Minnesota · Handbook chapter 3 · 5 min read

Chapter 3: Speed, lanes, turns and passing

Minnesota traffic laws for speed limits, signaling, lane changes and blind spots, turns, turning on red, roundabouts, J-turns, divided highways, U-turns, right-lane travel, passing and backing.

Why this chapter matters

Improper turns and improper passing cause many Minnesota crashes. This chapter covers the rules for moving your vehicle through traffic, including several Minnesota features such as J-turns and the passing speed allowance.

Keep right

On wide roads, drive on the right side except when passing, when the right side is closed, on roads with three marked lanes, on one-way roads, or when moving over for a stopped authorized vehicle.

Speed limits

Minnesota's basic speed law requires a speed reasonable for weather, traffic and road conditions, and never above the posted limit.

• On two-lane highways posted 55 mph or more, you may go 10 mph over the limit while lawfully passing.
• Some roads have minimum speed limits.
• Arriving at an intersection faster than the law allows costs you the right-of-way.
• Going 20 mph or more over the limit brings extra fines; over 100 mph brings a revocation of at least six months.
• Slow down near a stopped emergency vehicle with flashing lights (a surcharge of at least $25 applies), for flaggers, pedestrians and barricades, in bad weather, on narrow or winding roads, near curves, hilltops and railroad crossings, and on gravel.

Signals and lanes

• Signal at least 100 feet before turning, and keep signaling until you finish.
• Hand signals may be used in daylight, but not at night.
• Stay within one lane without weaving. Before changing lanes, turn your head to check blind spots; do not rely on mirrors alone.

Turns

• Slow down and get into the correct lane well ahead.
• While waiting to turn, keep your wheels straight and foot on the brake.
• Left turn: from the lane nearest the center line, finishing in the first lane right of the center line.
• Right turn: from close to the right curb, finishing in the lane next to the curb.
• With multiple turn lanes, stay in your lane through the turn.
• Waiting to turn left on a green with oncoming traffic, pull forward into the intersection until your body lines up with the curb line; often you can only complete the turn once the light goes yellow.

Turning on red

• Right on red: stop completely, check for pedestrians and traffic, and watch for oncoming left turners. Not allowed with a No Turn on Red sign.
• Left on red: only from a one-way street onto another one-way street, after a full stop and yielding.

Roundabouts

• Slow down; choose your lane before entering a multi-lane roundabout.
• Yield to pedestrians, bicyclists and vehicles already in the roundabout; enter when traffic from the left has cleared.
• Drive counterclockwise. Do not stop, pass or change lanes inside.
• If an emergency vehicle comes, exit first, then pull over.
• Vehicles over 40 feet long or 10 feet wide may use more than one lane. If two large vehicles enter side by side, the one on the right yields.

J-turns and divided highways

A J-turn replaces a dangerous crossing on a four-lane divided highway. From the side street you stop, turn right, move into the left-turn lane leading to the median opening, then make a U-turn, yielding to oncoming traffic.

At an ordinary divided highway you may cross one half and wait in the median, staying right of center, if there is room.

U-turns

• Only when you will not disrupt traffic, and never where a No U-Turn sign is posted or on interstate freeways.
• Illegal near the top of a hill or on a curve where drivers cannot see you from 1,000 feet away.
• On roads with two or more lanes your way, you may swing into the farthest lane and briefly use the shoulder.

Right-lane travel

Slow drivers keep as far right as possible. On multi-lane highways use the right lane and move out of the left lane to let others pass, except when passing, preparing for a left turn or left exit, driving an emergency vehicle or following directions.

Passing

• Pass on the left on two-lane roads where allowed, without exceeding the limit (apart from the 10 mph allowance).
• Signal left, pass, signal right, and return when you see the whole passed vehicle in your rearview mirror.
• Return to the right before you come within 100 feet of an oncoming vehicle.
• Do not pass where a No Passing Zone sign or a solid yellow line on your side forbids it, or on a curve or hill where you cannot see 700 feet ahead.
• Do not pass within 100 feet of an intersection, underpass, tunnel or railroad crossing.
• When someone passes you, keep your lane and do not speed up.

Passing on the right is allowed only when safe, never in a bike lane, on the shoulder or off the pavement: when the vehicle ahead is turning left, on roads with two or more lanes each way, or on a wide enough one-way street.

Backing

Never back up on freeways or expressways. Before backing, walk around the car, look in all directions and keep looking out the rear window; do not rely on mirrors or a camera. Back from a driveway into the nearest lane only.