Georgia’s turn signal and lane positioning law, set out in O.C.G.A. § 40-6-120 and § 40-6-123, requires right turns to be made as close to the right curb as practicable, left turns to start and end in the extreme left-hand lane, and a continuous turn signal long enough to warn drivers behind you and across from you. A violation is a misdemeanor and adds three points to your Georgia driving record.
Making a Right Turn
Both your approach to the intersection and the turn itself must be made as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway.1Justia. Georgia Code 40-6-120 – Methods of Turning at Intersections “As close as practicable” is not a demand that you scrape the curb regardless of what is in the way. Debris, a parked car, or a cyclist gives you room to adjust. Absent an obstacle, though, you should stay in the right-most portion of your lane the entire way through.
The rule exists to prevent wide right turns that sweep into adjacent lanes. A driver who swings left before turning right creates a blind spot for following traffic and risks a sideswipe with anyone trying to pass on the left. Officers who see a vehicle drift away from the curb during the approach have grounds to initiate a stop.
Making a Left Turn
Left turns carry more detailed requirements because you cross oncoming traffic. Under O.C.G.A. § 40-6-120(a)(2), you approach in the extreme left-hand lane available for traffic moving in your direction. When practicable, you pass to the left of the center of the intersection. You then exit into the extreme left-hand lane available for your direction of travel on the new road.1Justia. Georgia Code 40-6-120 – Methods of Turning at Intersections
The same principle applies whether you turn from a two-way street or a one-way street: start leftmost, finish leftmost. This matters most where vehicles from opposing directions turn left at the same time. If one driver cuts the corner or drifts into a middle lane, the paths cross.
Positioning is only half of a safe left turn. Under O.C.G.A. § 40-6-71, you must yield to any vehicle approaching from the opposite direction that is within the intersection or close enough to pose an immediate hazard.2Justia. Georgia Code 40-6-71 – Yield When Turning Left A green light lets you enter the intersection; it does not give you priority over oncoming through traffic. A large share of left-turn collisions start when the turning driver misjudges the speed or distance of an approaching vehicle.
U-turns are a separate matter. O.C.G.A. § 40-6-121 prohibits them on curves, near the crest of a hill where approaching drivers cannot see you, anywhere the maneuver cannot be completed safely without interfering with other traffic, and anywhere a sign bars it.3Justia. Georgia Code 40-6-121 – U-Turns Georgia does not ban U-turns at signalized intersections generally, but local ordinances can add restrictions, so watch for posted signs.
Signaling Your Turn
Proper positioning does nothing if the drivers around you cannot tell what you intend. O.C.G.A. § 40-6-123 requires a continuous signal of your intention to turn for enough time to alert any driver behind you or approaching from the opposite direction.4Justia. Georgia Code 40-6-123 – Turning Movements; Signals Georgia does not set a specific distance the way some states do. The standard is functional: your signal must run long enough to actually warn other drivers. Activating your signal at least 100 feet before the turn is a reasonable habit.
The same statute makes clear that no person shall turn at an intersection unless the vehicle is in the proper position required by § 40-6-120. Signaling and positioning are treated as a package. If you signal a left turn but approach from the right lane, you have arguably violated both statutes.
When Road Markings Override the Default Rules
The positioning rules above are defaults. O.C.G.A. § 40-6-120(b) allows official traffic control devices to override them. If painted lane arrows, overhead signs, or other markings direct you along a different path, you follow the markings.1Justia. Georgia Code 40-6-120 – Methods of Turning at Intersections
Double left-turn lanes at busy intersections are the common example. The inner lane and outer lane each have a designated landing lane on the cross street, marked by painted arrows through the intersection. Drifting out of your assigned arc violates the markings even if your final position would otherwise satisfy the leftmost-lane requirement.
Disobeying an official traffic control device is a separate offense under O.C.G.A. § 40-6-20 and is classified as a misdemeanor.5Justia. Georgia Code 40-6-20 – Obedience to Traffic-Control Devices Required Running a “No Left Turn” sign or ignoring a mandatory turn arrow can result in a charge separate from an improper-turn citation, and three additional points on your record.6Justia. Georgia Code 40-5-57 – Suspension or Revocation of License
Points, Fines, and Reducing the Hit
An improper turn under § 40-6-120 carries three points on your Georgia driving record.7Georgia Department of Driver Services. Points Schedule Points accumulate over a rolling 24-month window, and reaching 15 points within that window triggers an automatic license suspension.8Georgia Department of Driver Services. Points and Points Reduction Three points from one improper turn will not get you there alone, but if you already have points from speeding or other moving violations, the margin can be thinner than you think.
Georgia does not set a single statewide fine amount for an improper turn. Local courts add their own fees and surcharges on top of any statutory fine, so the total cost varies significantly from one jurisdiction to another.
The Georgia Department of Driver Services allows eligible drivers to complete a six-hour defensive driving course, known as the Driver Improvement Program, for a points reduction.9Georgia Department of Driver Services. Driver Improvement Program The same course may be accepted by some courts in lieu of additional penalties and can help reduce insurance premium increases that follow a moving violation. If you receive a citation, ask the court about a defensive driving option before simply paying the fine.
Sharing the Road With Large Trucks and Buses
Trucks and buses physically cannot stay close to the curb on a right turn the way a passenger car can. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration warns that large commercial vehicles often swing left before turning right to create enough turning space.10Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Tips for Passenger Vehicle Drivers If you see a truck drifting left at an intersection, do not assume the driver has abandoned the turn and try to squeeze past on the right. That gap closes fast, and passenger vehicles caught in a truck’s right-side blind spot during a turn account for a disproportionate share of serious intersection crashes. Give large vehicles the room they need, even when their approach looks like it would violate the positioning rules that apply to you.