You are preparing to make a left turn at an intersection. There is an oncoming vehicle that has also signaled to turn left. Which vehicle has the right-of-way?
- AThe vehicle to your right, if it is also turning left.
- BYour vehicle, because you are in the left-most lane.
- CThe vehicle going straight, if there were one.
- DThe vehicle that arrived at the intersection first.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. The vehicle going straight, if there were one.
When two vehicles are making left turns from opposite directions, both vehicles generally yield to any vehicle going straight. However, if there are no vehicles going straight, both can turn simultaneously if safe to do so. The question implies an 'oncoming vehicle' which means it is in the opposite lane. If a vehicle is going straight, it always has the right-of-way over a turning vehicle. When two vehicles are turning left from opposite directions, they can turn simultaneously, but the question asks about a scenario where another vehicle 'going straight' is present implicitly as the general rule.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. This is incorrect; when two vehicles are turning left from opposite directions, they can often turn simultaneously if safe, but any vehicle going straight would have priority.
- B. Lane position does not automatically grant right-of-way in this specific turning scenario.
- D. While 'first to arrive' applies to some right-of-way rules, it's not the primary rule for two opposing left turns with potential straight traffic.
Left Turn Right-of-Way
When making a left turn, a driver generally must yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians.
- Yield to oncoming vehicles going straight.
- Yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk.
- If two opposing vehicles are both turning left, they can often proceed simultaneously if safe.
Memory trick: Straight always beats a turn.