Left turns and oncoming traffic
ICBC's driving guide: Rules of the road
On a steady green you may turn left, but you must yield to oncoming traffic and wait for a safe gap. The green gives you access to the intersection, not priority over the traffic coming at you.
Two situations catch people out:
- The light turns yellow while you are waiting in the intersection. You are legally allowed to complete your turn. Watch for oncoming drivers trying to beat the red.
- You are going straight and a vehicle is already in the intersection turning left. You must yield to it.
The rest of this card is in the learning area. Go to the learning area
Practice questions on this card
- Q-0138You are turning left on a steady green light. What does the green entitle you to?
- Q-0139You are waiting in the intersection to turn left when the light turns yellow. What are you allowed to do?
- Q-0140You are going straight through on a green light and a vehicle is already in the intersection turning left. What must you do?
- Q-0141What is a stale green light?
- Q-0142What is the point of no return as you approach a stale green light?
- Q-0143The light ahead has just turned green. What is the right habit?
- Q-0144All four traffic lights at an intersection are flashing. How should you treat it?
- Q-0159What makes a green arrow a protected turn?
- Q-0160You are stopped at a red light and want to turn left onto a one-way street. Is that permitted?
- Q-0161You approach a flashing green light. Besides pedestrians, what else should you expect?
- Q-0167A crosswalk signal across the intersection changes from a white figure to an orange hand while your light is still green. What does that tell you?
- Q-0170Where do the right-of-way rules for crosswalks and railway crossings appear in the manual?