Acts and Regulations

M-17 - Motor Vehicle Act

Section 161
Disposition versions

Full text
Turning at intersection or point on roadway, left turn lanes, different course
161(0.1)In this section
“left turn lane” means, with reference to a roadway on which a vehicle is travelling, a lane designated by a traffic control device as a lane from which left turns may be made by vehicles travelling in the direction of travel of the vehicle;(voie de virage à gauche)
“right turn lane” means, with reference to a roadway on which a vehicle is travelling, a lane designated by a traffic control device as a lane from which right turns may be made by vehicles travelling in the direction of travel of the vehicle.(voie de virage à droite)
161(1)The driver of a vehicle intending to turn at an intersection shall
(a) both approach for a right turn and make the right turn
(i) subject to subparagraph (ii), as closely as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway or, if there is a right turn lane, in the right turn lane, or
(ii) if there is more than one right turn lane, in one of the right turn lanes, without changing in the intersection from one lane to another lane in which traffic is lawfully permitted to travel in the same direction,
(b) if traffic is permitted to move in both directions on each roadway entering the intersection, approach for a left turn in that portion of the right side of the roadway nearest to its centre line and in the left turn lane if one is designated, pass to the right of the centre line where it enters the intersection and, after entering the intersection, make the left turn so as to leave the intersection to the immediate right of the centre line of the roadway being entered, and whenever practicable make the left turn in that portion of the intersection to the left of the centre of the intersection,
(c) at any intersection where traffic is restricted to one direction on one or more of the roadways but where there is no left turn lane, approach for a left turn in the intersection in the extreme left-hand lane in which traffic is lawfully permitted to move in the direction of travel of the turning vehicle and, after entering the intersection, make the left turn so as to leave the intersection, as nearly as practicable, in the extreme left-hand lane in which traffic is lawfully permitted to move in the same direction as the vehicle upon the roadway being entered, and
(d) at any intersection where traffic is restricted to one direction on one or more of the roadways and where there is at least one left turn lane, approach for a left turn in the intersection in one of the left turn lanes and, after entering the intersection, make the left turn so as to leave the intersection as nearly as practicable, in the left-hand lane or one of the left-hand lanes in which traffic is lawfully permitted to move in the same direction of travel as the vehicle upon the roadway being entered, without changing in the intersection from one lane to another lane in which traffic is lawfully permitted to travel in the same direction.
161(1.1)The driver of a vehicle intending to turn at a point on a roadway that is not at an intersection shall
(a) both approach for a right turn and make the right turn as closely as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway,
(b) if traffic is permitted to move in both directions on the roadway and if there is no left turn lane, both approach for a left turn and make the left turn from that portion of the right side of the roadway nearest to its centre line,
(c) if traffic is restricted to one direction on the roadway and if there is no left turn lane, both approach for a left turn and make the left turn from the extreme left-hand lane in which traffic is lawfully permitted to move in the direction of travel of the vehicle, and
(d) if there is a left turn lane in the direction of travel of the vehicle, both approach for a left turn in that lane and make the left turn from that lane.
161(1.2)The driver of a vehicle travelling on a roadway that has a left turn lane in the direction of travel of the vehicle designated by a traffic control device solely for making left turns shall not use the left turn lane
(a) to overtake another vehicle travelling on the driver’s right on the roadway,
(b) to pass another vehicle travelling on the driver’s right on the roadway, or
(c) for any other purpose that is not expressly authorized under this Act.
161(2)Local authorities in their respective jurisdictions may cause markers, buttons, or signs to be placed within or adjacent to intersections and thereby direct that a different course from that specified in this section be travelled by vehicles turning at an intersection, and when markers, buttons, or signs are so placed no driver of a vehicle shall turn a vehicle at an intersection other than as directed by such markers, buttons, or signs.
1955, c.13, s.143; 1998, c.30, s.10
Rules of the road
161(0.1)In this section
“left turn lane” means, with reference to a roadway on which a vehicle is travelling, a lane designated by a traffic control device as a lane from which left turns may be made by vehicles travelling in the direction of travel of the vehicle;
“right turn lane” means, with reference to a roadway on which a vehicle is travelling, a lane designated by a traffic control device as a lane from which right turns may be made by vehicles travelling in the direction of travel of the vehicle.
161(1)The driver of a vehicle intending to turn at an intersection shall
(a) both approach for a right turn and make the right turn
(i) subject to subparagraph (ii), as closely as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway or, if there is a right turn lane, in the right turn lane, or
(ii) if there is more than one right turn lane, in one of the right turn lanes, without changing in the intersection from one lane to another lane in which traffic is lawfully permitted to travel in the same direction,
(b) if traffic is permitted to move in both directions on each roadway entering the intersection, approach for a left turn in that portion of the right side of the roadway nearest to its centre line and in the left turn lane if one is designated, pass to the right of the centre line where it enters the intersection and, after entering the intersection, make the left turn so as to leave the intersection to the immediate right of the centre line of the roadway being entered, and whenever practicable make the left turn in that portion of the intersection to the left of the centre of the intersection,
(c) at any intersection where traffic is restricted to one direction on one or more of the roadways but where there is no left turn lane, approach for a left turn in the intersection in the extreme left-hand lane in which traffic is lawfully permitted to move in the direction of travel of the turning vehicle and, after entering the intersection, make the left turn so as to leave the intersection, as nearly as practicable, in the extreme left-hand lane in which traffic is lawfully permitted to move in the same direction as the vehicle upon the roadway being entered, and
(d) at any intersection where traffic is restricted to one direction on one or more of the roadways and where there is at least one left turn lane, approach for a left turn in the intersection in one of the left turn lanes and, after entering the intersection, make the left turn so as to leave the intersection as nearly as practicable, in the left-hand lane or one of the left-hand lanes in which traffic is lawfully permitted to move in the same direction of travel as the vehicle upon the roadway being entered, without changing in the intersection from one lane to another lane in which traffic is lawfully permitted to travel in the same direction.
161(1.1)The driver of a vehicle intending to turn at a point on a roadway that is not at an intersection shall
(a) both approach for a right turn and make the right turn as closely as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway,
(b) if traffic is permitted to move in both directions on the roadway and if there is no left turn lane, both approach for a left turn and make the left turn from that portion of the right side of the roadway nearest to its centre line,
(c) if traffic is restricted to one direction on the roadway and if there is no left turn lane, both approach for a left turn and make the left turn from the extreme left-hand lane in which traffic is lawfully permitted to move in the direction of travel of the vehicle, and
(d) if there is a left turn lane in the direction of travel of the vehicle, both approach for a left turn in that lane and make the left turn from that lane.
161(1.2)The driver of a vehicle travelling on a roadway that has a left turn lane in the direction of travel of the vehicle designated by a traffic control device solely for making left turns shall not use the left turn lane
(a) to overtake another vehicle travelling on the driver’s right on the roadway,
(b) to pass another vehicle travelling on the driver’s right on the roadway, or
(c) for any other purpose that is not expressly authorized under this Act.
161(2)Local authorities in their respective jurisdictions may cause markers, buttons, or signs to be placed within or adjacent to intersections and thereby direct that a different course from that specified in this section be travelled by vehicles turning at an intersection, and when markers, buttons, or signs are so placed no driver of a vehicle shall turn a vehicle at an intersection other than as directed by such markers, buttons, or signs.
1955, c.13, s.143; 1998, c.30, s.10