Left Turns: Judging Gaps and Turning Safely Across Traffic
A left turn across traffic is one of the more demanding manoeuvres you’ll make. You must assess oncoming vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists and the space you’re entering while deciding when it’s safe to go. Making the turn safely comes down to three things: positioning your vehicle, judging an acceptable gap, and completing the turn in the correct lane.
A left turn deserves more respect than most drivers give it. It’s a decision about time, distance and speed, but it’s also a check of the crosswalk. Canadian research into fatal pedestrian collisions involving left-turning vehicles found that many occurred in daylight, on dry roads and at intersections, often involving pedestrians who had the right of way.
The mistake I see most is judging a gap by how far away an oncoming vehicle looks instead of how quickly it’s approaching. Look twice, and if you can’t confidently judge the gap, wait for the next one.
Why Left Turns Deserve Extra Respect
of Canadian traffic fatalities occurred at intersections in 2022
of serious traffic injuries occurred at intersections in 2022
Source: Transport Canada’s National Collision Database, as reported by the Canadian Association of Road Safety Professionals (CARSP).
These figures cover intersection collisions generally. Canadian research also identifies specific risks associated with left turns:
- Misjudged gaps: In Alberta’s 2020 collision statistics, “left turn across path” was the third most frequently recorded improper driver action among drivers involved in casualty collisions for whom an action was specified, accounting for 11.2%.
- Pedestrian and cyclist near-misses: A Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) study by Miovision monitored 20 intersections across seven provinces and recorded 616,854 near-miss events. Left-turning vehicles were involved in 34% of serious pedestrian near-misses and 36% of serious cyclist near-misses. Right-turning vehicles accounted for 55% and 50%, respectively.
- Pedestrian fatalities: A Transport Canada and Western Motor Vehicle Safety (MOVES) Research Team review of 522 pedestrian fatalities in Ontario identified a left-turning vehicle in 78 cases (15%). These collisions frequently occurred at urban intersections, in daylight and on dry roads. Many involved pedestrians crossing with the right of way.
U.S. research by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) also identifies increased pedestrian turning risks associated with larger vehicles, including SUVs and pickups. Vehicle design and windshield pillars can create blind spots that obscure pedestrians.
Left turns present two distinct challenges: judging oncoming traffic and detecting pedestrians who may be hidden from view. Judge speed as well as distance, and check the crosswalk before and during every turn.
Protected and Unprotected Turns
The first question is whether oncoming traffic is stopped for your movement.
Protected turn
- A green arrow provides a dedicated turning phase, stopping conflicting vehicle movements
- You may proceed in the direction of the arrow when the intersection is clear
- You must still watch for pedestrians and others who may lawfully be in your path
Unprotected turn
- You turn on a regular green light, or where permitted at a stop sign
- You must yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians who have the right of way
- You select a safe gap before completing the turn
Set Up the Turn
- Signal early. Show your intention in good time and move into the designated left-turn lane or correct position within your lane.
- Scan the intersection. Look for oncoming vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists and anything blocking your view.
- Keep your front wheels straight. While waiting for a gap, keep your wheels straight. Begin turning only when ready to proceed.
- Be prepared to wait. Some provincial or territorial rules permit you to enter an intersection while waiting for a safe gap. Do not enter if the intersection is blocked or you cannot complete the turn safely. Check your driver’s guide for the applicable procedure.
For what to do when an oncoming driver’s signal or movement is unclear, read our guide to another driver’s turn signal.
Judge the Gap
A safe gap depends on distance and speed. Drivers often underestimate how quickly an oncoming vehicle is approaching. Motorcycles and bicycles can be particularly difficult to judge because of their smaller visual profile.
- Look at how quickly vehicles are approaching, not only how far away they are.
- Watch for a vehicle hidden behind a larger one, such as a truck or bus.
- Don’t turn because an oncoming driver is turning, flashing their lights or waving you on. Confirm for yourself that your path is clear.
- Check the crosswalk before beginning the turn and throughout the manoeuvre.
- Move your head slightly to look around your windshield pillar. Thick pillars and larger vehicles can hide pedestrians.
