U-Turns on main roads legal?

[nwwong]

Are they allowed? By main roads, I mean Steeles, Finch etc. Reason why I ask is that every morning, I see a TON of people do U-turns on carlingview. There's normally a huge lineup on the left-turn lane on Carlingview turning west to Renforth. So there's always cars driving past the intersection, pulling a U-turn and than turning right (west) at the intersection. I always thought it was illegal to do a u-turn on a main road. (There's no no u-turn sign btw).

[masterballer]

Are they allowed? By main roads, I mean Steeles, Finch etc. Reason why I ask is that every morning, I see a TON of people do U-turns on carlingview. There's normally a huge lineup on the left-turn lane on Carlingview turning west to Renforth. So there's always cars driving past the intersection, pulling a U-turn and than turning right (west) at the intersection. I always thought it was illegal to do a u-turn on a main road. (There's no no u-turn sign btw).

well didnt you just answer your own question?

[cwb27]

Off the top of my head (There's a pretty good chance something I will say isn't correct)

U-Turns ARE legal as long the following conditions are met:
-There is no posted "No U-Turn sign"
-You can see clearly for 150 meters in each direction (i.e no hills/turns)
-You are more than 150 meters from an intersection if you chose not to do one in an intsection.

[yiggy]

The way I've always thought of it is this, a U-turn is allowed whenever there is no sign saying it's disallowed.

So no u-turn sign obviously means no u-turns. But if nothing is present, I say it's allowed.

This may or may not follow the rules of the road, this is just my personal interpretation.

[Alvito]

Off the top of my head (There's a pretty good chance something I will say isn't correct)

U-Turns ARE legal as long the following conditions are met:
-There is no posted "No U-Turn sign"
-You can see clearly for 150 meters in each direction (i.e no hills/turns)
-You are more than 150 meters from an intersection if you chose not to do one in an intsection.

i think thats right.

[HammerTime]

http://freespace.virgin.net/john.cletheroe/usa_can/driving/uturn.htm

[PennyArcade]

well, YD teaches 3-point turning, which is legal. Dunno about uturns.

[ynot]

well, YD teaches 3-point turning, which is legal. Dunno about uturns.
So according to YD, on a six lane road like Steeles, I have to make a 3-point turn? Sounds foolish. I think the 3-point turn is taught for making a u-turn on small streets.

[nwwong]

Mm interesting. Your even allowed to make a u-turn in an intersection (starting from left turn lane?)

The reason why I wasn’t sure is because I’ve heard of people getting busted by the cops at night for turning right in an intersection at a red light, pulling a u-turn and turning right again to avoid waiting for a traffic light.

[EH100501AC]

well, YD teaches 3-point turning, which is legal. Dunno about uturns.

So according to YD, on a six lane road like Steeles, I have to make a 3-point turn? Sounds foolish. I think the 3-point turn is taught for making a u-turn on small streets.

lol Dunno anyone who can do a successful U-Turn on a residential road unless you have a Kei car.

[dirkpitt]

http://freespace.virgin.net/john.cletheroe/usa_can/driving/uturn.htm

Excellent link.

A couple of years back I read a newspaper article interviewing a police officer about U-Turns. In Alberta it is legal to make a U-turn unless:
-there is a sign posted indicating that you cannot, or
-it is at a lit intersection (received a fine for this one myself many years ago).

[hightech]

Even if U turn is legal, if you make one and cause the oncoming vehicles to slam on their brakes, you could be charged with failing to provide right of way, and improper turn. From my readings, this is indeed 2 charges as you blocked incoming cars and made an improper turn that risked the safety of others on the road.

I'm no lawyer in these matters, but I would suggest that you use common sense.

I find it surprising how people like to drive on the opposite side of the road into incoming traffic to to advance 6 cars and get to the left turn lane. I see this everyday. Sometimes you wonder if god missed handing out brain cells to people because I can't see anyone with sound judgement do this.

[kingfencer]

everything is legal as long as you don't get caught, be prepared to pay fines if you do.

[ynot]

lol Dunno anyone who can do a successful U-Turn on a residential road unless you have a Kei car.
It's quite easy, you just have to go fast enough and yank the hand brake.

[PennyArcade]

So according to YD, on a six lane road like Steeles, I have to make a 3-point turn? Sounds foolish. I think the 3-point turn is taught for making a u-turn on small streets.

No, you didn't read my message correctly. I only stated that YD teaches you a 3 point turn, not when to use it.

Anyway, since no one is actually bothering to read the HTA, here is the official word:

U-turns prohibited

143. No driver or operator of a vehicle upon a highway shall turn the vehicle so as to proceed in the opposite direction when,

(a) upon a curve where traffic approaching the vehicle from either direction cannot be seen by the driver of the vehicle within a distance of 150 metres;

(b) on a railway crossing or within 30 metres of a railway crossing;

(c) upon 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 metres; or

(d) within 150 metres of a bridge, viaduct or tunnel where the driver’s view is obstructed within such distance. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 143.



So yes, you can uturn. BTW, a highway is defined as any public road.

And please, use your common sense and don't point out convoluted loopholes.

[achc]

I think that site answered the question but just want to share something.

I heard this story from someone else so not 100% if its ture.

He had to turn around on a street with a NO U-TURN sign very clearly posted. He even spot a cop there. What he did was made an "e" turn. The cop of couse pulled him over.

But he won the case in court that he was doing an "e" turn.

If you get a picture in your head of the cursive letter "e" in lowercase, being in North American, what he did was go to the left side of the road (head on direction), do a turn, and ended up on the wrong side again but did the 180. U turn was based on the letter U. There is not really a specific meaning to it. ANd with that point, I was told he did not get charge.

I tried that many times myself afterwards at places with NO U-Turn signs (not on purpose but when I had to turn around) but never had a cop around so I still don't know.

[goob3r]

I think that site answered the question but just want to share something.

I heard this story from someone else so not 100% if its ture.

He had to turn around on a street with a NO U-TURN sign very clearly posted. He even spot a cop there. What he did was made an "e" turn. The cop of couse pulled him over.

But he won the case in court that he was doing an "e" turn.

If you get a picture in your head of the cursive letter "e" in lowercase, being in North American, what he did was go to the left side of the road (head on direction), do a turn, and ended up on the wrong side again but did the 180. U turn was based on the letter U. There is not really a specific meaning to it. ANd with that point, I was told he did not get charge.

I tried that many times myself afterwards at places with NO U-Turn signs (not on purpose but when I had to turn around) but never had a cop around so I still don't know.

I call BS. U-turning has nothing to do with what alphabet letter you are doing. "No officer, I was doing a C-turn, not a U turn. Didn't you notice the little curves at the beginning and end?"

[achc]

U-turning has nothing to do with what alphabet letter you are doing.

Then what is the def'n of "U-Turn"?

[springbok]

in Alberta U-turns at the following places are illegal........(no matter if there is a sign or not)

- U-turn between intersections
- u-turn at public access gateways
- u-turns near hills/curves
- u-turns at an intersection controlled by traffic lights.

[goob3r]

Then what is the def'n of "U-Turn"?

A 180 degree turn for the purpose of heading in the opposite direction of traffic. That's my definition, and I'm sure the definition of any competent judge. Or try to claim that you are doing a J-turn or n-turn.