Who has the right-of-way when turning left in Florida?
You intend to turn left within an intersection. A car from the opposite direction is close enough to be an immediate hazard. What must you do?
The answer
The driver turning left must yield the right-of-way to any vehicle approaching from the opposite direction that is within the intersection or so close as to be an immediate hazard.
The same duty applies when turning left into an alley, private road, or driveway. It also covers vehicles lawfully passing on the left of the turning vehicle.
Wait for a gap you can use without making an approaching driver brake or swerve.
Exceptions
- The statute text read lists no exceptions. Traffic signals and other rules may separately control who goes first.
Penalty
Noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a moving violation under chapter 318 (316.122). Fine amounts are not stated on the statute page.
Why this rule matters for safety
A left turn crosses the path of oncoming traffic, and a turning driver can misjudge the speed of an approaching car. Yielding keeps the turn from becoming a head-on or side-impact crash.
Official sources
- Florida Statutes 316.122 (Vehicle turning left) · Florida Legislature (flsenate.gov)Full section text, including the final violation sentence. Page shown as the 2026 edition.
Rules checked against these sources on . Laws change. Confirm with the Florida agency before you rely on this for a legal matter.
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