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As of Nov. 1: Oklahoma law changes left turn rule

Starting Monday, Nov. 1, a new law intended to make travel through Oklahoma intersections less daunting goes on the books.

For decades, Oklahoma law has allowed vehicles to turn left after signaling and pausing in an intersection. Oncoming traffic has been required to yield to the turning vehicle.

Some communities in the state, however, enacted ordinances that specify drivers must yield the right-of-way to oncoming traffic. As of Monday, the rule on left turns in oncoming traffic will be changed throughout the state. Drivers will face tickets for failure to wait until all oncoming traffic has passed before turning left.

“Most drivers wait for all oncoming traffic to pass before attempting to make a left turn, and this will simply require that all drivers employ that common-sense practice,” Rep. Wallace Collins, D-Norman, said in a statement.

Owner-operator and OOIDA Member Dave Robinett of Chandler, OK, said he welcomes the uniform left-turn rule.

“To expect someone to wait while you’re turning just in front of them is insane,” Robinett told Land Line. “I applaud the law because it’s very dangerous to just turn in front of someone, even more so in one of our machines.”

The new law was spurred by the death of a Moore, OK, man who died in a motorcycle wreck in 2007. Casey Lewis collided with a car that turned in the path of his motorcycle. The driver wasn’t cited because he stopped in the intersection and signaled before turning.

To view other legislative activities of interest for Oklahoma, click here.

Editor’s Note: Please share your thoughts with us about the legislation included in this story. Comments may be sent to [email protected].

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