Ensuring that your left turns are the correct ones and knowing which lane to change to are some tricky parts of driving. Luckily, this article tells you all about the left turn principles and how you can follow them immaculately as per ICBC rules!
Which Lanes to Change for Different Types of Roads
From A Two-Way Road to A Two-Way Road:
Switch to the center lane, keep a steady speed, and smoothly drive into the center lane of the other two-way road that you wanted to shift to.
From A One-Way onto A Two-Way Road
Change lanes from the left into the center one.
From A Two-Way onto A One-Way Road
Change lanes from the center into the left one.
From A One-Way onto A One-Way Road
Safely move from the left lane of the first road to the left lane of the second one-way road.
While Driving in Two-Way Left-Turn Lanes:
These lanes give a chance to turn back without blocking any traffic to vehicles that are traveling on them and turning left.
This is useful as it allows you to turn left whenever you like, especially in the middle of a traffic block. So, you will just have to be careful while using the lane as other vehicles will also be using this lane and turning left just as you will be!
ICBC Approved Tips While Making Left Turns
While driving on the road, you are responsible for your safety along with many others, including fellow drivers and pedestrians. Here are some handy tips for you to keep in mind while on the road and when making left turns.
- Use your indicator lights whenever you maneuver your car into another lane or make a turn.
- Scan every intersection you reach. Check all directions attentively; left, right, center, and then left again to be extra sure.
- Before making a turn, reduce the speed of your vehicle while making a left turn (or any other turn, for that matter) to ensure safe turning.
- Maintain a distance of about 1m between the curb and your vehicle.
- Upon reaching the intersection, make the turn once your car’s bumper enters the intersection.
- Make sure you take regular shoulder checks while turning to look out for other vehicles and bicycles.
- If there is no red light or stop sign, carefully scan the roads and intersections in front of you to make sure that no other vehicles will get in your way.
- Once you have successfully turned, make sure the blinker light is turned off and that your vehicle turns back to its original/normal speed right away.
And don’t forget to check your mirrors before you start driving!
Turning Left at A Traffic Light
Well, the basic rule is, first come first serve. Whoever stopped first has the right to go first, and if you stopped second, then you will move after the first car has left. If you stop at the same time as the other vehicle.
Now, moving towards the signals, the first one is the separate left signal. If you see a green arrow pointing left, the traffic that is on your right or the vehicles that have to travel straight through will be guided through the red/yellow/or any other set of signals. Your time to stop will come when the green arrow will turn yellow.
For the left signal that you see on regular traffic lights, where the green arrow is right at the bottom of the normal traffic lights, you can turn left once it turns green, even if the other light is red. If the green arrow is not lit anymore and the other green light is on, you can still make a left turn. Another thing to note would be that these green arrows only during peak traffic hours.
For the flashing red lights, you must stop completely. These should not be taken lightly; you can make the left turn once the signal has stopped, the way is clear, and it seems safe to move to another lane or road.
For multiple turning lanes, follow these tips:
- In the case of more than one turn – left or right – look cautiously at all the signals, pavement markings, and road signs.
- If you need to make a turn from the far-left lane, you must turn into the far-left lane of the other road too.
- If the lane you are turning into is right next to it, you should turn into the lane that is next to the far-left lane of the other road.