended by the vehicles behind you. There’s also the concern that you may have difficulty turning if the light should change before you have moved out of the...

Do You Know the Rules of the Road for Making a Left Turn?

Making a left turn is one of the most dangerous tasks for a driver. You must be able to decide when it is safe to turn into oncoming traffic without being hit. At the same time, you may worry about being rear-ended by the vehicles behind you. There’s also the concern that you may have difficulty turning if the light should change before you have moved out of the intersection. It pays to know the laws concerning this traffic situation.

Only Turn When Safe to Do So

The law requires the person making a left turn to do so only when traffic is clear, and it is safe. This doesn’t mean there can be no other cars around, but they are far enough away for the driver to complete the turn.

Since this is a judgment call in many situations, the person making the turn is almost always found at fault in an accident. There are a few exceptions to this rule, but they can be difficult to prove. For instance, the person driving straight may have been going over the speed limit, or they ran a red light. However, the majority of the time, the burden of safety lies with the driver who is turning.

Which Lane to Turn In?

When you are making a left-hand turn into multiple lanes of traffic, state laws differ on what you can do. In some states, you must turn into the left lane. In other states, you can enter any lane that is free of other vehicles. It’s important to know the law or else stick with the left lane to avoid a ticket. With all left-hand turns, you must use your left signal light to let others know your intention.

Turning left requires the driver to be alert and pay attention to the traffic around them. It’s always better to play it safe and not try to “beat the traffic.” If the turn is made at the wrong time, an accident with serious injuries or even fatalities may be the result.


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