Turns and yielding on left turns

By the end of this topic you can

• You can get into the correct lane and signal in good time before a turn.
• You can make a right turn close to the curb and into the nearest lane.
• You can judge when it is safe to turn left across oncoming traffic, and wait when it is not.
• You can make a legal right turn on red after a full stop.
• You can decide whether a U-turn is legal and safe in a given place.

What you need to know and understand

• Signal about 100 feet before a turn in California, and at least 100 feet before in Oregon.
• Turning left on a green circle or flashing yellow arrow, you must yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians.
• A green arrow gives you a protected turn: oncoming traffic is held.
• Right on red is allowed after a complete stop unless a sign says NO TURN ON RED.
• Left on red is usually allowed only from a one-way street onto a one-way street; some states also allow it from a two-way onto a one-way street.
• Turn from the nearest lane in your direction into the nearest lane going your way.
• U-turn rules vary a lot by state and by city.

Right turns step by step

A right turn is short and tight, so the main dangers are cyclists and pedestrians on your right side.

1. Check mirrors and your right blind spot, then signal early.
2. Move as close to the right curb or edge as is practical, without entering a bike lane before the turn point.
3. Slow down and stop at the stop line if there is a signal or sign that requires it.
4. Look left, ahead, right and left again, including the crosswalk you will cross.
5. Turn into the nearest right lane and cancel your signal.

Left turns: the yield that matters

On a two-way road, position yourself just to the right of the center line, or in the left-turn lane if there is one. If a left-turn lane is provided, you must use it.

Unless you have a green arrow, oncoming traffic going straight or turning right has the right-of-way. Wait inside the intersection only if your state allows it and you can clear it safely. Keep your wheels pointed straight while waiting, so a hit from behind does not push you into oncoming traffic.

A flashing yellow arrow means you may turn, but only after yielding. A steady yellow arrow means the protected turn is ending.

Turning on red and making U-turns

To turn right on red, come to a full stop at the stop line, yield to pedestrians and traffic, and turn only when it is safe. Some places ban it by sign, and New York City generally bans it unless a sign allows it.

U-turns are banned where signs say so and at railroad crossings in all the states we checked. Other limits differ. California, for example, bans them where you cannot see 200 feet in each direction, while Oregon bans them at signals unless a sign permits and between intersections in a city.

• Do: stop fully before turning on red.
• Do: yield to people in the crosswalk on every turn.
• Do not: swing wide into a second lane.
• Do not: turn left on red onto a two-way street.

Common mistakes

• Rolling through a right turn on red without a full stop. Stop behind the line, then creep forward to look if needed.
• Turning left into a gap that is too small. If you have to rush, it is not a safe gap.
• Turning the wheels left while waiting to turn left. Keep them straight until you go.
• Missing pedestrians in the crosswalk you are turning across. Look before and during the turn.
• Changing lanes in the middle of the turn. Pick your lane before you start.

Test yourself: Turns and yielding on left turns

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• Can You Turn Right on Red? US Rules and Where It Is Banned