For more on sharing the road with smaller vehicles and vulnerable road users, see our sharing the road with vulnerable road users guide.
Flashing Green: Check Your Province
A flashing green light doesn’t mean the same thing everywhere in Canada. Depending on the province or territory, it may indicate an advance green or a pedestrian-controlled signal.
- Where a flashing green is an advance green, oncoming traffic faces a red during that protected phase. You may turn left when permitted, while remaining alert for pedestrians and anyone lawfully in the intersection.
- In British Columbia and Yukon, a flashing green marks a pedestrian-controlled signal. It does not provide a protected left-turn phase against oncoming traffic. Proceed only when the intersection is clear and it’s safe.
If you’re unfamiliar with the signal, don’t assume it protects your turn. Treat the turn as unprotected, yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians, and proceed only when safe. Your provincial or territorial driver’s guide provides the exact meaning.
Complete the Turn
Once you’ve found a safe opportunity to proceed:
- Confirm the gap remains clear and check the crosswalk.
- Turn smoothly into the correct lane without cutting the corner.
- Watch for pedestrians, cyclists and other traffic throughout the turn. Be prepared to stop if a hazard enters your path.
- Straighten the vehicle, accelerate appropriately to the traffic flow and cancel your signal.
Our intersection scanning guide explains how to organize these observations.
Common Mistakes
Judging by distance alone
The problem: An oncoming vehicle looks far enough away but is approaching faster than you realize.
Better approach: Judge speed as well as distance. If unsure, wait.
Turning because someone else is
The problem: An oncoming vehicle turns left in front of you, and you assume the road is clear.
Better approach: Look beyond the turning vehicle for traffic it may be hiding.
Turning the wheels while waiting
The problem: If struck from behind, your vehicle may be pushed into oncoming traffic.
Better approach: Keep your front wheels straight until you’re ready to proceed.
Forgetting the crosswalk
The problem: You concentrate on oncoming vehicles and miss a pedestrian crossing the road you’re entering.
Better approach: Check before turning and continue watching throughout the manoeuvre.
Practice Exercise: Gap Calls
With your supervising driver, choose a suitable intersection where you can safely observe oncoming traffic without obstructing other road users.
Your job
Say out loud what you see: the approaching vehicles, their speed, the crosswalk and your decision. For example: “Two cars approaching. The second one is moving quickly, so I’ll wait.” The goal isn’t to find the smallest possible gap. It’s to recognize when a gap is clearly sufficient.
Your supervising driver’s job
Your supervising driver watches your observation, wheel position and gap selection, lets you make the decision without prompting you to go, and discusses the turn afterwards. For more on useful feedback, see teaching a new driver.
Call the gap → make the turn or wait → review the decision → repeat under suitable conditions.
Road-Test Connection
Left turns are a common part of Canadian road tests. Examiners may assess your lane position, observation, gap selection, yielding and ability to complete the turn safely without interfering with other road users.
A successful turn demonstrates that you recognized hazards, selected a suitable opportunity and maintained control throughout. Our road test guide explains what to expect. Your provincial or territorial driver’s guide covers details such as waiting in an intersection.
The Bottom Line
A safe left turn starts with good positioning, careful observation and a gap you can confidently judge. Keep your wheels straight while waiting, account for pedestrians and cyclists, understand the signal where you’re driving, and never let pressure from other drivers rush your decision.
If you’re not sure it’s a gap, it isn’t one.
Research References
- Transport Canada: Canadian Motor Vehicle Traffic Collision Statistics, 2022 (national collision totals; the intersection percentages above come from CARSP’s summary of the National Collision Database)
- CARSP: Intersection Safety
- CARSP: Pedestrian Fatalities in Left Turn Collisions
- Government of Alberta: Alberta Traffic Collision Statistics Summary, 2020
- Canadian Automobile Association: Intersection Safety Study (with Miovision), 2025
- Insurance Institute for Highway Safety: SUVs and other large vehicles often hit pedestrians while turning
Ready to test what you’ve learned—and prepare for the road?
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