TURNING AND STOPPING RULES

New Orleans City Code ch. 154, art. V, div. 3

in effect

New Orleans City Code § 154-436 Required position and method of turning at intersections.

Sec. 154-436. - Required position and method of turning at intersections. The driver of a vehicle intending to turn at any intersection shall proceed as follows: (1) Right turns. Both the approach for a right turn and a right turn shall be made as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or the edge of the roadway. (2) Left turns on two-way roadways. At any intersection where traffic is permitted to move in both directions on each roadway entering the intersection, an approach for a left turn shall be made in that portion of the right half of the roadway nearest the centerline thereof and by passing to the right of such centerline where it enters the intersection and after entering the intersection, the left turn shall be made so as to leave the intersection to the right of the centerline of the roadway being entered. Whenever practicable, the left turn shall be made in that portion of the intersection to the left of the center of the intersection. (3) Left turns on other than two-way roadways. At any intersection where traffic is restricted to one direction on one or more of the roadways, the driver of a vehicle intending to turn left at any such intersection shall approach the intersection in the extreme left-hand lane lawfully available to traffic moving in the direction of travel of such vehicle and after entering the intersection the left turn shall be made so as to leave the intersection in the safest lane lawfully available to traffic moving in such direction upon the roadway being entered. For the purpose of this section, each roadway of a boulevard shall be considered as an independent one-way street. (Code 1956, § 38-75)

New Orleans City Code § 154-437 Position, signal for change of direction, starting and stopping.

Sec. 154-437. - Position, signal for change of direction, starting and stopping. (a) No person shall turn a vehicle at an intersection, unless the vehicle is in proper position upon the roadway as required in section 154-436 or turn a vehicle to enter a private roadway or road or to otherwise turn a vehicle from a direct course or move right or left upon a roadway unless and until such movement can be made with reasonable safety, or without interfering with the right-of-way of the vehicles traveling lawfully in their proper lanes on the same street, or on intersecting streets. (b) A signal of intention to turn right or left from the roadway shall be given continuously during not less than the last 100 feet travelled by the vehicle before turning. (c) No person shall stop or suddenly decrease the speed of a vehicle without first giving the signal provided by law to the driver of any vehicle immediately to the rear when there is an opportunity to give such signal. (Code 1956, § 38-76)

New Orleans City Code § 154-438 Improper starting or backing.

Sec. 154-438. - Improper starting or backing. (a) No person shall start a vehicle which is stopped, standing or parked unless and until such movement can be made with reasonable safety, or without interfering with the right-of-way of other vehicles travelling lawfully in adjacent or intersecting lanes of traffic. (b) The driver of a vehicle shall not back it unless such movement can be made with reasonable safety or without interfering with the right-of-way of other vehicles travelling lawfully on the same street or intersecting streets, nor for a distance of over 60 feet, nor at a speed in excess of ten miles per hour. (Code 1956, § 38-77)

New Orleans City Code § 154-439 Signals by hand or arm or signal device.

Sec. 154-439. - Signals by hand or arm or signal device. Any stop or turn signal when required in this division shall be given either by means of the hand and arm or by a signal lamp or mechanical device of the type as approved by the director of the state department of highways, but when a vehicle is so constructed or loaded that a hand and arm signal would not be visible both to the front and rear of such vehicle then such signal must be given by a lamp or signal device. (Code 1956, § 38-78)

New Orleans City Code § 154-440 Method of giving hand and arm signals.

Sec. 154-440. - Method of giving hand and arm signals. (a) All signals required to be given by hand and arm shall be given from the left side of the vehicle in the following manner, and such signals shall indicate as follows: (1) Left turn. Hand and arm extended horizontally, with the hand open and the back of the hand to the rear. (2) Right turn. Hand and arm extended upward at an angle of 95 degrees from shoulder or elbow, with the hand open and the back of the hand to the rear. A bicyclist may also extend the right hand and arm horizontally with the hand open and back of the hand to the rear. (3) Stop, decrease speed or start. Hand and arm extended downward at an angle of 45 degrees from shoulder or elbow, with the hand open and the back of hand to the rear. (4) Pulling from curb or side of highway. The same as for left turn. (b) A bicyclist is not required to continuously give the signals required by subsection (a) of this section if the hand or arm is needed to control the bicycle. (Code 1956, § 38-79; M.C.S., Ord. No. 27365, § 4, 4-20-17)

New Orleans City Code § 154-441 Authority to place and obedience to turning markers.

Sec. 154-441. - Authority to place and obedience to turning markers. The city traffic engineer is hereby authorized to place markers, buttons or signs within or adjacent to intersections indicating the course to be travelled by vehicles turning at intersections and such course to be travelled as so indicated may conform to or be other than as prescribed by ordinance. When authorized markers, buttons or other indications are placed within an intersection indicating the course to be travelled by vehicles executing such turns, no driver of a vehicle shall disobey such indications. (Code 1956, § 38-80)

New Orleans City Code § 154-442 Authority to place restricted turn signs, obedience.

Sec. 154-442. - Authority to place restricted turn signs, obedience. (a) The city traffic engineer may determine those locations at which drivers of vehicles shall not make a right, left or "U" turn and shall place proper signs at such locations. The making of turns may be prohibited between certain hours of any day and permitted at other hours, in which event, such hours shall be plainly indicated on the signs or they may be removed when such turns are permitted. (b) Whenever authorized signs are erected indicating that no right, left or "U" turn is permitted, no driver of a vehicle shall disobey the directions of any such sign. (Code 1956, § 38-81)

New Orleans City Code § 154-443 Limitations on turning around; use of storage lanes while turning.

Sec. 154-443. - Limitations on turning around; use of storage lanes while turning. (a) The driver of any vehicle shall not turn such vehicle so as to proceed in the opposite direction upon any through street or upon any street in a business district other than a boulevard and shall not, upon any other street, so turn a vehicle unless such movement can be made in safety and without interfering with the right-of-way of approaching traffic either in opposing lanes or intersecting lanes of traffic. (b) No vehicle shall be turned so as to proceed in the opposite direction upon any curve or upon the approach to or near the crest of a grade where such vehicle cannot be seen by the driver of any other vehicle approaching from either direction within 300 feet. (c) At those intersections having storage lanes for turning movements, it shall be unlawful for the driver of any vehicle to turn any place other than through such storage lanes. (Code 1956, § 38-82)

Source: City of New Orleans, Code of Ordinances and Home Rule Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/la/new_orleans/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICO_CH154TRVE_ARTVOPVE_DIV3TUSTRUFetched: 10/28/2026