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Turning left: who has priority?
1 min read · Updated on October 17, 2026
Turning left is one of the situations with the most mistakes – in the real test and in the game. The reason: you have to watch oncoming traffic, pedestrians and cyclists at the same time.
Vereinfachte Erklärung zum Lernen – keine Rechtsberatung. Verbindlich ist die Straßenverkehrs-Ordnung (StVO).
The basic rule
If you turn left, you must let oncoming vehicles go first – even if they are going straight on or turning right.
Step by step
This works every time:
- Indicate early and move to the left
- Let oncoming traffic pass
- Watch for pedestrians and cyclists in the street you’re turning into
- Turn briskly but without rushing
Keep going
More guides
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- Driving roundabouts correctly: indicating, priority, exitingWho has priority in a roundabout, when do you indicate and how do you exit safely?
- Right of way in Germany – all rules at a glanceFrom traffic lights to signs to right before left: the order in which right-of-way rules apply.