U-turns at lights

[Donald G]

In California it must be legal to make a U-turn from a left turn lane at a traffic light and it seems to work reasonably well. I see a few people doing the same thing in Kelowna over the last few years and wonder how it would be if the same thing was made legal in BC.

[Fancy]

There are some restrictions:

Illegal U-Turns

Never make a U-turn:
•At or on a railroad crossing.
•On a divided highway by crossing a dividing section, curb, strip of land, or two sets of double yellow lines.
•Where you cannot see clearly 200 feet in each direction because of a curve, hill, rain, fog, or other reason.
•Where a "No U-Turn" sign is posted.
•When other vehicles may hit you.
•On a one-way street.
•In front of a fire station. Never use a fire station driveway to turn your vehicle around.
•In business districts. Areas with churches, apartments, multiple dwelling houses, clubs, and public buildings (except schools) are also considered to be business districts. Turn only at an intersection, unless a sign prohibits it, or where openings are provided for turns.

http://apps.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/hdbk/turns.htm

Drivers can't figure out roundabouts and merges here - can just see the carnage now. I do see drivers U-turn here periodically at an intersection - so far no mishaps.

[Donald G]

To Fancy ...

Your point is well taken. About the only thing left is to suggest that we make it legal to make a U-turn on a dual left turn signal when all through traffic has been stopped. Since we do not have many of those it would likely not make much difference to over all traffic.

[Bsuds]

Fancy's list missed one. In BC it's also illegal at an intersection with control lights.

[jimmy4321]

I don't think most BC drivers are capable, every third one would be doing a 5 point U turn

[Fancy]

Fancy's list missed one. In BC it's also illegal at an intersection with control lights.

The link is California - not BC.

[Donald G]

Glad you clarified that. Bsuds didn't realize that an I.Q. adjustment went along with the instructions. He's from BC. lol

[Donald G]

To Jimmy4321 ...

You mean like a "W" turn?

[kgcayenne]

Heyyyy look what I found:

http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/LOC ... e%20Act%20[RSBC%201996]%20c.%20318/00_Act/96318_05.xml#section168

Reverse turn
168 Except as provided by the bylaws of a municipality or the laws of a treaty first nation, a driver must not turn a vehicle so as to proceed in the opposite direction

(a) unless the driver can do so without interfering with other traffic, or,

(b) when he or she is driving

(i) on a curve,

(ii) on an approach to or near the crest of a grade where the vehicle cannot be seen by the driver of another vehicle approaching from either direction within 150 m,

(iii) at a place where a sign prohibits making a U-turn,

(iv) at an intersection where a traffic control signal has been erected, or

(v) in a business district, except at an intersection where no traffic control signal has been erected.

[Fancy]

Don't disagree with it - can't imagine the u-turns at controlled intersections becoming the norm (scary enough as it is).

[Joe Public]

I've seen a few as well. Mostly those white and red learners plates.

[jimmy4321]

I've seen people do this about a dozen or so times on 97 heading west , mostly at Ethel,Richter,Pandosy intersections when traffic was backed up. I understand the urge to do this but it mostly happens when the traffics a hectic clutter#@#k and doesn't seem safe at those times.

[westbankkid]

Winnipeg has the only U turn traffic signal in north america. You can't turn left but when the U turn signal lights you make a u turn.

[tootall23]

In Las Vegas at an intersection we watched 6 cars in a row do a U-turn from the left turn lane. They had the green light to turn left and they did a complete U-turn.
Not sure if it was legal but saw it happen lots.

[mexi cali]

I often do a ewey in the Boyd sparking lot across Leon when I want to turn from Pandosy onto 97 but can't because I am impatient and it isn't fair that I have to wait my turn so I cross the highway and do the deed. No harm, no foul?

And to KG, I don't get example B that says "when he or she is driving"?