Colorado § 42-4-901 - Required position and method of turning.

§ 42-4-901. Required position and method of turning.

(1) The driver of a motor vehicle intending to turn shall do so as follows:

(a) Right turns. Both the approach for a right turn and a right turn shall be made as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway.

(b) Left turns. The driver of a vehicle intending to turn left shall approach the turn in the extreme left-hand lane lawfully available to traffic moving in the direction of travel of such vehicle. Whenever practicable, the left turn shall be made to the left of the center of the intersection so as to leave the intersection or other location in the extreme left-hand lane lawfully available to traffic moving in the same direction as such vehicle on the roadway being entered.

(c) Two-way left-turn lanes. Where a special lane for making left turns by drivers proceeding in opposite directions has been indicated by official traffic control devices in the manner prescribed in the state traffic control manual, a left turn shall not be made from any other lane, and a vehicle shall not be driven in said special lane except when preparing for or making a left turn from or into the roadway or when preparing for or making a U-turn when otherwise permitted by law.

(2) The department of transportation and local authorities in their respective jurisdictions may cause official traffic control devices to be placed and thereby require and direct that a different course from that specified in this section be traveled by turning vehicles, and, when such devices are so placed, no driver shall turn a vehicle other than as directed and required by such devices. In the case of streets which are a part of the state highway system, the local regulation shall be subject to the approval of the department of transportation as provided in section 43-2-135 (1)(g), C.R.S.

(3) Any person who violates any provision of this section commits a class A traffic infraction.

Source: L. 94: Entire title amended with relocations, p. 2356, § 1, effective January 1, 1995.

Editor's note: This section is similar to former § 42-4-801 as it existed prior to 1994, and the former § 42-4-901 was relocated to § 42-4-1001.

ANNOTATION

Annotator's note. Since § 42-4-901 is similar to § 42-4-801 as it existed prior to the 1994 amending of title 42 as enacted by SB 94-1, a relevant case construing that provision has been included with the annotations to this section.

Proof of a violation of subsection (1)(a) constitutes negligence as a matter of law. Knaus v. Yoder, 98 Colo. 1, 52 P.2d 1152 (1935).