Dear Cop - Turning Left

I was always taught that when attempting to turn left at an intersection
controlled by traffic lights that it is correct to move into the intersection with your turning signal on even if oncoming traffic does not
permit you to immediately make your left turn.

I have found that more and more Kelowna drivers wait in the turning lane
with their signal lights on and only proceed into the intersection when it
is safe to execute their left turn. Are these individuals who do not pull
into the intersection breaking any laws? They certainly impede the number of vehicles that can make a left hand turn at a busy intersection.

I know that the Motor Vehicle Act indicates that a vehicle may wait in the intersection on a green light while waiting to make a left turn. The law does not indicate how many left turn vehicles may be in the intersection from the same direction at one time. There is no law that stipulates that a left turning vehicle wait in the intersection. I am a strong believer that only one vehicle making a left turn should be in the intersection at one time. In other words, there would be a total of two left turn vehicles in the intersection. One each from of the opposing directions. This would prevent intersection crashes. When two or more left turning vehicles are in the intersection from the same direction, it is not uncommon that the first vehicle makes a left turn safely and then the second one gets hit by a vehicle which runs the yellow or red light from the opposite direction.

Another tip I like to tell all drivers is when waiting to make a left turn at an intersection, keep your front wheel facing forward. Do not turn your front wheels to the left while waiting to make your turn. If another driver is not paying attention and hits your vehicle, your vehicle will be pushed forward. If your wheels are turned to the left then your vehicle will be pushed into oncoming traffic and the results are injury or death.

If a driver is waiting to make a left turn and the traffic control light turns yellow, don't panic. Always ensure that all traffic from the opposing direction has come to a complete stop. The left turning vehicle may have to wait until the light turns red. This is okay and legal as long as the waiting left turn vehicle is in the intersection and not waiting back at the stop line. Vehicles back at the stop line are not permitted into the intersection when the lights turns yellow.

Turning at intersections
Section 165 (2) of the Motor Vehicle Act indicates that 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.

Constable R.A.(Richard) ASELTON
Central Okanagan Traffic Services - Media Liaison
Kelowna R.C.M.P. Detachment

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.