Right of way, turns and intersections in Ontario

By the end of this topic you can

• You can decide who goes first at uncontrolled and all-way stop intersections.
• You can turn left and right correctly, yielding to traffic and pedestrians.
• You can make a right turn on red, or a left turn on red where allowed, legally.
• You can enter, drive through and exit a roundabout correctly.

What you need to know and understand

• At an uncontrolled intersection, yield to a vehicle that arrived first; if you arrive together, yield to the vehicle on your right.
• At an all-way stop, the first vehicle to stop completely goes first; if two stop together, the one on the left yields to the one on the right.
• When turning, you must yield to oncoming traffic and to pedestrians in or approaching your path.
• You may turn right on a red light after a full stop unless a sign says not to.
• You may turn left on red only from a one-way road onto a one-way road, after a full stop.
• At pedestrian crossovers and school crossings with a guard, wait until people have completely crossed the road.
• If traffic lights are out, treat the intersection like an all-way stop.

Turning left and right

For a right turn, start and finish close to the right side of the road and check your right blind spot for cyclists. For a left turn, use the far left lane for your direction and finish in the matching lane. While waiting to turn left, keep your front wheels straight; if you are hit from behind, angled wheels could push you into oncoming traffic.

Signalling tells others what you plan to do but does not give you the right of way. Entering a road from a driveway or private road, yield to vehicles on the road and pedestrians on the sidewalk.

Roundabouts in five steps

If an emergency vehicle comes while you are in a roundabout, leave at your exit and pull over beyond the traffic island. Our article on Ontario Roundabout Rules, Four-Way Stops and Crossovers goes into more detail.

1. Read the signs early and pick your lane: left lane to turn left or go straight, right lane to turn right or go straight.
2. Slow down and watch for pedestrians before the yield line.
3. Yield to traffic already in the roundabout, which comes from your left; enter only when there is a safe gap.
4. Travel counter-clockwise, stay in your lane and do not stop except to avoid a collision.
5. Signal right after passing the exit before yours, then exit with care.

Green arrows and flashing greens

A flashing green light or a left green arrow with a green light is an advance green: you may turn left, go straight or turn right because oncoming traffic still faces red. A yellow arrow after it means do not start your left turn. On a plain green, you may still turn left, but only once oncoming traffic and pedestrians are clear.

Common mistakes

• Rolling through a right turn on red. You must come to a complete stop first.
• Turning your wheels left while waiting to turn. Keep them straight until you can go.
• Driving off as soon as a pedestrian passes your lane at a crossover. Wait until they have crossed the whole road.
• Changing lanes inside a roundabout. Choose the right lane before you enter.

Test yourself: Right of way, turns and intersections in Ontario

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

Go deeper

• Ontario Roundabout Rules, Four-Way Stops and Crossovers
• DriveTest Road Test Booking in Ontario
• How to Get a G Licence in Ontario