ICBC Left Turn - How To Turn Left at Traffic Lights
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- Опубликовано: 7 фев 2025
- When you turn left at a traffic light, you can enter the intersection only when the light is green.When approaching the intersection, consider whether the light is fresh or staleMake sure there are no turning restrictions.The first thing to do is to check the area you are planning to turn into.Make sure there is actually somewhere to go. This might sound obvious, but this is important.If you're stopped waiting at the red light in the left turn lane, it might be a good idea to check out where you're supposed to end up turning. Especially if you are the first car at the light.If there are people walking (or about to walk), move forward to around one-third of the way into the intersection.Position the car so that you will have a short and easy turn into your lane without getting in the way of an opposing left-turning vehicleWait until pedestrians are out of your way and almost on the opposite sidewalk. Keep your car and your tires straight in case you get rear-ended. Of course, we hope that never happens. But we need to realize that it could. It happens every day. When the light turns yellow or red, exit the intersection when safe. If you enter an intersection when the light is green, you can leave the intersection legally when it is safe, regardless of the traffic-light color.Say you waited behind the white line when the light is green, and it turns yellow or red, legally you must stay there, and you may be there all day.When you’re unsure whether or not a person is going to walk, wait to see what they do. This is safer than turning and finding out they are walking, then having to stop at a difficult or awkward angle on the wrong side of the road.Yield to any oncoming and conflicting traffic. Left turns have zero right of way in this situation.If there is more than one lane, stagger it to be safe. In other words, time it so that when you are turning there is space beside you rather than the right-turning car.Follow a few seconds after the right-turning car or, if the right- turning car is very slow and far away, and if it's safe and there are no pedestrians then go before it.Keep an eye on the traffic light. Note especially the traffic light on the left side of the intersection since it’s in the general direction you should be looking.Leave the intersection only when you are 138% sure it is safe. Turning left is considered generally complex and dangerous, since you are turning across the lanes of the oncoming traffic.If there is a car in front of you turning left, wait behind the white line in case the light turns yellow. When the vehicle turns, and the light is still green, treat it as you would any other green light.If there is a left-turning car facing you and your visibility is diminished, or anytime you aren’t 100% sure it is safe, then wait patiently and keep your car straightDrivers are allowed to pass around to the right of a left turning vehicle and continue straight through the intersection. The longest you would wait is the time it takes for the light to turn yellow or red.When the light goes yellow, wait for any cars that may be racing through - or casually meandering as the case may be - then leave quickly when safe to do so.Never turn unless you know it is safe and are sure that oncoming vehicles are planning to stop. There is no need to watch them stop completely but you must be sure they intend to.If other drivers behind you honk, ignore them. The safety decision is yours, not theirs. The consequences will be yours, not theirs.When a left-turning car is facing you, and there is no oncoming traffic (and you can clearly see that there is no oncoming traffic) nor any pedestrians in the crosswalk, you should have lots of room to safely turn at the same time.Make sure that the other car is showing a left-turn signal and that the driver is actually going to turn left. Drivers sometimes have
BC Driving Blog
drivinginstruc...
Super helpful! Thank you! I passed my test. Your videos contributed a lot. Keep up the great work!
Amazing 🤩 congratulations 🥳
Your explanation and way of explaning is really nice.. There are hundreds of videos on RUclips.. But i found your better with valuable information.. Thanks a lot.. 🙂
Thank u ☺️
Wow, this is fantastic with comprehensive instructions and examples - very helpful!
Thanks I really appreciate that, glad it helps ☺️
Thank you so much. I messed up my drive test on the left turn just the way you said in the video. A lot of my doubts are cleared now. that you so much again.
Oh you’re welcome I’m glad it helped !! ☺️
hi. it's one of the best videos I have seen about left turn law in BC. Thanks
Anytime. I’m glad my little highly professional hot wheels diagram is helping people 🤣lol
Good explanation. Thank you.
Wait, last time jumped red light during driving test. Wait!
What! 😂
The left turn mechanism is totally a system design fault caused many accidents of collision between left turn and up coming car, the left turn arrow signal should be deployed all area in the urban city.
Thanks for the comment! I know. Seems dangerous eh!
Surprisingly it has been here for many decades and there has been no innovation in signals.
Im from Sri Lanka and there intersections are bigger, so every turn is protected by a light, otherwise you can't see clearly whats coming. So I found its harder to adapt driving in here
agree
WOW that was a lot of useful information I learned -- thanks!
No problem I’m glad it was useful 😃
Thank you for a well explained video covering some very important points to remember while turning left. One important scenario of turning left, not talked about in any manual, is about turning left shortly before an intersection. I commonly see divers turing left before intersection to a gas station or other services area. Is it allowed to cross over the two parallel 3-4 ft apart solid lines (mostly seen with a dedicated left turn lane on its right). If not allowed, what kind of road markings allows it?
ruclips.net/video/KSl0gNmvBc8/видео.html Made this for you!
