Right of way, turns and intersections in Minnesota

By the end of this topic you can

• You can decide who goes first at uncontrolled and all-way stop intersections.
• You can make legal right and left turns, including turns on red.
• You can enter, drive through and leave a roundabout correctly.
• You can use a J-turn to cross or turn left onto a divided highway.

What you need to know and understand

• When two vehicles arrive at the same time at an uncontrolled intersection or all-way stop, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right.
• When turning left, yield to oncoming vehicles close enough to be a danger.
• At an uncontrolled T intersection, the driver turning from the ending road yields to all cross traffic.
• Signal at least 100 feet before a turn.
• You may turn right on red after a full stop unless a No Turn on Red sign is posted.
• A left on red is allowed only from a one-way street onto another one-way street going left, after a full stop.
• In a roundabout, yield to traffic already circulating and drive counterclockwise.
• If you approach an intersection at an illegal speed, you lose the right of way you would otherwise have.

Who yields at Minnesota intersections

• Entering from a driveway, alley or parking lot: stop, then yield to pedestrians and road traffic.
• Green arrow: you may turn, but first yield to anyone still in the intersection.
• Flashing yellow arrow: turn only after yielding to oncoming traffic and pedestrians.
• Buses: in the right lane, yield to transit buses and school buses signaling to pull out from a stop.
• Funeral processions using headlights or hazard lights: yield to the whole procession.
• Pedestrians: yield at every crosswalk, marked or unmarked.

Making turns cleanly

1. Check mirrors and blind spot, then signal at least 100 feet ahead.
2. Move into the correct lane early: near the center line for a left, near the curb for a right.
3. While waiting to turn left, keep your wheels straight so a rear-end crash will not push you into oncoming traffic.
4. Look left, right and left again, and yield as needed.
5. Steer hand over hand and finish in the nearest correct lane: the first lane right of the center line for a left, the curb lane for a right.
6. With two or more turn lanes, stay in your own lane through the turn.

Roundabouts, J-turns and U-turns

Slow down approaching a roundabout and pick your lane before entering a multi-lane one. Yield to pedestrians and to traffic already inside, then travel counterclockwise to your exit. Do not stop, pass or change lanes inside. If an emergency vehicle comes, exit the roundabout right away and then pull over. Large trucks may use more than one lane, so give them room.

At a J-turn on a four-lane divided highway, you never cross straight over. Stop, turn right onto the highway, move into the left-turn lane at the median opening, then make a U-turn, yielding to oncoming traffic. U-turns are banned on interstates and where other drivers cannot see you from 1,000 feet away.

Common mistakes

• Turning the wheels left while waiting to turn. Keep them straight until you go.
• Rolling through a right turn on red. A full stop is required first.
• Stopping inside a roundabout to let someone in. Keep moving and let entering drivers yield.
• Assuming you have the right of way while speeding. Unlawful speed cancels it.

Test yourself: Right of way, turns and intersections in Minnesota

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

Go deeper

• Learning to Drive in Minnesota
• Minnesota Hands-Free Law for New Drivers
• Minnesota Permit Test