Using Turn Signals & Making Turns Safely

In order to turn safely and avoid accidents, Georgia motorists must know and understand laws related to turning maneuvers. You must give a turn signal whenever you turn right or left, and it must be continuous for an adequate distance to alert other drivers you are turning. Do not make turns suddenly or erratically—it is dangerous to you and other drivers.

Making a Right Turn

Here are the steps to make a safe right turn:

1. Activate your right turn signal to give drivers ahead of you and behind you adequate notice of your turn.
2. Approach the intersection in the right lane, and stay as close as you can to the curb or roadway edge.
3. If there is a bicycle lane, you must yield to bicyclists traveling through the intersection before making your turn.
4. Turn so that you end up in the right lane of the street you are turning onto, and avoid entering any other traffic lane. If there are multiple turning lanes, complete your turn so you end up in the corresponding lane on the street you have turned on.

Making a Left Turn

Here are the steps to make a safe left turn:

1. Activate your left turn signal to give other drivers notice of your intent to turn left.
2. Move to the far left lane in the direction you are traveling, or into the turning lane if one is provided.
3. Keep your wheels straight until you begin making your turn.
4. Yield the right-of-way to all vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians.
5. When all traffic is clear and traffic signals and/or signs permit, make your turn so you end up in the lane closest to the center of the street you turned onto, or in the corresponding lane if there are multiple turn lanes.
6. You cannot change lanes once you have entered an intersection to make a left turn.
7. If there are pedestrians in the crosswalk of the road you are turning onto, you must stop and remain stopped until they have cleared the lanes of traffic you are traveling on.

Relying on a Driver’s Turn Signal

If you find yourself in a position where a driver is signaling to make a turn, but fails to turn and instead continues to travel straight through an intersection, the most prudent thing to do is to wait until the signaling vehicle has passed you before turning onto the roadway. A collision may ensue if you attempt to turn in front of the signaling vehicle relying solely on their turn signal. In this case, you will need to be able to establish that you were authorized to proceed into the roadway based on the turn signal, as well as additional factors such as a slowing of the other vehicle or their travelling in the turn lane. Otherwise, both drivers may bear some amount of fault for the accident.

Call KWF after a Turning Accident

When drivers fail to take proper precautions before turning, or execute turns too quickly or haphazardly, accidents are likely to happen. If you have been injured in a turning accident, contact the personal injury lawyers at Katz Personal Injury Lawyers in Atlanta. During your free initial consultation, we will discuss your options for pursuing compensation, whether your accident happened in Atlanta or in another part of the state of Georgia. Call us today at (404) 460-0101.