Rules of the road

Intersections & Turns

Turning left and right, driveways, and pedestrian crossovers.

Identify the control at the intersection, establish arrival order where there is none, and never enter if you cannot clear the far side.

Most intersection decisions in Ontario come down to two questions: who has the control, and who arrived first. Answer both before you move.

Key facts

At an uncontrolled intersection, if two vehicles arrive at the same time, the vehicle on the right has the right-of-way.
At an all-way stop, the first vehicle to come to a complete stop goes first; if two stop at the same time, the vehicle on the left yields to the one on the right.

At an all-way stop, the first vehicle to stop completely goes first.

Establish who goes first

At an intersection with no signs or signals, you must yield to a vehicle that reaches the intersection before you. If you and another vehicle arrive at the same time, the vehicle approaching from the right has the right-of-way.

At an all-way stop, whoever comes to a complete stop first proceeds first. If two vehicles stop at the exact same moment, the same left-yields-to-right rule applies as at an uncontrolled intersection.

Yield through a turn

A left-turning driver must wait for oncoming traffic to clear and for any pedestrian in or approaching the turn path to finish crossing before turning. A right-turning driver must yield to pedestrians in or approaching their path and check their blind spot for a cyclist coming up from behind.

Entering the road from a private driveway carries its own yield: you must give way to vehicles already on the road and to pedestrians on the sidewalk before pulling out, regardless of how the intersection itself is controlled.

Never enter what you cannot clear

If traffic ahead means you cannot get all the way through the intersection before it changes or the way blocks up, stop before entering and wait. This rule does not excuse a turning driver from also yielding to oncoming traffic and pedestrians.

At a pedestrian crossover, you must yield the right-of-way and wait until the pedestrian has completely crossed the road, not just cleared your own lane.

Common mistakes

Assuming the vehicle on the larger or busier road automatically goes first at an uncontrolled intersection.
Entering an intersection on a green light when the far side is blocked and you cannot clear it.
Turning left without checking that a pedestrian is still finishing their crossing.
Pulling out of a driveway without yielding to a pedestrian on the sidewalk first.

Check your understanding

1. You and another driver reach an uncontrolled intersection from different roads at the exact same moment. Who has the right-of-way?

The vehicle approaching from the right has the right-of-way.

2. You want to turn left and oncoming traffic has cleared, but a pedestrian is still in your turn path. What must you do?

Wait until the pedestrian has completely crossed before completing the turn; a left-turning driver must yield to pedestrians in or approaching the turn path.

3. Traffic ahead means you cannot fully cross an intersection before it backs up. What should you do?

Stop before entering and wait until you can cross completely without becoming stuck in the intersection.