1. The driver of a vehicle intending to turn at an intersection shall do so as follows:
a. Both the approach for a right turn and right turn shall be made as close as practical to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway.
b. Approach for a left turn shall be made in that portion of the right half of the roadway nearest the center line thereof and after entering the intersection the left turn shall be made so as to depart from the intersection to the right of the center line of the roadway being entered.
c. Approach for a left turn from a two-way street into a one-way street shall be made in that portion of the right half of the roadway nearest the center line thereof and by passing to the right of such center line where it enters the intersection. A left turn from a one-way street into two-way street shall be made by passing to the right of the center line of the street being entered upon leaving the intersection.
2. Local authorities in their respective jurisdictions may cause markers, buttons, or signs to be placed within or adjacent to intersections and thereby require and direct that a different course from that specified in this section be traveled by vehicles turning at an intersection, and when markers, buttons, or signs are so placed no driver of a vehicle shall turn a vehicle at an intersection other than as directed and required by such markers, buttons, or signs. [S13, §1571-m18; C24, 27, 31, 35, §5033; C39, §5025.01; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §321.311] Referred to in §321.354, 321.482A, 805.8A(6)(l) For applicable scheduled fine, see §805.8A, subsection 6 Additional penalties for violations causing serious injury or death, see §321.482A \n
Notes of Decisions
Cited in
15
cases (
3 in the last 5 years), 1948–2025 · leading case:
Cook v. Clark, 186 N.W.2d 645 (Iowa 1971).
Cook v. Clark, 186 N.W.2d 645 (Iowa 1971).
· cites it 8× “354, The Code, 1966); (3) error in submitting the specification charging defendant with making an approach for a left turn in a manner prohibited by section 321.311, The Code, 1966; (4) error in submitting both (1) and (3) above (even assuming one or the other was proper)…”
MacHmer v. Fuqua, 231 N.W.2d 606 (Iowa 1975).
· cites it 5× “We are concerned only with the allegation that defendant executed a left turn in violation of § 321.311, The Code. Defendant’s answer denied these allegations and in turn asserted various affirmative defenses based on contributory negligence.”
State v. Malloy, 453 N.W.2d 243 (Iowa Ct. App. 1990).
· cites it 2× “Further, we find it is clear from the record that defendant violated section 321.311 and that this violation gave the officers reasonable grounds to stop the defendant’s vehicle.”
Miller v. Stender, 98 N.W.2d 338 (Iowa 1959).
· cites it 2× “He “angled in” ten feet before he entered the intersection.”
Brown v. Lyon, 142 N.W.2d 536 (Iowa 1966).
· cites it 2× “The supplemental instruction given in response to the inquiry from the jury was obviously based in part upon section 321.311 of the 1962 Code. It provides: “The driver of a vehicle intending to turn at an intersection shall do so as follows: * * * Local authorities in their…”
Tuthill v. Alden, 30 N.W.2d 726 (Iowa 1948).
· cites it 2× “Defendant complains of the refusal to instruct also upon the statute *186 involving turning at intersections which provides an “approach' for a left turn shall be made in * * * the right half of the roadway * * Section 321.311, Code of 1946. Although there was some evidence to…”
Barnes v. Gall, 103 N.W.2d 710 (Iowa 1960).
· cites it 2× “Of course violation of a statute is ordinarily negligence as a matter of law. The defendant testified that “In my turn I was on the left side of the center line of Davis Avenue for traffic proceeding east on Davis Avenue.”
Beck v. Dubishar, 36 N.W.2d 438 (Iowa 1949).
· cites it 2× “288); section 340 of said chapter which deals with turning at intersections is identical with the present law (section 321.311). The statutes relating to turning at intersections — then and now — make no reference to speed.”
James v. Rosen, 203 N.W.2d 256 (Iowa 1972).
· cites it 2× “Defendant next asserts plaintiff was negligent as a matter of law for not making her left turn in the manner specified by § 321.311, The Code. Citing Mansfield v. Summers, 222 Iowa 837 , 270 N.”
State of Iowa v. Zachary Jay Ouverson (Iowa Ct. App. 2021).
· cites it 11× “” See Iowa Code § 321.311 (1)(a) (2019). Hofbauer followed the vehicle down Valley West Drive for roughly twenty seconds, at which point it turned onto a side street.”
State of Iowa v. Ryan Michael Krebs (Iowa Ct. App. 2014).
· cites it 10× “Iowa Code § 321.311 (1)(a). The officer’s dashboard video shows Krebs making a wide right turn, with his left wheels crossing the center line.”
State v. Lura, 128 N.W.2d 276 (Iowa 1964).
· cites it 4× “” Section 321.311, in pertinent part, is as follows: “The driver of a vehicle intending to turn at an intersection shall do so as follows: * * * “Approach for a left turn shall be made in that portion of the right half of the roadway nearest the center line thereof and after…”
— Iowa Code § 321.311(1)(a) — 3 cases
State of Iowa v. Ryan Michael Krebs (Iowa Ct. App. 2014).
“Iowa Code § 321.311 (1)(a). The officer’s dashboard video shows Krebs making a wide right turn, with his left wheels crossing the center line.”
State of Iowa v. Zachary Jay Ouverson (Iowa Ct. App. 2021).
“” See Iowa Code § 321.311 (1)(a) (2019). Hofbauer followed the vehicle down Valley West Drive for roughly twenty seconds, at which point it turned onto a side street.”
— Iowa Code § 321.311(1)(b) — 1 case
— Iowa Code § 321.311(a)(1) — 1 case
State of Iowa v. Zachary Jay Ouverson (Iowa Ct. App. 2021).
“” See Iowa Code § 321.311 (1)(a) (2019). Hofbauer followed the vehicle down Valley West Drive for roughly twenty seconds, at which point it turned onto a side street.”
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treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.