Before moving off, changing lanes, turning, overtaking or stopping, signal with the indicator, or by hand if there is none or it has failed. The manoeuvre must be safe and must not get in anyone’s way (Article 42.I). The signal is given before the manoeuvre and stopped as soon as it is over; signalling gives no priority (42.III).
| Signal | By hand |
|---|---|
| Left (U-turn) | left arm out to the side, or right arm out and bent up at the elbow at a right angle |
| Right | right arm out to the side, or left arm out and bent up at the elbow |
| Braking | left or right arm raised |
Whom to give way to
- Leaving a yard, car park or filling station onto the road — vehicles and pedestrians on the road; turning off the road — pedestrians, cyclists and small electric vehicles crossing your path (42.IV).
- Changing lanes — vehicles going the same way without changing direction; if two change lanes at the same time, the one on the left gives way to the one on the right (42.V).
- When paths cross and the rules give no order — to the vehicle on the right (42.X).
- From an acceleration lane, give way to traffic on the road as you merge; if there is a deceleration lane, move into it in time and slow down only there (42.XI).
Turning
Before turning right, left or making a U-turn, take the extreme position for that direction: left — the leftmost lane, right — the right edge (roundabouts are the exception). If tram tracks in your direction lie on your left level with the carriageway, turn left or U-turn from the tracks without hindering the tram (42.VI). Leaving the junction, do not end up on the oncoming side; turning right, keep close to the right edge (42.VII). A long vehicle that cannot do this may deviate, provided it is safe (42.VIII).
Your place on the carriageway
- Normally keep to the right. Outside built-up areas and on roads marked 5.1 or 5.3, driving in the left lanes while the right lane is free is forbidden (49.I).
- On a two-way road with at least two lanes in each direction, never move onto the oncoming side (49.II).
- On a two-way road with three lanes, the middle lane is only for overtaking, passing, turning left or making a U-turn (49.III).
- In heavy traffic change lanes only to turn, prepare to overtake, keep going straight or pull in to stop or park; on 3+ lanes slow vehicles keep to the right lane and vehicles over 3.5 t stay out of the left lane (49.V, 49.VI).
U-turns and reversing
| U-turns are banned |
|---|
| on pedestrian crossings |
| in tunnels |
| on bridges, flyovers and under them |
| on level crossings |
| where the road is visible for less than 100 m in at least one direction |
| at public-transport stops |
Reversing is allowed only when it is safe and gets in nobody’s way; if needed, ask someone to guide you (42.XIII).
Leaving a yard
Problem
You are driving out of a yard onto the road. A pedestrian is walking on the pavement, and a car is approaching on the road from the left. Whom must you give way to?
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Solution
A U-turn on a narrow road
Problem
The road is narrow; a U-turn in one go from the left side is impossible. What may you do?
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Solution
Remember
- Signal before the manoeuvre, stop when it is over; a signal gives no priority.
- Leaving a yard, give way to everyone on the road; changing lanes at the same time, give way to the one on the right.
- Take the extreme position before turning; do not end up on the oncoming side.
- No U-turns: crossings, tunnels, bridges, level crossings, visibility under 100 m, stops.
- Reversing is banned at junctions and wherever U-turns are banned.