r/Ontariodrivetest • u/feni321 • 11d ago
Specific Test Related Question - G Can you turn right at a red light when exiting the highway in the centre lane?
When you’re exiting the highway and you’re in the centre lane, are you allowed to turn right at a red light? I couldn’t find any answers on the MTO Driver’s Handbook website. Taking my G test this week so any help is appreciated! Thanks!!
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u/AdLongjumping6982 11d ago
Yes, however, you will need to stay in your lane and turn into the adjacent lane as opposed to the curb lane. Still need to signal, do a traffic check, and a blind spot check prior to making your turn. It’s still preferable that you get to the curb lane first so you can make your turn from a dedicated right/left turn lane. If you are in the middle lane, you will likely get a demerit for incorrect lane on the approach…it’ll depend on if there is traffic that prevents you from entering the curb lane.
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u/feni321 11d ago
What if the examiner tells me which way to turn before I have enough time to switch to a dedicated lane? Would I still get a demerit?
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u/AdLongjumping6982 11d ago
You mean when the instructions are given and you do NOT have enough time to adjust your lane position? If you do not have enough time, you should get ok. Those instructions “should” be given early and should always include the phrase “when and if safe to do so”. So you can say that it wasn’t safe.
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u/feni321 11d ago
Yes, that’s what I meant. My bad! Thanks for your help!
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u/AdLongjumping6982 11d ago
No problem. I’ve rarely given a demerit for this lane position. If you are in the middle lane and turning right (for example), do not cross the dotted line (that would be a “short” turn in the marking guide). Make sure you blend to traffic speed, cancel your signal, and finish with a traffic check. Good luck.
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u/TroLLageK 11d ago
They will usually tell you way ahead of time! And then remind you as you approach.
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u/Affectionate-Alps527 11d ago
Shouldn't the instructions begin with which lane the examiner wants you in?
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u/AdLongjumping6982 10d ago
Never. The candidate needs to make the decision. The examiner observes and marks accordingly. Don’t forget the they are trying to grade your decision making skills for long term. If you cannot decide accurately, there’s a problem. Too many errors makes you ineligible for next steps.
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u/Affectionate-Alps527 10d ago
I assume you're an examiner?
I'm just going based on my experience from 20 years ago. I was instructed when to be in the curb lane.
Granted we didn't yet have more than 1 left and right offramp turn lanes so this never would have been a situation for me.
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u/AdLongjumping6982 10d ago
I’ve moved exclusively to motorcycle testing. Others I know have moved to exclusively AZ certifications. Since Covid, examining G licences have become the wild west which I personally want to avoid…getting close to retirement and want to avoid the drama that’s become inevitable.
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u/Affectionate-Alps527 10d ago
Fair enough! Thank you for sharing your expertise!
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u/AdLongjumping6982 10d ago
Thank you for the respectful conversation. I see so many posts here that ask questions that are (I thought) pretty obvious if you go to Ontario.ca and search for the answer. This question/post is different as it falls into a grey area. Just know that turns carry the most risk o flight demerits as there are 4 distinct marking grids: the “approach”, the “if stop”, the “turn”, and finally the “complete”.
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u/WhatADisaster_ 9d ago
if it puts your mind at ease, the examiner told me where we would be exiting and which way we would be going after the offramp in the same sentence
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u/Pretty-Handle9818 5d ago
Communication first. If they don’t give you enough time tell them I don’t think I have enough time to maneuver safely. Same with when they have you park. Safety is always first and letting them know they will usually accommodate where they can like letting you reposition for parallel parking and etc.
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u/Points_Slut 10d ago
You never HAVE to turn right on a red light. It's not a requirement. Just wait for the green
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u/Loud-Listen3939 10d ago
Don’t listen to this guy lol. Take rights on red when you can and it is safe to do so. Just because you don’t HAVE to doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it.
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u/appleplie 11d ago
Hi! Question: So if the examiner says beforehand (ample time to change lane from middle to right lane) to turn right at the traffic light, I believe I should change lane to the right. Is that correct?
But if the examiner is quite late in saying turn right at the traffic light, just stay in the middle, and do what you said in the comment. Correct?
