Right of way, turns and intersections in British Columbia

By the end of this topic you can

• You can decide who goes first at uncontrolled intersections and four-way stops.
• You can stop in the correct position at an intersection.
• You can turn right, or left onto a one-way street, on a red light where allowed.
• You can choose the correct lane in a multi-lane roundabout.
• You can recognise places where a U-turn is illegal.

What you need to know and understand

• At an uncontrolled intersection, yield to a vehicle that arrived first; if you arrive together, the vehicle on the left yields to the vehicle on the right.
• At a four-way stop, the first to stop goes first; if two arrive together, the one on the right goes first; a left-turner yields to oncoming straight-through traffic.
• After a full stop at a red light, you may turn right, or turn left onto a one-way street, unless a sign forbids it.
• If you are in the intersection waiting to turn left when the light turns yellow, you may legally complete the turn.
• Treat a dark or all-flashing traffic signal like a four-way stop.
• In traffic circles and roundabouts, yield to traffic already inside and travel counter-clockwise.
• It is illegal to back up into an intersection or over a crosswalk.

Where to stop

• Stop line: stop just before it.
• No stop line but a crosswalk, marked or unmarked: stop before the crosswalk.
• No stop line, crosswalk or sidewalk: stop just before you enter the intersection.
• A traffic control person overrides signs and signals; follow their directions.

Lights, stop signs and yield signs

A stale green light has been green for a while and may soon change. Decide on your point of no return: the place after which you could not stop safely. Before it, be ready to stop; past it, keep going. A fresh green still needs a scan before you move off.

When turning left on a plain green, wait for a safe gap and yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians. A flashing green arrow with a red light lets you turn left while through traffic stops. At a two-way stop, cross traffic on the through street has the right of way; between two stopped vehicles, the one turning left yields unless it has already started its turn. A yield sign means slow down, and stop if needed, until there is a safe gap.

Traffic circles and roundabouts

Small traffic circles are common in residential areas. Obey any signs; if there are none, treat it as an uncontrolled intersection, yield to vehicles already in the circle and, if you arrive together, to the vehicle on your right. Always go around to the right.

1. Choose your lane before entering: left lane to turn left, right lane to turn right, either lane to go straight, unless signs or markings say otherwise.
2. Slow down and yield to pedestrians at the entry crosswalk.
3. Yield to all traffic already in the roundabout, including trucks that need extra room.
4. Do not change lanes inside, and do not ride alongside large vehicles.
5. Signal right before your exit and watch for pedestrians as you leave.

U-turns

U-turns are illegal where they interfere with traffic, on a curve, near a hill crest where you cannot be seen within 150 metres, at intersections with traffic lights, where signs or local bylaws prohibit them, and in business districts except at intersections without lights. Driving around the block is often the safer choice. The site's B.C. rules of the road guide has more examples.

Common mistakes

• Rolling through stop signs. Come to a full stop in the correct position every time.
• Turning right on red without a full stop or without checking for pedestrians and cyclists.
• Changing lanes inside a multi-lane roundabout.
• Assuming others will yield. If there is any doubt, give way.

Test yourself: Right of way, turns and intersections in British Columbia

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• BC Rules of the Road