DMV Permit · Right of Way

When you approach an intersection to make a left turn and oncoming traffic is present, what should you do?

Correct answer

Yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians, turning only when it is safe

  1. A Speed up so they have to slow down
  2. B Yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians, turning only when it is safe
  3. C Assume they will stop for you
  4. D Turn quickly before they reach you

Why this is the answer

A driver turning left must yield to oncoming traffic that is close enough to be a hazard, as well as to pedestrians in or entering the crosswalk. You complete the turn only when there is a safe gap. Left turns across oncoming traffic are a common location for serious collisions, so patience and a clear judgment of the gap are essential. Never assume oncoming drivers will slow or stop for you. Waiting for a safe opportunity, with wheels pointed straight until you begin the turn, is the safe practice this right-of-way rule reflects.
Source: Standard driver handbook, Left Turns

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About this topic: Right of Way

Right-of-way rules are yielding rules — they tell you who must wait. At four-way stops, intersections without signals, and emergency-vehicle situations, knowing them prevents the most common urban crashes. This is one of 11 DMV Permit questions on right of way, each with a full explanation on a single study page.

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