Folks,

I'm a tad confused by something in the Alberta driving manual. On page 73 it talks about uncontrolled intersections and states ..

"Uncontrolled intersections are ones that have no traffic signs and no traffic
signal lights. This may also apply to an intersection commonly referred to as
a "T" intersection. Other drivers might not be expecting traffic or
pedestrians to cross their path and this could cause a collision.
Check for traffic approaching from your left and right when you are
approaching an intersection without traffic signs or traffic signal lights. Slow
down and be prepared to stop. Yield the right-of-way to the vehicle on
your right."

There's also a picture on page 74 which shows a car yielding to another car joining the road.

What exactly does this mean? If I'm driving along the road and there is a road off to the right of it with a car on it, am I expected to stop to allow the car to join the road? If there are no stop signs or yield signs facing me, how do I know for sure that there aren't stop signs or yield signs facing the other driver (i.e. if it really IS an uncontrolled intersection)?

The rule here seems different from the UK where drivers joining a road are expected to wait at the junction until they can join safely. I'm confuzzled!

Thanks 'yall!
Ed.

As far as I can see these intersections are very common in Holland, and I think in the UK too. Usually you will find uncontrolled intersections out there in the country and in quiet residential areas.
If you encounter an intersection and you see no sign or lights facing you, you can be assured that it is an uncontrolled intersection. If you see signs that indicate that you are driving on a major road, all traffic approaching the intersection from your left or right will see signs that they have to yield.
So the rule that applies here is that on an uncontrolled intersection you give the right of way to all traffic coming from your right.

I sincerely hope I haven't misinterpretted things. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Maybe it's just me, but it still seems a little strange that, while driving along a straight road, the onus is to give way to cars wanting to join or cross the road. It's very courteous, but it also seems like an accident begging to happen!

Also, there is often a stop or yield sign on the road joining the T intersection but nothing on the straight road. It's almost like you have to look, not only at signs facing you, but signs that may or may not be facing drivers joining the intersection.

It's no wonder the speed limits here are so low compared to the size of the roads. Looking out for pedestrians who just step off the pavement and assume the cars will stop, plus looking out for other cars that may or may not drive out in front of you depending on whether the intersection is controlled or not - you need cars equipped with radar warning systems!

Uncontrolled intersections are not as unusual as you might think. The residential streets in the UK have them too! You probably just dealt with them there without thinking about them.

Just bear in mind that the driver on the other road thinks he is on the straight road and you are wanting to cross it!

This would not apply to the 'main' road where all of the side streets will have stop signs.

The road markings help with this decision.

Forgive me if I'm being a bit slow here. It's been a long day!

The kind of situation I am thinking about is where the 'other' driver cannot reasonably think he is on the straight road. He will be at the end of a straight road, unable to continue on and will have to turn either left or right onto another straight road, as shown in the example on page 74 of the basic driver manual.

In the UK, a driver leaving one road at its end and turning left or right onto another straight road would be expected to yield to the drivers already on it regardless of where the road was - unless I've been missing something all these years!! From what I am getting here, the drivers already on the straight road are expected to yield to people leaving, what are effectively, side streets, unless there is a yield or stop sign at the end of the side street. How will the driver on the 'straight' road know this - unless there is a sign facing him saying 'This is an uncontrolled intersection' or 'The other guy doesn't have a stop sign'!!.

What's the definition of a 'main' road then, where I can expect the side streets to have stop signs? Knowing this may help - at least I will only have to think about non-main roads then!

Maybe, after 10+ years of driving, I should just have some lessons!!

UK driving can not be compared to the driving in Canada as a whole, even in canada, different provinces have different rules when it comes to driving. For example, you can turn right on red in Ontario, but that is after stopping first at the red, in Quebec and other places, that is not allowed.

Also remember when takling a driving test or after the test, to always look left and right when driving through and intersection, just in case some nutter jumps the light.

Four way stops, the rules are pretty clear here, yield to the first person to get there. When you turn left onto a left lane during your test, always get back onto the right hand side.

Here's a link to the drivers handbook.

Basic Driver Handbook

Check out the diagram on page 74 "T" Intersection (A yields to B). Doesn't this seem odd to anybody else? Am I going mad? Wibble.

I remember that from my driving lessons - in practice it doesn't happen very often, most intersections have some sort of sign or road marking. My driving instructor had to take me half way across Calgary to find the right sort of intersection.

In reality people look really confused when you yield to them so that they can turn left

In residential areas main roads usually have lines down the middle, the side streets don't and there's usually a line across the road at the corner.

I also only know of one roundabout in Calgary - it's near the university - it's too strange a concept over here.

Mrs G just made two points to me:
1) I drive into an uncontrolled T interchange every day - I've never known anyone coming from my left to yield to me - if I even tried, they probably t-bone me.
2) Road markings are ****ing pointless for a large part of the year - you can't see the lines for the snow!

This is a simple one to answer. Whoever posseses the largest vehicle has the right of way! How else do you explain the popularity of the Lincoln Navigator and the Chevy Suburban???

Iain

Those are hairdressers vehicles in Calgary - you want a Dodge Ram if you want right of way here .... if you try hard enough in one of those you can seriously dent a train.

In the Netherlands, whether you're on a main road or approaching the end of a road, you have to yield to all drivers coming from your right (i.e. on uncontrolled intersections). It doesn't surprise me that the same rule applies in Canada.
And giving the right of way is an obligation, having the right of way is, BY NO MEANS, a right. So be carefull!!!!!

Am I glad I'm gonna be a truck driver, eh.

Get used to paying almost a hundred bucks to fill the tank of your overgrown toy .... I like my little honda, it only costs thirty bucks to fill it.

There should be an "Eh?" smiley just for Canada - he would need a toque ...

<:-0

Its only fun until you have to swerve to avoid a deer / mouse / caribou. or accelerate out of trouble. or brake out of trouble. or drive on the usual rutted potholed canadian back jaring road with non independant suspension. trucks good if youve got a 5000lb load to move though

Not too many of those in Calgary