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks and I hope everyone sees this explanation
Thanks 😊
Fantastic video
Thank you!
Do vehicles (turning left) that have entered the intersection during a green have the right of way during an amber light before an opposite car turning right that has not entered?
Not necessarily. No one really “has the right of way.”
I’ve had friends that have failed turning thru and amber.. my recommendation is waiting behind the line instead of being in the middle intersection
@@amoriahmcewen6658 If you wait behind the white line, and it's busy, then you aren't allowed to legally turn after the light has gone yellow... and that means you might be stopped there literally all day long, not to mention not passing the road test. If they "failed for turning on amber," we aren't getting the whole story. Traffic lights legally control traffic that is approaching intersections, not traffic that has already entered.
It’s rally helpful,thanks for ur sharing!
No problem
Awesome! It helped me a lot! So, I don't need to wait until the green arrow light is popping, right? If the traffic light is all green and there is no green arrow, I can turn left, right? Thanks
Yes, as long as it is safe and legal 😊
If you aren’t allowed to turn left it should be obvious - you will see an obvious sign - “do not turn left” sign or a red arrow.
@@bcdrivingblog thank you very much!!
I have question that . When light turns green. Should we rolling up at crosswalk and wait there to make a left turn? Becuz if we move to in middle of intersection, we can’t make left turn result in blocking intersection.
If you watch the video it should explain it.
11:37 gas price was $1.25. Today it is about $1.99.
Omg! That was old footage I snipped it all together so that would have been around 2005 or so! I have a pic of myself when I first started driving the gas was .99! It was like $30 to fill up my whole car 😭
I encountered a hazardous situation recently while making a left turn and would like to know if some one could give me a definite answer. I entered the intersection while the light was green but there was a lot of on coming traffic so I got no chance of leaving the intersection by completing my left turn until the light in front of me turned red. Now as soon as the light turned red and the on coming traffic had stopped completely, I started completing my left turn. But the cars from the left started entering the intersection and toward toward me while I was also moving out of the intersection ! Had both of us not STOPPED it would have caused a collision. Although all those involved honked at each other but everyone safely stopped, then I continued with my left turn hence leaving the intersection. Should the cars on the left have waited for me to complete my left turn before entering the intersection ?
drivers must legally yield to any other vehicle that was in any space before them.
I was waiting to turn left at a two way traffic light today (the other direction was a stop street.) the light turned red and I had to wait for cars to clear the intersection and I wanted to turn. Some pedestrians were being stupid and still in the intersection so I honked for them to hurry up as the light was already red. They chased after my car and started yelling at me. They were crossing after the green flashing light went out and were not paying attention to what was happening around them. I was not at all close to hitting them but honked for them to be aware that they were now blocking cars in multiple directions. Do you know where it is written that a pedestrian can’t enter a crosswalk on an amber light? I’m afraid they will try and get me into trouble now.
As you know it is impossible in BC to actually turn left on amber as cars always jump the lights, so that’s how I know for sure that the pedestrians were crossing after the light changed as I could for sure not have even moved my car any sooner.
Hi, sorry to hear this. It's tough out there sometimes. It can be found in the BC MVA (Motor Vehicle Act)
Yellow light
128 (1)When a yellow light alone is exhibited at an intersection by a traffic control signal, following the exhibition of a green light, [...]
(b)a pedestrian facing the yellow light must not enter the roadway, and [...]
www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96318_05#section128
Red light and Green arrow might be confusing on the Left Turn for the beginers.
For sure. I need to make a new video for this!
At 6:58 what is wrong with the 2 turning cars turning simultaneously into their respective lanes?
Thanks for the comment! Nothing wrong with it in theory. In real life, its just risky. It would be you placing a lot of trust into a complete stranger. Expecting other drivers to be perfect, neat & clean with their maneuvers isn’t a safe driving philosophy. Just RUclips idiots in cars and you can see that many people generally suck at driving. And this leaves you zero “escape route;” space (one of the keys to defensive driving and preventing collisions). When you turn at the same time you place your vehicle into a position of vulnerability rather than safety, and there would be nothing you could do to prevent the vehicles touching if the other driver was sloppy, wide, or driving a larger truck and/or trailer (for example) and moved into your lane; which by the way isn’t even “yours” lol. You don’t have to watch them drive into the sunset and disappear over the horizon to make it safer, but if you turn just a little bit after, then it would be impossible for the vehicles to touch each other. The majority of crashes occur at intersections so it’s recommended to use extra caution ⚠️
Oh and also many people want to turn right and then immediately left or left and then immediately right. Otherwise we’d all be driving in circles (squares).
