U-turns legal on streets?

[Doctordestiny]

A friend and I disagree on this. He says that it's legal to make a u-turn on public streets except at a traffic light. For example, you can make a legal u-turn at a four-way stop. I disagree. The Highway Traffic Act says that u-turns are legal as long as (I forget the actual wording I read) it's not dangerous. My friend says this means you could do a u-turn at a four-way stop or in front of your house. I feel that that would be considered dangerous. I once asked a cop if you can be going east and make a half u-turn to angle park in a west-bound direction. He said you can make that turn legally but if you're seen doing that and then when you exist the angle park to go west bound, you've completed a u-turn and can then be ticketed. Any cops on here or anyone who would know if u-turns are legal or not?

[puckluck]

No, you can't make a U-turn anywhere.

I'm probably wrong though.

So I guess it's up to the cop to consider if it was dangerous or not. I was with a friend who got a ticket for doing a u-turn so I assumed they were just all illegal, but I guess not.

• Do not make a U-turn unless you can do it safely and without interfering with other traffic.
• Outside urban areas U-turns are not permitted on a curve or near the crest of a hill where the driver of another vehicle cannot see your vehicle.

U-turns are not permitted in urban areas in the following situations:

• On a roadway between intersections.
• Where a sign prohibits making a U-turn.
• At an intersection controlled by a traffic-control signal (traffic lights).
• At an alley intersection.

[chemgear]

http://transportation.alberta.ca/2031.htm

Originally Posted by Doctordestiny

A friend and I disagree on this. He says that it's legal to make a u-turn on public streets except at a traffic light. For example, you can make a legal u-turn at a four-way stop. I disagree. The Highway Traffic Act says that u-turns are legal as long as (I forget the actual wording I read) it's not dangerous. My friend says this means you could do a u-turn at a four-way stop or in front of your house. I feel that that would be considered dangerous. I once asked a cop if you can be going east and make a half u-turn to angle park in a west-bound direction. He said you can make that turn legally but if you're seen doing that and then when you exist the angle park to go west bound, you've completed a u-turn and can then be ticketed. Any cops on here or anyone who would know if u-turns are legal or not?

The Traffic Safety Act is the one you want to consult.

You cannot do u-turns at intersections controlled by lights, where prohibited by a sign or between intersections.

So yes, you can do u-turns at a 4 way stop.

[TheSutterDynasty]

• Do not make a U-turn unless you can do it safely and without interfering with other traffic.
• Outside urban areas U-turns are not permitted on a curve or near the crest of a hill where the driver of another vehicle cannot see your vehicle.

U-turns are not permitted in urban areas in the following situations:

• On a roadway between intersections.
• Where a sign prohibits making a U-turn.
• At an intersection controlled by a traffic-control signal (traffic lights).
• At an alley intersection.

http://transportation.alberta.ca/2031.htm

[jar_e]

Originally Posted by Bent Wookie

The Traffic Safety Act is the one you want to consult.

You cannot do u-turns at intersections controlled by lights, where prohibited by a sign or between intersections.

So yes, you can do u-turns at a 4 way stop.

And to add to Bent, there is also a section under the TSA for doing a uturn when unsafe. Definitely up to interpretation but obviously you have to be caught as well...but if you were delaying traffic in any sense, its probably unsafe.

[Ducay]

The HTA is pretty vague in certain situations and as mentioned, pretty much any u-turn could be argued to be unsafe if the officer is so inclined.

That said, just don't do it in the areas mentioned above in the HTA, and make sure you're not interfering with any other traffic in any way and you should be good.

[Traditional_Ale]

I seem to remember reading or being told that it is illegal to u-turn at any controlled intersection. Lights and stop signs.

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by Traditional_Ale

I seem to remember reading or being told that it is illegal to u-turn at any controlled intersection. Lights and stop signs.

That is what I understand as well.

[Raekwon]

U-Turns are only illegal in the last week of every month . . .

[Shin Pad]

I know they aren't legal in Alberta, but down here in Phoenix, it seems to be normal to make U turns at lights and at intersections. I'm not sure if it is legal, but it sure happens a lot more often than in Alberta.

[ken0042]

It all depends on the jurisdiction. In Manitoba; not only are they legal at traffic lights, but I also had to do a U-turn at a light on my driver's test.

[Travis Munroe]

I got a ticket a couple years back for doing a u turn at one of the gravel connector roads on the highway. While some of these are marked for emergency vehicle only the one I turned around at had no markings. Apparently they are all illegal.

[billybob123]

They're legal unless otherwise marked in Ontario & Quebec; I got honked at the first week I moved to AB and couldn't figure out what the dude's problem was.

Turns out it's the law. That guy probably saved me a ticket.

[stampsx2]

What? U turns are illegal at light controlled intersections? Then what is the point of having a "No U turn sign" at some intersections.

Plus how are you suppose to change directions if you miss your turn. Are you suppose to drive 5 miles and hope for a cloverleaf. That doesn't make any sense.

With all this confusion in this thread and one contradiction after another how can this possibly be ticketed. It's almost as bad as who has the right of way at an uncontrolled intersection. Nobody seems to know for sure.

[mikey_the_redneck]

U-turns are legal anywhere the police can't catch you doing it.....

[TylerSVT]

Originally Posted by Traditional_Ale

I seem to remember reading or being told that it is illegal to u-turn at any controlled intersection. Lights and stop signs.

Ditto, As a general rule of thumb i never do U-turns. They are Dangerous and often times illegal and i dont like laws that are "up to interpretation".

[VANFLAMESFAN]

I pulled a U-Turn on Broadway and Cambie a couple days ago and felt pretty good about it.

[Doctordestiny]

Originally Posted by mikey_the_redneck

U-turns are legal anywhere the police can't catch you doing it.....

No, they aren't. You just didn't get caught and can brag about it, but that doesn't make it legal.

[Lucifer]

My mom got a ticket for doing a u-turn a few years ago. I laughed.

I mean seriously, not to sound like a ######bag, but did some people not go to driving school? Of course u-turns are illegal. That's what I was told anyways.