Traffic control signals
119(1)Except when otherwise directed by a peace officer, drivers and pedestrians shall obey the instructions exhibited by a traffic control signal exhibiting the words “Go”, “Passez”, “Caution”, “Attention”, or “Stop”, “Arrêt”, or exhibiting different coloured lights successively, one at a time or in combination or with arrows, in accordance with the following provisions:
(a)
green alone or “Go”, “Passez”,
(i)
the driver of a vehicle facing the signal may proceed straight through or turn right or left unless a sign at such place prohibits either such turn, but shall yield the right-of-way to other vehicles or to pedestrians lawfully within the intersection or on an adjacent cross walk at the time such signal is exhibited, and
(ii)
a pedestrian facing the signal may proceed across the roadway within any marked or unmarked cross walk;
(b)
yellow or amber alone or “Caution”, “Attention”, when shown immediately following the green or “Go”, “Passez”, signal,
(i)
the driver of a vehicle facing the signal is thereby warned that the red or “Stop”, “Arrêt”, signal will be exhibited immediately thereafter, and such driver shall not enter the intersection unless he is so close thereto that it is impossible to stop before so entering, and
(ii)
a pedestrian facing the signal is thereby warned that there is insufficient time to cross the roadway in safety, and if he starts to cross he shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles;
(c)
red alone or “Stop”, “Arrêt”,
(i)
subject to the other provisions of this paragraph, the driver of a vehicle that is approaching an intersection and facing the signal shall bring his vehicle to a full stop at a clearly marked Stop line, or if none, then immediately before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or if none, then immediately before entering the intersection, and shall not enter the intersection until the green alone or “Go”, “Passez”, signal is exhibited, but the driver may cautiously enter the intersection for the purpose of making a right turn after bringing his vehicle to a full stop, and shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within a crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection, and
(ii)
no pedestrian facing such signal shall enter the roadway unless he can do so safely and without interfering with any vehicular traffic;
(d)
yellow or amber in conjunction with a red light,
(i)
the driver of a vehicle facing such signal shall stop and leave his vehicle standing as required by subparagraph (
c)(i),
(ii)
a pedestrian may proceed across the intersection in any direction;
(e)
a green arrow or a green arrow in conjunction with a red light,
(i)
the driver of a vehicle facing such signal may enter the intersection to make the movement indicated by such arrow, but shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within a cross walk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection, and
(ii)
no pedestrian facing such signal shall enter the roadway unless he can do so safely and without interfering with any vehicular traffic.
119(2)Where a traffic control signal is erected and maintained at a place other than an intersection, the provisions of subsection (1) apply and drivers and pedestrians shall obey the instructions exhibited thereby; but a driver, when required to stop his vehicle, shall stop at a clearly marked stop line, or if none, then at or opposite the signal.
119(3)Notwithstanding subparagraph (1)(
c)(i), the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure and local authorities may cause traffic control devices to be erected prohibiting a right turn on a red alone or “Stop”, “Arrêt”, signal and when such traffic control devices are erected no person shall make a right turn when a traffic control signal exhibits a red alone or “Stop”, “Arrêt”, signal.
1955, c.13, s.103; 1961-62, c.62, s.34; 1972, c.48, s.36, 37; 1978, c.D-11.2, s.26; 2006, c.13, s.7; 2010, c.31, s.85