Traffic rules lessons: U-turn on a road with three carriageways

Anna Tkach

AutoPortal editorial team

10,825 views 2 min read

Dmytro Lutsenko Street, which allows cars to shorten the route from the Moskovska Square area towards Borshchahivka, is not the busiest road in Kyiv. But it has three roadways at once. Read this material to learn how to properly make a U-turn on them.

Question from Oleksandr Kutikov:
City of Kyiv, Dmytro Lutsenko Street (formerly Kraisera Avrory).

I am exiting the garage cooperative "Teremok 2" and heading towards the Ring Road. At the first intersection, which appears to be formed with Liatochynskoho Street (Lutsenko St., — note by Autoportal), I need to make a U-turn following the blue arrow, as shown in the photo. I believe that cars entering from the Ring Road side should yield to me. However, some drivers do not let me pass, and I do not insist, I just wait.

Photo 2: view from the Ring Road side

Please clarify who has the right of way when passing this intersection: me, when I move along the blue arrow, vehicles coming from Liatochynskoho Street (photo 3), or cars approaching from the Ring Road side (photo 2)? The same question applies to the orange arrow.

Photo 3: view from Liatochynskoho Street side

Comment from experts of the "Karat" driving school:
"Before turning right or left, as well as before making a U-turn (even if you are driving on the main road), the driver must take in advance the extreme lane on their side of the roadway that corresponds to the direction of their movement."
In your case, when preparing to make a U-turn, you should pull over to the right edge of the road. Then, guided by clause 16.12 of the Traffic Rules ("At an intersection of equivalent roads, the driver of a non-rail vehicle must yield to vehicles approaching from the right"), you need to let cars traveling on Dmytro Lutsenko Street pass, and only then continue the maneuver.
After that, according to clause 16.3 of the Traffic Rules ("...and also to vehicles moving on an equivalent road in the opposite direction straight or to the right"), you must yield to cars coming from Liatochynskoho Street and complete the U-turn.

Summary: in the described situation, the driver must yield to traffic coming both from the Ring Road side and from Liatochynskoho Street, regardless of the trajectory of the U-turn.

If you do not understand signs or markings on Ukrainian roads, send your questions with the city and address to [email protected].

All answers will be published in the "Traffic Rules Lessons" section.

Autoportal sincerely congratulates its readers on the upcoming New Year!