leftturn

Left turn is a driving maneuver in which a vehicle moves from its current road onto a street or lane to its left. The maneuver typically requires crossing the path of oncoming traffic or pedestrians and ending in the cross street in the direction the traffic is departing. The exact execution depends on local rules and road design.

In right-hand traffic systems, the left turn crosses traffic coming toward the driver and ends on the cross street as the driver proceeds in the opposite direction. In left-hand traffic systems, the left turn mirrors this pattern. To manage conflicts, many intersections provide protected left turns with a dedicated signal or lane, while others permit turns after yielding to opposing traffic. Some intersections use a two-stage left turn on busy roads, allowing the driver to enter a median and complete the turn on a subsequent signal.

Safety and signaling rules govern left turns. Turn signals indicate intent; green arrows often provide a protected left turn, whereas permissive left turns require gaps in traffic. No-left-turn signs disallow the maneuver. Left turns are associated with higher risks of collisions with oncoming vehicles and pedestrians, especially at high speeds or poor visibility; drivers should plan, yield appropriately, and complete the maneuver promptly and safely.

See also: right turn, turn signal, U-turn.