Alberta Traffic Circle Rules and Right of Way

Photo: Milan Suvajac, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

In Alberta, right of way at intersections comes from signs, signals, crosswalks and the position of vehicles. At an uncontrolled intersection the vehicle on the left yields to the vehicle on the right, and in a traffic circle you yield to vehicles already in the circle on your left. This guide sets out each rule from Alberta’s Use of Highway and Rules of the Road Regulation and alberta.ca, for the Class 7 knowledge test and the Class 5 road test.

Key rules

Uncontrolled intersection: if 2 vehicles arrive at about the same time, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right.
Traffic circle or roundabout: yield to vehicles in the circle travelling to your left. Never change lanes inside.
Stop signs: stop at the stop line, or before the crosswalk, or no more than 3 metres back from the intersecting road.
Leaving an alley, driveway or parking lot: stop as if there were a stop sign, and stop again before the sidewalk.
Pedestrians in a crosswalk, marked or unmarked, have the right of way.

Who has the right of way at an uncontrolled intersection in Alberta?

When 2 vehicles approach or enter an intersection from different roads at about the same time, the driver on the left must yield to the vehicle on the right.

Scenario: you and another car reach a residential crossroads with no signs at the same moment. The other car is on your right. You yield.

Stop signs and yield signs

Where to stop

At the marked stop line, if there is one.
If there is no stop line but there is a marked crosswalk, stop before the crosswalk.
If neither is marked, stop no more than 3 metres back from the intersecting road.

After stopping, go only when you can enter safely, yielding to all vehicles and pedestrians on the road you are entering. Rolling through a stop sign is an automatic fail on the Alberta road test.

Yield signs

You do not have to stop, but you must yield to all vehicles and pedestrians on the road you are entering.

Three-way and four-way stops (“courtesy corners”): everyone stops. The vehicle that arrived first goes first; if two arrive together, the vehicle on the right goes first. Go only when it is safe.

Two-way stops: traffic on the through road has the right of way. Wait for a safe gap.

Keep intersections clear: do not enter unless you can clear the intersection and the crosswalk on the far side. Directions from a peace officer override signs and signals.

Traffic lights in Alberta

Signal	What you do
Solid red	Stop completely. You may turn right after stopping unless a sign says otherwise, yielding to vehicles and pedestrians facing green.
Solid green	Go. If turning left, yield to oncoming traffic going straight and to pedestrians in the crosswalk.
Solid yellow	Stop before the crosswalk or intersection unless you cannot stop safely (AR 304/2002, s. 53). If you are already in the intersection, clear it with care.
Green arrow	You have the right of way to turn in that direction.
Flashing red	Treat as a stop sign.
Flashing yellow	Treat as a yield sign.

Left turns

You must not turn left across an approaching vehicle unless the turn can be completed safely. Alberta warns that drivers often misjudge the gap, and motorcycles look farther away than they are. If you are behind someone waiting to turn left, do not honk or crowd them.

How to drive a traffic circle or roundabout in Alberta

Traffic moves counter-clockwise. Unless a sign or signal says otherwise, a driver in the circle yields to any vehicle in the circle travelling to their left. Alberta’s 7 steps:

Note your exit.
Choose the correct lane before entering.
Slow down on approach and watch for pedestrians crossing.
Yield to all traffic in the circular lane and wait for a gap.
Keep to the posted speed through the circle.
Never change lanes inside the roundabout.
Signal right as you approach your exit.

Traffic circle or roundabout: what is the difference?

A roundabout has a smaller centre island and a tighter curve to keep speeds low. Traffic circles have a larger island. Alberta roundabouts also have a truck apron around the island that long trucks drive their rear wheels over, so give large vehicles room.

Lanes and signals in a two-lane circle

First exit: approach in the right lane, signal right as you approach and keep it on until you exit, stay in the right lane and exit from it.
Any later exit: approach in the left lane and signal left to show you are not taking the first exit. Stay in the left lane and exit from it.
Turn on your right signal once you pass the exit before yours.
Inside the circle, drivers on the right yield to drivers on the left. Check the right lane before you exit across it.
Can’t exit safely? Stay in your lane and go round again.

Turning: lanes and positions

Be in the proper turning lane at least 15 m before the intersection. Mirror, shoulder check and signal before you move over.
Right turns: stay within about 1 m of the curb or road edge before, during and after the turn, shoulder check for cyclists and yield to pedestrians. Do not swing wide into two lanes.
Left turns: two-way onto two-way, turn from the lane just right of the yellow line into the lane just right of the yellow line. Two-way onto one-way, finish in the nearest lane on the left side. One-way onto two-way, turn from the leftmost lane into the lane just right of the yellow line.
Waiting in the intersection to turn left, keep your wheels pointed straight so a rear-end crash cannot push you into oncoming traffic. Before turning left off a two-lane highway, shoulder check left in case someone is passing you.
Dual turn lanes: turn from a marked lane into the matching lane, and never swing wide or change lanes during the turn.
You may turn left on a red light only from a one-way street onto a one-way street, after a full stop and when safe.
Two-way left turn lane: you may cross its solid yellow line to enter it. Enter close to where you will turn and watch for oncoming drivers using it.

Driveways, alleys and parking lots

When entering a street from an alley, driveway, parking lot or service road, stop as if there were an invisible stop sign, and yield before going on. If there is a sidewalk, stop before crossing it and yield to pedestrians on it.

Pedestrians and crosswalks

An unmarked crosswalk exists at every intersection unless a sign says otherwise: picture a line from corner to corner. You must yield to a pedestrian in any crosswalk, and you must not pass a vehicle that has stopped at a crosswalk to let someone cross. Failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk carries an $810 fine and 4 demerit points.

Emergency vehicles at intersections

An emergency vehicle with its siren on has the right of way. Pull through the intersection, then over to the right and stop. If you cannot clear the intersection safely, move as far from its centre as you can. Do not follow within 150 m of an emergency vehicle with its siren or lights on. See slow down, move over in Canada.

Common questions

Can you turn right on a red light in Alberta?

Yes, after a complete stop, unless a sign prohibits it. Yield to vehicles and pedestrians facing the green.

Who goes first at a traffic circle in Alberta?

Vehicles already in the circle. Inside the circle, yield to vehicles on your left.

Can I change lanes in a roundabout?

No. Choose your lane before you enter.

Do I signal in a traffic circle?

Yes. Signal right once you pass the exit before yours. In a two-lane circle, also signal left as you approach in the left lane if you are not taking the first exit.

Who yields at a T intersection with no signs?

The same rule applies: the driver on the left yields to the vehicle on the right when both arrive at about the same time.

Sources

Government of Alberta, “Driver’s Guide to Operation, Safety and Licensing: Cars and Light Trucks”, Spring 2023 edition (alberta.ca)
Alberta King’s Printer, “Use of Highway and Rules of the Road Regulation, AR 304/2002”, section 53, office consolidation current as of 8 August 2025 (kings-printer.alberta.ca)
Government of Alberta, “Intersection rules” (alberta.ca)
Government of Alberta, “Roundabouts” (alberta.ca)
Government of Alberta, “Pedestrian safety” (alberta.ca)
Government of Alberta, “Driver error” (alberta.ca)
Government of Alberta, “Reacting to emergency vehicles” (alberta.ca)
Government of Alberta, “Driver’s road test” (alberta.ca)

Alberta Traffic Circle Rules, Intersections and Right of Way