Do “U” Have the Right of Way?

When you drive on roads like U.S I as much as most of us do, you need to master the art of the U-Turn. We all know how dangerous it can be, but it turns out it’s also not as simple as a lot of us thought it was.

There’s a law. (There’s always a law.) However, as in many cases, there are exceptions to the law.  In this case, the law is Florida Statute 316.1515, and it says:  “The driver of any vehicle shall not turn the vehicle so as to proceed in the opposite direction upon any street unless such movement can be made in safety and without interfering with other traffic and unless such movement is not prohibited by posted traffic control signs.”

If there’s no oncoming traffic in the thru-lane(s), it’s OK. If there’s no sign saying you can’t do it, it’s OK. If there are no pedestrians in the intersection, it’s OK. And it’s OK if you’re not at an intersection where another driver is coming onto the roadway by making a right turn – or a right turn on red.  The big confusion a lot of drivers have is what to do when you have a green left arrow and want to make a U-Turn and there is a car making a right on red at the same time.

What it all comes down to is that your best bet is always to yield – to oncoming traffic, cars turning right (on red or not), and most of all, to the traffic light in front of you.  It’s always better to be safe than to be right.

Making a U-turn correctly is the kind of driving maneuver that helps to avoid the risk of an accident and the chance of getting a ticket. It also can make your day more pleasant.