Florida is well-known for being a state that allows U-turns. Sometimes, those making U-turns put others at risk because they do them at inopportune times or when they really should not have.
While U-turns are usually legal, you do need to know when they are safe to perform. The Official Florida Driver License Handbook states when U-turns are allowed and how to know if you have the right-of-way while driving. Here is more information that you should know about this driving technique.
- Drivers can’t always make U-turns
It’s the truth that U-turns are allowed in some places in Florida, but they’re not always legal. Drivers are not able to make U-turns on highways, on curves, on hills or anywhere there is a sign prohibiting the maneuver.
- Drivers have to yield
When a driver is making a U-turn, they don’t have the right-of-way in most cases. Usually, the driver making the U-turn has a responsibility to yield to oncoming traffic and to give way to pedestrians and others in oncoming traffic. At two-way stops, the driver making a U-turn needs to yield to a driver who is continuing forward.
- Drivers have to use the left lane
Many people would think this goes without saying, but if you are making a left-handed turn, you need to use the left lane. You cannot cut across multiple lanes of traffic to make your U-turn.
U-turns are dangerous for a few reasons. One is that not all tourists will be aware of the ability to make U-turns in Florida. Another is that people don’t always look for drivers who might be making U-turns, so they could make movements that result in a crash.
If you’re hit because someone completed a U-turn incorrectly, you have options
If you’re in Florida and get into a crash with someone who completed a U-turn incorrectly, you may have a strong case for compensation. It’s important for you to look into your right to a personal injury claim after you seek medical attention, so you can hold the other driver responsible for errors they’ve made on the road.