Dear Cop - One Way Streets

I live in Westbank, and have been wondering about this for some time. I have had many discussions with people about this in the past. I am wondering about making left hand turns onto a one way street during a red light. Some people have told me that yes you can do this, others have told me that no it is against the law. Can you please set things straight for us.


It is legal to make a left turn from a two way street onto a one way street on a red light provided that you have come to a complete stop first, you have your left turn indicator on and you have yielded to all traffic that is proceeding through on a green light. The same rule applies when making a left turn from a one way street to another one way street. The only time this will not apply is when there is a sign present which prohibits this left turn.

The law that applies to this maneuver is as follows:
Section 129 (4) of the Motor Vehicle Act indicates that when a red light alone is exhibited at an intersection by a traffic control signal,
(a) a pedestrian facing the red light must not enter the roadway unless instructed that he or she may do so by a pedestrian traffic control signal,
(b) except when a left turn permitted by this paragraph is prohibited by a sign at the intersection, the driver of a vehicle facing the red light at the intersection of not more than 2 highways, and which in obedience to it is stopped as closely as practicable to a marked crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or if there is no marked crosswalk, as closely as practicable to the intersection, may cause the vehicle to make a left turn into a highway on which traffic is restricted to the direction in which he or she causes the vehicle to turn, but the driver must yield the right of way to all pedestrians and vehicles lawfully proceeding as directed by the signal at the intersection.

Constable R.A.(Richard) ASELTON
Central Okanagan Traffic Services - Media Liaison

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