CO Code § 42-4-901 (2021)
2021 Colorado Code|Title 42 - Vehicles and Traffic|Article 4 - Regulation of Vehicles and Traffic|Part 9 - Turning - Stopping|§ 42-4-901. Required Position and Method of Turning

  The driver of a motor vehicle intending to turn shall do so as follows:   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.    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.    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.       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.    Any person who violates any provision of this section commits a class A traffic infraction.     History. Source: L. 94: Entire title amended with relocations, p. 2356, § 1, effective January 1, 1995.    Editor's note:   This title was numbered as numerous articles within chapter 13, C.R.S. 1963. The provisions of this title were amended with relocations in 1994, effective January 1, 1995, resulting in the addition, relocation, and elimination of sections as well as subject matter. For amendments to this title prior to 1994, consult the Colorado statutory research explanatory note and the table itemizing the replacement volumes and supplements to the original volume of C.R.S. 1973 beginning on page vii in the front of this volume. Former C.R.S. section numbers are shown in editor's notes following those sections that were relocated. For a detailed comparison of this title, see the comparative tables located in the back of the index.   Cross references:   For the provisions providing for the manufacture of license plates and highway signs by state correctional facilities, see article 24 of title 17; for registration and use of snowmobiles, see article 14 of title 33; for the regulation of commercial driving schools, see article 2 of this title; for provisions relating to highway safety, see article 5 of title 43; for licensing and regulation of automobile dealers, see part 1 of article 20 of title 44; for the antimonopoly financing law, see part 2 of article 20 of title 44; for the Sunday closing law, see part 3 of article 20 of title 44.   Cross references:   For exemption of members of the military forces from traffic regulation, see § 28-3-504 ; for disposition of fines and penalties under this article, see § 42-1-217 ; for crimes that involve the operation of motor vehicles, also see §§ 18-3-106 , 18-3-205 , 18-4-409 , 18-4-512 , 18-9-107 , and 18-9-114 to 18-9-116.5 .   Cross references:   For penalties for class A traffic infractions, see § 42-4-1701 (3)(a)(I) .   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.