Steve_P

A mile or two? Hmmmm slight exaggeration there.


I was taught that flashing red was come to a complete stop and when safe proceed.

Steady (static) red is come to a complete stop and do not proceed until light turns green.

So not quite pointless.

Alberta_Rose

....unless you are turning right, when you may proceed if it's safe to do so.... (or left into a one-way system, unless it says otherwise....)

hi from Ingerland btw! (counting the days til I can come back home to Calgary!)

iaink

Which brings us nicely to "Right turn on Red"....


see, I did think of something less cliched to add.

With one or two exceptions its OK to turn Right on a red light if safe to do so after making a full stop (or at least a rolling stop). Watch out though...pedestrians have the right of way.

EDIT..Oh well, morwenna beat me to it...


How about "Drink Canada Dry" is an advertising slogan, not a challenge to be taken up!

Butch Cassidy

Bring us some decent curry

Butch Cassidy

Oh thanks a bunch Iain
I've spent the last 2.5 years thinking I'd help achieve the goal and you tell me they didnt mean it that way.

Anybody know a good liver specialist?

Biiiiink

You could well be right, I was thinking of a particular flashing red on a left turn across 3 lanes of traffic that are constant, and a green filter arrow which comes on later anyway... but I forgot about a flashing red at a stop sign near here - I assumed that one was just to attract attention, but if you're saying it's stop and go if safe, the first one makes a bit more sense although it can never be used! One of the hazards of handing out licenses to is that they probably aren't going to read the road rules... or is that just me?!

There's another useful one for first visits - watch out for stop signs. And when you're on a 4-way road and you think it's a 4-way stop, check for the back of stop signs on all other roads first, it could well be a 3-way stop

Edit: oh and funeral corteges carry orange penants and need to be stopped for, mourners cars and all, not just the hearse... that was news to me. I got the drift quickly though, I mean they weren't stopping anyway!

And pull over for emergency vehicles on the highway, they sit with their lights on to catch people (inc. US tourists) not pulling over, and it's an expensive one - around 500 dollars here iirc?

Surrey Expat

Yikes! Flashing red is 4 way stop, so if the light control is out and you get flashing red it has become a stop and proceed when safe. Flashing green is only an advance turn if its an arrow, otherwise, some light controls go off during certain hours and the flashing green has right of way, the cross street is flashing red (don't take this for granted though. Flashing amber, watch for pedestrians, what you do after that is anyones guess.

4 way stop is a free for all.

iaink

Given the amount of wrong / confliciting / misinformation so far, maybe the BEST advice regarding driving is to google the transport ministry page for the provinces you are planning to drive in, and look for the online version of the drivers handbook to check this stuff out for yourself before you arrive...

The provinces are largely similar, but I know that in quebec for example, (or perhaps just some parts of quebec?) that right turn on red is not permitted, and I suspect there are subtle differences in the laws from province to province.

Heres the link to the ontario one...
http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dan...ok/index.shtml

This might be a useful cross provincial site...although I didnt stop to check it out too much;
http://www.drivershandbook.com/

stepnek

I know that it's not allowed on the Island of Montreal. There are signs indicating so as you drive across the various bridges. It would be nice to have everything the same but al least I've managed so far to remember not to turn on a red when we've been there visiting family.

Biiiiink

That is different

I'd never seen flashing green in Manitoba, I don't think they have it there at all. Before Ontario I only ever saw flashing orange on lights that were on at peak times only - a lot of sets of lights were only during the day/commuter hours. I don't think I saw flashing red in Manitoba.

Steve_P

That's a few of interesting points.

Regular traffic lights the left turn filter can be before the green for through traffic it can be after the green for through traffic or it can be at the same time. All depends on the intersection I have no idea what the criteria are for determining which is which. I'm not sure I've ever seen one like you are describing with a left turn crossing multi lanes of traffic.


I was originally thinking of the flashing red associated with a stop sign when I wrote my original reply but it also applies if the regular traffic lights are not functioning correctly, they will usually default to flashing red.

I think your point about reading the rules is valid. How many do just that? Perhaps they should at least hand a person the drivers handbook for the applicable province when they exchange licences or maybe they do already, I don't know.

Most but unfortunately not all intersections with three way or four way stops usually have 3 way or 4 way just under the stop sign itself in Alberta, don't remember if it's the same in other provinces. But I think you are right, it is always a good idea to count the stop signs if you are not sure.

Didn't know about the orange pennants. I wonder if it is the same in Alberta. I do know you are supposed to stop for them.

Pull over for emergency vehicles anytime they approach with their lights flashing. I've never understood those that don't. Also in Alberta if you are passing an emergency vehicle with lights flashing (police, ambulance, or even tow truck) in the lane right next to said vehicle you must slow to 60kph, if you move over to leave an empty lane between you and the emergncy vehicles you may continue at normal highway speed. Don't know if this applies in other provinces.

I see others have responded but I'm too lazy to change my reply if it's redundant.

Biiiiink

I"ll need to take a pic next time of that flashing red junction. I guess it would make sense at 3am when there's no cars on the road in that it lets you do a left when you'd otherwise have to wait for the whole cycle, but it's oh-so pointless during the day, you're never getting across until the green filter comes on. Are any lights on sensors here - that would remove the need for the flashing-red turn lane? I haven't noticed any sensors.

I don't think I've seen flashing red when the lights are out here, they're always completely out - but yep, another one mentioning for first time visitors. It's not like the UK where the major road takes priority and the minor road will have a heck of a job getting out if the lights are out - it's a very civilised affair when lights are out here.

Also useful for first timers is don't park on the "other" side of the road, and don't park in front of fire hydrants

Re pulling over - I don't think it's normal to stop in the UK for emergency vehicles on the other side of the road, just a slow down and awareness of them in case you need to move, but I've never seen people stop completely as here.

Pulling over on the motorway is common sense but I think they should post more signage about it all the same. There's a catalogue of people being fined heavily in the local rag here, and it's usually out-of-province people who don't know. I only knew about it from someone on here getting fined in Alberta - was it Butch?

So, yep, there's nothing like actually reading the rules of the road I did pick one up the other week but I put it back down when I saw the price of it, why aren't paper copies free?

The4BellsLondon

where are you Morwenna??

Steve_P

Morwenna is currently vacationing in the UK.

The4BellsLondon

I know that!! just wondered where - as we are having a mini be meet at mine tommorrow - I am picking Mandymoochops up from Gatwick at Silly Oclock tomoz morning!