Making turns — Utah Permit Test

A driver stopping before a turn must come to a complete stop behind the stop line, crosswalk, or stop sign, whichever comes first.

Three markers, and the first one you meet is the one that counts. Rolling past it is stopping in the crossing.

If you must stop before turning because of traffic, signal, or signs, smoothly come to a complete stop without skidding behind the stop line, crosswalk, or stop sign (whichever comes first.)

While waiting to turn, a driver should keep the front wheels aimed straight ahead.

If you are hit from behind with the wheels turned, the car is shoved into oncoming traffic rather than forward.

Keep the front wheels aimed straight ahead.

A driver must signal for two seconds and perform a head check over the appropriate shoulder before turning right or left.

The shoulder check finds the cyclist or motorcycle the mirror missed, on exactly the side you are turning toward.

Signal right for two seconds.

A driver turning should not cut the corner or make a wide turn.

Cutting the corner puts you in oncoming traffic; swinging wide puts you in the lane beside you. Neither is your lane.

Do not cut the corner or make a wide turn.

Where there are multiple lanes, a driver identifies and enters the lane they will turn from and stays in it until the turn is completed.

Choosing the lane early is what makes the turn one movement rather than a scramble across traffic at the last moment.

Identify and enter the lane from which you will turn.

A person may not drive a vehicle over, across, or within any part of a traffic island.

An island exists to make a turn take the long way round. Driving over it is taking the path the design ruled out.

A person may not operate a vehicle over, across, or within any part of an island.

After turning, a driver checks that the turn signal has been canceled, accelerates to the speed of traffic, and moves into the right-most lane when it is safe.

Finishing the turn is not finishing the maneuver. The car is still somewhere temporary until it settles into a lane.

Accelerate to the speed of traffic, use your turn signal, check your blind spots by looking over your shoulder (head check), check your mirrors, and move into the right-most lane when it is safe to do so (if you are not already there.)

Where must a Utah driver stop before a turn?

Behind whichever marker comes first. Three markers, and the first one you meet is the one that counts. Rolling past it is stopping in the crossing. Utah Driver Handbook 2026-2027, p.36: “If you must stop before turning because of traffic, signal, or signs, smoothly come to a complete stop without skidding behind the stop line, crosswalk, or stop sign (whichever comes first.)”