Beginner Driver Education · Vehicle Handling

Mastering Right Turns: Essential Vehicle Handling Tips in Ontario

Driviology Road Safety Education Team

What this actually means for you

Right turns look like the easiest manoeuvre in driving, and they are — until a pedestrian steps off the curb, a cyclist comes up on your right, or the corner is tighter than it looked. Most right-turn collisions happen at low speed, close to home, on turns the driver has made a hundred times.

Right Turns: Safe Vehicle Handling Techniques in Ontario

Indicate the Turn:

• Use your right turn signal well in advance to inform other drivers of your intention to turn.

Slow Down:

• Reduce your speed as you approach the turn to maintain control and safety.

Check the Road Carefully:

• Look for pedestrians, cyclists, and other vehicles.
• Ensure there are no road signs or signals prohibiting the turn.

Make the Right Turn:

• Lean into the right-hand curb as much as possible.
• Avoid cutting into other lanes. Stay within your lane throughout the turn.

By following these steps, you can ensure a safe and legal right turn in Ontario.

 

Right turn on red lights

In Ontario, turning right at a red light is legal, but you must treat it as a stop sign. Follow these steps to ensure a safe and legal turn:

Come to a Complete Stop:

• Stop entirely at the red light before the crosswalk or stop line.

Check for Traffic:

• Yield to all traffic coming from the left, including vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists.

Ensure Clear Path:

• Only proceed with the turn if the road is clear and it is safe to do so.

Following these steps, you can make a safe and compliant right turn on red in Ontario.

Note: Other provinces may not allow right turns on red lights, so drivers must check the local laws of the jurisdiction they are driving in to ensure compliance. 

Using this on Ontario roads — and on your road test

In Ontario you may turn right on a red light unless a sign prohibits it — but only after a complete stop, and only after yielding to pedestrians and traffic. That full stop is one of the most-checked items on the G2 test, and rolling through it is one of the most common reasons students lose marks.

Questions drivers ask us

Can you turn right on a red light in Ontario?

Yes, unless a sign says otherwise — but only after coming to a complete stop and yielding to pedestrians and other traffic.

Can you fail your G2 for not stopping fully on a right turn on red?

Yes. Rolling through the stop is a traffic violation and a serious error on the test.

When should I signal for a right turn?

Well in advance of the turn — signal early enough that drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians behind and around you can react, then check mirrors and your blind spot as you move over.