Rules of the Road and Right-of-Way
What this domain tests
Right-of-way questions are rarely about the obvious case. They test Quebec exceptions and the situations where a 23 m combination changes the answer: turning radius, blocking an intersection, and the time needed to clear a crossing.
Core rules
- Uncontrolled intersection: the vehicle on the right has the right of way; if you arrive at the same moment as a vehicle on your left, you go.
- All-way stop: first to stop, first to go; a tie goes to the right.
- Left turn: yield to oncoming traffic, to pedestrians and to cyclists in the crosswalk. A solid green never protects your left turn.
- Roundabout: yield on entry to traffic already circulating, and signal your exit.
- Right turn on red: allowed after a complete stop unless a sign forbids it. On the Island of Montreal the default is reversed - no right turn on red unless a sign permits it.
- Pedestrians in a crosswalk have absolute priority; stop and stay stopped.
- School bus with red lights flashing and the stop arm out: traffic in both directions must stop, except on a divided highway where the bus is on the far side of a median.
- Safety corridor: when an emergency, tow or patrol vehicle is stopped with lights flashing, slow down and change lanes if it is safe and legal; otherwise reduce speed well below the posted limit.
- Railway crossings: stop when the signal activates. Certain vehicles, including a truck carrying dangerous goods, must stop at every crossing unless a sign exempts them.
- Passing a cyclist: leave at least 1.5 m.
Worked example
You are westbound at a flashing red, stopped with a full load, turning left onto a two-lane road. A flashing red is a stop sign: stop, yield to cross traffic, then yield to oncoming traffic before turning. Do not start the turn while an oncoming vehicle is close enough that it would have to brake - a loaded combination accelerates slowly and blocks the opposing lane far longer than a car.
Traps that cost marks
Turning right on red in Montreal out of habit; assuming the bigger vehicle has priority; stopping only for the school bus's own lane; and entering a crossing or intersection without room to clear it.