Driving in Canada

[wendym]

Hi
I have a friend who is very nervous about driving in Canada. We have only driven in the USA but was trying to give him some tips. Can you turn right on a stop sign in Canada like you can in USA? I did try to find the Canadian Highway Code but nothing came up in a Google search - could anybody point me in the right direction?
Many thanks
Wendy

 

[DSNY FN]

You can turn right at a stop sign and you can make right turns at red lights for the most part I thin in Quebec you can't but don't remember for certain. Rules are very similar to driving in the US only better roads than the States for the most part to.

 

[pumpkinboy]

Same rules as the US mostly, right on red in Québec allowed. Mainly better roads and more considerate drivers. That being said, Montréal drivers are relatively aggressive, but they are good drivers for the most part (unlike Boston drivers who are both aggressive and bad drivers.

 

[mbb]

Originally posted by wendym
- could anybody point me in the right direction?

LOL!!

Although I don't think you meant it that way!!

A sign will say "No Turns on Red Light" if not permitted at that particular intersection.
Flashing green means left turn permitted now.
4 Way Stop signs at an intersection means take turns...whoever got there first, gets to go first.

We're a *fairly* friendly, considerate buch of drivers...though the 401 at 5pm might be a little hairy...but no worse than the drive through lineup at a Tim Horton's LOL!!

 

[Cruisin]

If you have driven successfully in the USA, you will be able to drive sucessfully in Canada. There is not really much difference.

Happy travelling and have a great time here in Canada

 

[wendym]

Good one mbb!! I certainly wasn't thinking was I!
I will pass on all these to my friend. He has never driven in the US either but knew we had and wanted some advice.
Thank you.
Wendy

 

[wendym]

Didn't want to show my ignorance as to what or who Tim Hortons was - wow those Timbits look gorgeous!
Wendy

 

[CdnDisneyNut]

I think only in the province of Quebec you are allowed to make a right turn on a red light unles there are signs posted prohitting turns on right.
A quick speed conversion from k/ph to mph is multiply the speed by .6
100 k/ph X .6 = 60 mph
90 k/ph X .6 = 54
80 k/ph X .6 48
50 k/ph X .6 30

 

[faithinkarma]

are the signs in Quebec still all in French?

 

[tigercat]

CndDisneyNut did you really mean that only in Quebec you could turn right on a red unless a sign indicated not too? I know in Ontario as well as B.C. you can turn right on a red. Also, there are certain one way streets that turn into one way streets that you can make a left onto the street on a red. It is usually indicated by a sign above the light.
tigercat

 

[jersey shark]

Regarding differences between Canada & USA when it comes to driving, there aren't many, although I think I recall being warned when renting a car in Quebec that turning right on red is not permitted.

The biggest differences I've noted is that the "freeways" in Canada don't quite seem up to Interstate standards (close, but not quite). Examples of what I mean, comparing the 401 to say 1-81 in upstate NY (or any other interstate) are as follows...

a) right shoulder is paved and extends out almost as wide as the width of a lane in the US...in Canada you often get 2 feet of right shoulder then gravel.

b) left shoulder is also wider on interstates than in Canada

c) lanes themselves seem slightly narrower in Canada

d) Cdn mileage signs are not made with high quality "reflector stuff"...you can barely read them at night (at least in Ontario)
There also seems to be fewer of them.

e) some cities have a terribly underdeveloped freeway network...

i) Vancouver is such a beautiful place but has a fundamental flaw....severely difficult to get around in; drives me nuts as a visitor, can't imagine living with that every day!

ii) Edmonton is a wonderful city too but what's with the "bits and pieces" freeway belt around it? ....you think you're fine cruising along then suddenly, here come the traffic lights! Why is there no continuous freeway loop around the city?? Ditto for Calgary!

iii) Toronto before the 407 came along was a total disaster....that freeway was needed 20 years ago (but thankfully it's here now).
Could probably use another "outer" loop (10 -12 miles north of the 407) very soon. By the way, the way the rental car companies deal with the automated toll is a serious rip-off (getting a bill in the mail a few weeks after the fact plus an $8.50 admin fee has got to be one of the worst "let's screw the visitors"
tactics ever!)

iv) Montreal is in a class by itself for confusing roads/dangerous ramps/generally weird highway design

Having said all of this, the drivers in Canada do seem to be generally friendly and laid-back (exception: the speed demons in Quebec).

And, I really love visiting Canada...it's just the roads that irk me(and restaurant food quality) but that's a whole other thread!!!

Happy St Pat's Week!

 

[faithinkarma]

Regarding differences between Canada & USA when it comes to driving, there aren't many, although I think I recall being warned when renting a car in Quebec that turning right on red is not permitted.

They have changed that rule I believe you can now turn right on red except in Montreal. Confused yet?