Does this also apply in ontario?
I donno! I’ve never been there hahaha 🤣
You scale is way off, if you only slightly advance just off the line, this will be a one car per light situation, you should be able to judge the size of the intersection and advance into the intersection (while not blocking incoming) , allowing another vehicle to enter the intersection, I’ve see so many people think when you only advance a small amount the car behind you thinks they are allowed and basically runs a red or enters on the yellow. Most intersections on your video have plenty of room for you to fully enter the intersection allowing a second car to enter. I’ve never heard of a rule that you can’t fully enter it. Some will not enter it at all, I give a courtesy beep and motion to pull ahead otherwise they will run a red or not make the turn at all.
Ok!
I feel like I woke up in an alternate reality regarding the left turn into the left lane while the oncoming traffic is turning right into the right lane.... Isn't this entirely why we turn into the closest lane? (and yes, I'm aware that people seem to have stopped doing this) Is this an actual law or just an opinion or a suggestion? Isn't the law that you turn into the closest lane?
Yes
www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96318_05
@@bcdrivingblog i see the link to the entire driving regs here. Good read. /s. Can’t find a rule against turning left if someone is turning right. Which part of my rant was your “yes” for?
@@MichaelJohnson-kw2mx Sorry my bad. The law does not say anything like the left lane belongs to the left turning driver and the right lane belongs to the right turning driver.
It's just not that simple due to varying vehicle sizes, driving circumstances/environments and road/lane size differences (a large bus parked at the bus stop in the right lane, for example). Left turns must yield. So you can turn at the same time if you want, but the left turn will likely be found at fault for any resulting collision.
Section 174: "Yielding right of way on left turn
174 When a vehicle is in an intersection and its driver intends to turn left, the driver must yield the right of way to traffic approaching from the opposite direction that is in the intersection or so close as to constitute an immediate hazard, but having yielded and given a signal as required by sections 171 and 172, the driver may turn the vehicle to the left, and traffic approaching the intersection from the opposite direction must yield the right of way to the vehicle making the left turn.
And yes you're right, we are supposed to turn into the closest lane... "as close as practicable"
Turning at intersections
165 (1)If the driver of a vehicle intends to turn it to the right at an intersection, the driver must cause it to approach the intersection and then make the turn as close as practicable to the right hand curb or edge of the roadway.
(2)When the driver of a vehicle intends to turn it to the left at an intersection where traffic is permitted to move in both directions on each highway entering the intersection, the driver must
(a)cause the vehicle to approach the intersection in the portion of the right side of the roadway that is nearest the marked centre line, or if there is no marked centre line, then as far as practicable in the portion of the right half of the roadway that is nearest the centre line,
(b)keep the vehicle to the right of the marked centre line or centre line of the roadway, as the case may be, at the place the highway enters the intersection,
(c)after entering the intersection, turn the vehicle to the left so that it leaves the intersection to the right of the marked centre line of the roadway being entered, or if there is no marked centre line then to the right of the centre line of the roadway being entered, and,
(d)when practicable, turn the vehicle in the portion of the intersection to the left of the centre of the intersection.
@@MichaelJohnson-kw2mx Also check out this, I think it is helpful: www.drivesmartbc.ca/intersections/left-turns-correct-lane
helpful thanks😊
You’re welcome I’m glad it helps 🚘
Hi, during ICBC road tests, if a pedestrian is just about to cross or is located on the far side of the crosswalk, can we still turn, so as not to "impede the flow of traffic"?
I think I need to make a new video for this question because it’s very difficult to explain with words alone. But ICBC examiners want to see that you are there to help protect pedestrians, not compete with them for the available space. So if you’re ever not sure, err on the side of caution and I’m gonna make a new video soon for this, thanks for the idea 💡
Oh and which traffic are you worried about impeding? If you’re talking about the ones behind you, no, that’s their problem if they feel impatient waiting for you to turn left, you are allowed to turn left safely…
@@bcdrivingblog -- okay, thank you!
4:54. Sorry if you have explained this in the rest of the video, but here, if both blue cars intend to turn left, which one has the right of way? Also, are two cars allowed to be in the waiting position (for left turning) at the same time?
Hey! Usually, it’s not a good idea for more than one car to be in the waiting position. Sometimes when the intersections are very large, people do it, but you don’t have to, and it’s safer if you don’t, in case something happens. No one really has the right of way in that scenario, and you need to make sure that a car facing you that has a left turn signal on is actually intending to turn left, because some people go straight with their left turn signal on, and you should not turn until you know it is 200% safe, so if you aren’t sure, wait! I wrote a whole article about this on the blog I think the link is in the description! Hope that helps,
@@bcdrivingblog Thanks!!
