House File 170 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 170 BY GJERDE A BILL FOR An Act relating to the manner in which motor vehicles turn at 1 intersections, and making penalties applicable. 2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 3 TLSB 1741YH (5) 90 th/ns

H.F. 170 Section 1. Section 321.311, subsection 1, Code 2023, is 1 amended to read as follows: 2 1. The driver of a vehicle intending to turn at an 3 intersection shall do so as follows all of the following, as 4 applicable : 5 a. Both the approach for a right turn and right turn shall 6 be made as close as practical practicable to the right-hand 7 curb or edge of the roadway. 8 b. Approach for a left turn shall be made in that portion of 9 the right half of the roadway nearest the center line thereof 10 and , after entering the intersection , the left turn shall be 11 made so as to depart from the intersection to the right of the 12 center line and as close as practicable to the center line of 13 the roadway being entered. 14 c. Approach for a left turn from a two-way street into 15 a one-way street shall be made in that portion of the right 16 half of the roadway nearest the center line thereof and by 17 passing to the right of such center line where it enters the 18 intersection and, after entering the intersection, the left 19 turn shall be made so as to depart from the intersection as 20 close as practicable to the left-hand curb or edge of the 21 street being entered . A 22 d. Approach for a left turn from a one-way street into a 23 two-way street shall be made by passing as close as practicable 24 to the left-hand curb or edge of the street and, after entering 25 the intersection, the left turn shall be made so as to depart 26 from the intersection to the right of the center line and as 27 close as practicable to the center line of the street being 28 entered upon leaving the intersection . 29 Sec. 2. Section 321.311, Code 2023, is amended by adding the 30 following new subsection: 31 NEW SUBSECTION . 1A. The driver of a vehicle making a turn 32 at an intersection from a laned highway into another laned 33 highway shall maintain and complete the turn by approaching, 34 entering, and departing the intersection in the same 35 -1- LSB 1741YH (5) 90 th/ns 1/ 2

H.F. 170 corresponding lane, as determined from the right-hand edge of 1 the roadway for a vehicle turning right, and from the left-hand 2 edge of the roadway for a vehicle turning left. 3 EXPLANATION 4 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 5 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 6 This bill relates to the manner in which motor vehicles 7 turn at intersections. Under current law, a driver making 8 a left turn must yield the right-of-way to all vehicles 9 approaching from the opposite direction which are within the 10 intersection or so close thereto as to constitute an immediate 11 hazard, before making the left turn (Code section 321.320). 12 In addition, the driver of a vehicle making a left turn is 13 required to depart from the intersection to the right of 14 the center line of the roadway being entered (Code section 15 321.311). The bill requires the driver to also keep the 16 vehicle as close as practicable to the center line. 17 If the left turn is from a two-way street into a one-way 18 street, the bill requires the driver, after entering the 19 intersection, to depart from the intersection as close as 20 practicable to the left-hand curb or edge of the street being 21 entered. If the left turn is from a one-way street into a 22 two-way street, the bill requires the driver to make the turn 23 as close as practicable to the left-hand curb or edge of the 24 street and, after entering the intersection, to depart from the 25 intersection as close as practicable to the center line of the 26 street being entered. 27 The bill requires a driver making a turn at an intersection 28 from a laned highway into another laned highway to maintain and 29 complete the turn by approaching, entering, and departing the 30 intersection in the same corresponding lane. A “laned highway” 31 is a highway the roadway of which is divided into three or more 32 clearly marked lanes for vehicular traffic. 33 A violation of Code section 321.311 is punishable by a 34 scheduled fine of $135. 35 -2- LSB 1741YH (5) 90 th/ns 2/ 2