District of Columbia driving lesson · Driving Rules: Turns, Passing & Lights
Turning rules
A 3-minute lesson from the District of Columbia course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Last-minute turns cause crashes. Decide early, get into the correct lane, signal, and finish in the matching lane. Remember: DC never allows a left turn on red.
Safe turning requires planning:
Make up your mind well before the turning point
Get into the proper lane well before the turn; the faster the traffic, the sooner
Look behind you and to both sides, and signal before changing lanes
Slow down to a reasonable turning speed, gradually
For a legal right turn on red, make a complete stop before the crosswalk before approaching the intersection. Then yield to pedestrians, bicyclists and all other traffic, unless a "No Turn on Red" sign prohibits the turn.
You're first in the left-turn lane on a red light, and there's no traffic. You still can't turn: left on red is illegal in DC. Wait for the green (or green arrow), then turn into the left lane going your way.
Check your understanding
Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.
When making a left turn, whom must you yield to besides oncoming vehicles?
Bicycles and pedestrians in crosswalks
Only vehicles behind you
Only vehicles already stopped at the light
No one else; oncoming vehicles are the only concern
Answer: Bicycles and pedestrians in crosswalks
Left turns require yielding to oncoming traffic, including bicycles, as well as pedestrians in crosswalks.