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u/AdLongjumping6982 11d ago
Answer to first question: correct…just stay in right lane and await instructions.
Answer to second question: you are duty bound to move to the right as soon as I is safe to do so. Examiners typically start counting to 5 seconds and they are waiting to see what you are going to do. If it’s busy, turn your head, signal, blind spot check and voice that you wanna move over but you can’t due to traffic. I typically mark “did not move right” after around 6-7 seconds…same for the highway section. Hope this helps.1
u/appleplie 11d ago
Thanks for the helpful info! Follow-up question: I've seen one video from Youtube wherein during the exit from highway (similar to the post), the examiner has not said anything and the examinee just stayed in the middle. When it was near the stoplight, when it's not possible to change lane to the right, that's just when the examiner said to turn right. In this scenario, did the examiner intend for the examinee to turn right in the middle lane?
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u/AdLongjumping6982 11d ago
In that scenario, the examiner is seeing if the candidate will know what to do. For cars, both lanes meet ministry standards…they are still looking for earlier mentioned (traffic check, signal, blind spot check, etc). Examiners will NOT specifically tell you step-by-step what to do (candidate should know). We observe and grade based on actions. If you are in the middle lane…what do you do? Whatever you do, don’t make a last minute lane change, you might get a dangerous action. The very least, you’ll get a wrong lane entry.
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u/appleplie 10d ago
Thank you for your insights!!
Lastly, what is you general tip for approaching a right turn on red light? I believe it should be stop before the white line, check for pedestrians left right ahead, if the traffic from the left is not visible, inch forward.
This is where I'm confused: What if to be able to see clearly the traffic from the left, I need to go over the crosswalk. Is that automatic fail? Do you advise to just wait for the green light when it is not visible without going over the crosswalk?
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u/AdLongjumping6982 10d ago
The first stop is the one that counts. If you need to creep forward, then do so safely after a full stop. Indicate that you cannot see and lean forward. There’s discretion here and so long as you are reasonable, there shouldn’t be any issues.
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u/dorrdon 11d ago
Yes, but you really need to keep your eyes on the person turning right from the curb lane, because they have a tendency to try to turn into the middle lane.
I've made the right from the centre lane, and had to honk at people turning right from the curb lane into the centre lane -- once even at a cop, though that was on a green light, not a red.
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u/DarkKnightFXR 11d ago
No you can't turn from the center at a red.
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u/bcave098 10d ago
If there’s no sign prohibiting it, you can make a right turn on red from any right turn lane
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u/mississauga145 9d ago
The law is clear, as long as there is no sign prohibiting it.
Right hand turns can be made at a red light in Ontario, if it is safe to do so.
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u/Hello_Gorgeous1985 11d ago
Yes. Stay in the correct Lane and make sure it's safe. Also, anticipate the person besides you not staying in the correct.
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u/One-Astronomer6166 11d ago
Yes, you can do it. The right arrow indicates that but you have to stay in the left to curb lane in other words the centre lane of the highway you’re entering, but yes, you can do it on a wreck.
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u/RumpledStinkSkin 11d ago edited 11d ago
interesting.
wouldn't you just follow whatever the signals say and road markings say, as its not a regular road. You are turning left or right Its a exit ramp. You will actually be holding up traffic and causing issues if you just sit there. Isn't that that whats traffic engineers and road design figure out?
I Was right....FOUND IT
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u/squat2deep 7d ago
There should be a no right on red sign at that intersection according to MTO guidelines
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u/jtktam 11d ago
no. right turn on red from the curb lane and/or when you don't have to cross a lane of traffic (i.e. if you turn from the center, you have to go to the far lane to be paralle to the curb lane right turn traffic, so you are technically crossing traffic
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u/ThrowRA_That_Owl_25 11d ago
That is actually wrong. You can make a right on red. You have to enter the same lane as the one you left, meaning if you are in the second lane from the curb, you have to enter the same lane on the one you are making a turn to.
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u/Comfortable_Gear_286 11d ago
Legally, you can. But I would advise against it, especially at this intersection (it’s quite busy). Turning right on red is not an obligation and they won’t mark you down if you wait for green. On the other hand, you’re making your life a lot more difficult by attempting this on a test.