Right-of-way and intersections
You want to turn left into a parking lot. There are no signs or signals controlling the turn, and an oncoming car is close. What must you do?
- Yield to the oncoming car, even though no sign or signal controls the turn. Correct answer
- Turn first, because the oncoming car must yield to a vehicle already signaling.
- Turn first, because yielding is only required where a sign or signal controls the turn.
Why
The duty to yield when turning left does not depend on signs. The manual says you must give way to traffic coming toward you when you turn left into a driveway, a parking lot or another area, even with no sign or signal controlling the turn. More generally, on any left turn the law requires you to yield to oncoming traffic close enough to be a hazard. Signaling tells other drivers what you intend, but it gives you no priority. How close is too close takes experience and judgment, which is why the manual advises waiting for the traffic to pass whenever you are in doubt. Any time you turn left across oncoming traffic, the waiting falls to you.
Where this comes from
New York State Driver's Manual (MV-21), April 2026 version. The correct answer is Yield to the oncoming car, even though no sign or signal controls the turn.
More on right-of-way and intersections
- You and another driver stop at STOP signs on crossing roads at the same moment. The other driver is on your left, and you both want to go straight. Who goes first?
- You are leaving a parking lot and want to turn left onto the street. To whom must you yield?
- While you wait at a red light, a pedestrian starts across the crosswalk ahead of you. Before the person reaches the other side, your light turns green. What must you do?
- On a two-way road, an ambulance with flashing lights and a siren is coming toward you in the opposite lane. What must you do?