Laws on Vehicle U-Turns in California
The vehicle turns in California are legal if they are done in the right manner or at the right time. Some turns can be considered illegal if the circumstances in which they occurred were not right. A driver that makes illegal or improper turns risks causing major crashes that could lead to injuries. Some of the common ways in which drivers make illegal turns include U-turns in sections of the roads where they are not allowed, making a right turn on a red light when it is prohibited, not stopping before right at a red light and making illegal left turns.
There are laws that all drivers in California should adhere to when trying to make a U-turn. Firstly, a driver is not allowed to make a U-turn at a controlled intersection unless there is a sign indicating that U-turns are not prohibited. When U-turns are allowed, a driver should make the turn from the far left-hand lane.
A person can make a U-turn in business districts as long as it is at an intersection or a clearly marked opening on the street. A business district is the part of the road that constitutes 50 % of properties within 300 feet that are used for businesses.
On a highway, U-turns are not permitted if a driver’s view is obstructed for 200 feet in both directions. The driver shall not make a U-turn if a vehicle or an object prevents them from seeing oncoming vehicles.
