The Rolling Right Turn and the Cyclist
Daniel is driving south on a four-lane arterial at 6:40 p.m. in light rain. He approaches a signalized intersection where he intends to turn right. The light for his direction is a solid green circle. There is no dedicated right-turn arrow and no sign prohibiting turns on red. A painted bike lane runs along the right edge of the road, and a cyclist is travelling south in that lane at about 20 km/h, roughly level with Daniel's rear bumper as he slows to 15 km/h. Daniel plans to slow, swing right, and complete the turn without stopping because the light is green. A pedestrian is waiting on the southeast corner but has not stepped off the curb.
1. Is Daniel required to stop before turning right here? Explain how the green circle, the bike lane, and the pedestrian each affect the answer.
Read the worked answer
Green circle, not a protected turn. A solid green circle means proceed when clear, but it does not give a right-turning driver an absolute right of way. Daniel must yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk and to traffic already lawfully in the intersection or in the lane he is crossing.
The bike lane is the key. The cyclist is overtaking on Daniel's right in a designated bike lane. A driver turning right across a bike lane must not cut off a cyclist; Daniel must let the cyclist clear the intersection before turning, or merge into the bike lane position only after the cyclist has passed. Swinging right at 15 km/h while the cyclist is alongside is a classic right-hook collision setup.
Pedestrian. The pedestrian has not left the curb, so Daniel is not yet obliged to stop for that person - but he must be prepared to, and he must not block the crosswalk.
Is a stop required? No law requires a full stop on a green circle absent a sign or red light. However, Daniel must slow and yield. Given the cyclist's position, the safe and lawful sequence is: signal, check mirror and shoulder, let the cyclist pass, then turn. If he cannot yield safely, he must stop and wait.
2. Daniel decides to complete the turn while the cyclist is still alongside. What collision risk has he created, who bears responsibility, and what should he have done differently in the final three seconds?
Read the worked answer
The risk. Turning right across a cyclist travelling straight in a bike lane produces a right-hook: the vehicle's right side crosses the cyclist's path, and the cyclist is struck or forced into the curb. At 20 km/h the cyclist cannot stop in the distance available if Daniel turns abruptly.
Responsibility. A turning driver must yield to traffic proceeding straight in the lane being crossed, and bike lanes are treated as travel lanes for this purpose. Daniel is the one changing direction and crossing the cyclist's path, so the duty to yield rests with him. The cyclist proceeding straight in a marked lane has the right of way.
What he should have done. In the last three seconds: (1) signal early and continuously; (2) check the right mirror and do a shoulder check to locate the cyclist; (3) reduce speed and wait behind the cyclist rather than alongside; (4) begin the turn only once the cyclist has cleared the intersection; (5) if traffic behind pressures him, hold position and complete the turn when clear - a driver is never obliged to turn just because the light is green. The general principle: when your path crosses another road user's path, you yield.