The trap
Many learners think: If you and an oncoming driver both want to turn left, you always pass left-past-left — that is a fixed rule with no exceptions.
The rule is: 'left-past-left' applies, UNLESS: the oncoming driver has already clearly committed to a turning position, road markings indicate otherwise, or there is a wide central reservation
Challenge
'Left-past-left' sounds like a fixed rule everyone knows — and that is exactly why the CBR examiner tests the exceptions. The book names three: the oncoming driver has already clearly committed to a position, road markings indicate otherwise, or there is a wide central reservation. Know only the main rule, and you fall for every exception.
Read this section on its own page: Challenge: Turning left: the wide arc, and three exceptions to 'left-past-left'
Core
Before turning left you look in a fixed order: interior mirror, left door mirror, look aside to the left, and only once you know you can turn safely do you signal and smoothly move into position for the left turn (Book p.138). Here you give way to both straight-ahead traffic and oncoming traffic turning right. Take the turn wide, so that you land on the right-hand side of the road you are entering — and don't cut the corner (Book p.138). Two oncoming drivers who both want to turn left normally pass 'left-past-left'. This has three named exceptions: the oncoming driver has already clearly committed to a different way of turning, road markings indicate otherwise, or there is a wide central reservation (Book p.139). Finally: watch for traffic coming up behind you, both before you move into position and again right before you actually turn (Book p.138) — turning left therefore requires checking in two directions at once, forward and behind.
Read this section on its own page: Core: Turning left: the wide arc, and three exceptions to 'left-past-left'
Why it matters
Someone who treats 'left-past-left' as an absolute rule drives straight at an oncoming car that is already visibly steering a different way because of a road marking or a wide central reservation. And someone who cuts the corner ends up on the wrong side of the road — exactly where the oncoming traffic that was just given priority is driving.
Read this section on its own page: Why it matters: Turning left: the wide arc, and three exceptions to 'left-past-left'
Source: RVV 1990 art. 18 · RVV 1990 art. 54 · checked 2026-10-22
Test yourself
You are driving on a wide road through Groningen and want to turn left. An oncoming car at the same junction also wants to turn left. You are heading toward each other. How do you pass each other, and is that always the case?
Show the answer
Fixed order: interior mirror, left door mirror, look left, signal, smoothly move into position for a left turn (Book p.138). Give way to both straight-ahead traffic and oncoming traffic turning right; take the turn wide to the right-hand side, don't cut the corner.
Frequently asked questions
‘If you and an oncoming driver both want to turn left, you always pass left-past-left — that is a fixed rule with no exceptions’ – is that true?
No. 'left-past-left' applies, UNLESS: the oncoming driver has already clearly committed to a turning position, road markings indicate otherwise, or there is a wide central reservation
‘When turning left you take the turn just as tight as when turning right, to get onto the new road as quickly as possible’ – is that true?
No. When turning left you take the turn wide, so that you land on the right-hand side of the road you enter, and you do not cut the corner
‘When turning left you only give way to oncoming traffic going straight; oncoming traffic that is itself turning right does not need to be given way to’ – is that true?
No. Here too you give way to both straight-ahead traffic and oncoming drivers turning right
‘When turning left you only need to look ahead (oncoming traffic and the turn); traffic coming up behind you is no longer relevant once you are turning’ – is that true?
No. Watch for traffic coming up behind you, both before you move into position and again right before you actually turn
‘When turning left you may first come out over the middle of the new road and only afterwards move over to the right-hand half’ – is that true?
No. Take the left turn wide enough that you end up on the right-hand half of the road you enter; do not cut the corner