@@binyoung7297 no worries 😉
Hi there, Unfortunately I failed in my exam today because I was too slow in a school zone, and it is spring break. My examiner said if a school sign doesn't show a speed limit, the normal speed is 50km. But when I searched on the web, I found it an article at Royal Canadian Mounted Police and it said: "the posted speed limit in school zones is 30km/h and it's applicable on school days 8am and 5pm, unless the sign says otherwise." I'm upset, because I did everything right and I failed due to spring break. Is that fair? 😢
Ohhh sorry to hear that 😞that sucks a lot. Yeah… school zones are in effect only “on school days.” You can always ask the examiner before the test if today is a school day, since it can get confusing if you don’t keep track of school breaks in your area. Maybe you can find a spot and do the test again soon 😊
Sounds like your left turns were good though!? Life definitely isn’t fair. I failed my first road test … not enough right shoulder checks 😞😅
@@bcdrivingblog oh yeah! My left turn was perfect hahah! Thanks for your support
@@supremobg well congratulations 🎉 🎉🎉🎉it counts 😊
1:33 if there is no room for me to turn left where should I wait? At my stop like or somewhere in the intersection? Thanks.
Hey! You should wait behind the white stopping line until you see there is room for your car. Or as another option you could keep going and turn left at the next street, or you could keep going and turn right 3 times if that’s an option.
@@bcdrivingblog Thanks for the reply. I was in the exact awkward situation as 1:33 yesterday. Stucked in the intersection for maybe 15 seconds with a congested lane couldn't allow me to complete my left turn and approaching pedestrian... Wish I saw your video earlier. BTW, your blog is great. I will read all of them before my road test. Please keep it up.
@@briwanginfo Thanks soo much! I will :) Driving ain't easy...
@@bcdrivingblog and
Thank you so much...
No problem …!
Thanks a lot~
Oh you’re welcome!! 😊
Thank you thank you thank you
You are welcome!
I failed my N and i feel like killing myself. I hate going down town. Already failed twice. I’m sad
Hey sorry to hear this don’t give up! I know many people who failed the road test up to 8-9 times because even though they knew what to do they got test anxiety; it’s a real thing. Do you feel like that’s why you failed? Even I failed my first road test. It is frustrating. Driving downtown can be a lot. Is someone making you drive there? They are very picky on the road test nowadays. Which location did you go to.. have you taken some lessons? Don’t give up you can get this.
@@bcdrivingblog thank you. at the icbc in Kamloops, i had to drive towards downtown both times. the reason why i failed is 1. Turned left on the straight lane of a one way road. 2nd time, i literally hit the curb because the inside of the car began to fog up so bad, and i hit the curb. I was so embarrassed I couldn’t stop thinking about that moment. I haven’t gone for my third test in half a year because of this anxiety. I just don’t know what to do. I got a driving instructor for two hours but made my anxiety feel worse. I honestly don’t know what to do. I drive so well with my mother, and have no problem, just only if it’s someone I don’t know. 😞
@@ezorist Oh I hear you. You definitely aren’t the only one. It is really hard to find a driving instructor that is good. I wonder if you could ask around somehow find one who is very experienced, are you on any community groups like Kamloops Facebook group or somewhere where you can ask recommendation on a good instructor around there? I think that would help. You just need some confidence. It’s hard to get back once you lose it. Even me I have been driving like more than 20 years… the other day I saw the cars crashed right in front of my face because one of them went through a red light at full speed and now I feel like a chicken when I’m driving even though I’m an instructor!! We have to just jump back into it and try to relax and have fun. I know it’s hard when you really want and need your license. Maybe finding a good experienced instructor can help with driving with new people and also to build confidence. Otherwise just try the road test again. Don’t dwell on the other road test .. start a fresh new one you can do it 😊it’s just a road test, you can try it again and again until you get it unless you are like 85 years old or something, they only get 3 chances then it’s over 😂 Then once you get it it will be worth it. Try watching some stuff about anxiety maybe , there’s some simple deep breathing and things like that that can help.. one of them is called box breathing.
@@bcdrivingblog thank you so much for all the help. I think what all I need to do is to simply relax. I’m thinking too much about what other thinks about me. I just have to get rid of it. Thank you so much for all the responses 🥲
@@ezorist oh yeah for sure. Driving exam is stressful because the examiner is literally watching your every move. But yes, if you can somehow like pretend they aren’t there or pretend you are driving by yourself after they give you instructions .. somehow relax for sure 👍 I have had students fail like 9 times even though they drive so good I could fall asleep while they were driving .. just keep trying you will get it!!!!!
I want to watch but music so load n annoying for me...shouldn't the focus be on what said? Definitely not the channel for me
Cool