Canadian versus US traffic laws

[Speedy von Vloppen]

I'm going to be driving up to Canada for the first time in either the spring or summer of '12. I'll be visiting Winnipeg and the surrounding area. I really don't need an out of country traffic ticket and therefore want to be aware of how traffic laws differ there from those in the US. I'm aware that radar detectors are illegal in Canada. This issue won't affect me since I don't use one. What about making a right on red? In most American states, if a traffic light is red, you're allowed to come to a stop and then turn right if no traffic is coming. I'm going to be using a Garmin to get around. At least one American state (I forget which one -- not my home state) has made it illegal to mount a GPS device on your wind shield. Stupid, stupid law, but it exists. Are you allowed to have your GPS device mounted on your wind shield in Manitoba? Also, are speed limits posted in miles per hour or kilometers per hour.

If you can think of anything else I should know about driving in Canada, or specifically in Manitoba, please let me know. Thanks.

[scouterjim]

A right turn on a red is legal in most provinces. Remember that speeds are in kilometers, not MPH.

Edited August 28, 2011 by Charles Anthony
deleted re-copied Opening Post

[Smallc]

In Manitoba, the speed limit on most roads is 100 kph, or 62 mph. I don't know of any problems with mounting things on the inside of the windshield, just be shire to not use your handheld phone while driving. A right turn on red is legal unless otherwise posted, as are u turns.

If you visit Winnipeg, be mindful of intersections that have different rules at different times of day, the most important being that you are prohibited to turn left at some intersections during much of the day. These intersections are marked using a 24 hr clock.

Edited August 28, 2011 by Smallc

[wyly]

I'm going to be driving up to Canada for the first time in either the spring or summer of '12. I'll be visiting Winnipeg and the surrounding area. I really don't need an out of country traffic ticket and therefore want to be aware of how traffic laws differ there from those in the US. I'm aware that radar detectors are illegal in Canada. This issue won't affect me since I don't use one. What about making a right on red? In most American states, if a traffic light is red, you're allowed to come to a stop and then turn right if no traffic is coming. I'm going to be using a Garmin to get around. At least one American state (I forget which one -- not my home state) has made it illegal to mount a GPS device on your wind shield. Stupid, stupid law, but it exists. Are you allowed to have your GPS device mounted on your wind shield in Manitoba? Also, are speed limits posted in miles per hour or kilometers per hour.

If you can think of anything else I should know about driving in Canada, or specifically in Manitoba, please let me know. Thanks.

basic rules will be the same as yours but contact your local AAA they should have booklet on traffic laws for nearly every country...I always pick up a copy before I go overseas, each country has it's own peculiar rules and traffic signs that you've never seen before...even in Canada rules can vary province to province and even city to city just enough to get you killed...stick to the speed limit and pull over when you're confused...

I still avoid the downtown where I live, after 11yrs living here it's still causes me confusion with all the one way streets and alternating traffic flow at different times...

do 30mph in 50K zones, 65mph in 100K and you'll be fine...police in Canada from my experience never give a ticket until you're 10K over the limit in the cities and 20K over on the highways...

[wyly]

In Manitoba, the speed limit on most roads is 100 kph, or 62 mph. I don't know of any problems with mounting things on the inside of the windshield, just be shire to not use your handheld phone while driving. A right turn on red is legal unless otherwise posted, as are u turns.

If you visit Winnipeg, be mindful of intersections that have different rules at different times of day, the most important being that you are prohibited to turn left at some intersections during much of the day. These intersections are marked using a 24 hr clock.

you've got clocks at intersections?

[Smallc]

you've got clocks at intersections?

lol, no, signs that display times that a 24hr clock would. And yes, you're right, you can safely travel about 110kph (I usually go a bit below), so 65kph is a good suggestion. In the few 110 kph zones, you should be able to go about 70 mph.

[fellowtraveller]

Radar detectors are legal in SK, AB and BC.

Lots of photo radar in AB, your detector won't help much.

They have a law in AB that requires you to slow to 60 KMPH and move to the inside lane whwnever you see an emergency vehicle with lights flashing on the shoulder: police ambulance fire etc. If you don't do both the ticket is huge like $500.

[Smallc]

Radar detectors are legal in SK, AB and BC.

Lots of photo radar in AB, your detector won't help much.

They have a law in AB that requires you to slow to 60 KMPH and move to the inside lane whwnever you see an emergency vehicle with lights flashing on the shoulder: police ambulance fire etc. If you don't do both the ticket is huge like $500.

It's the same here. Radar detectors are illegal, but Winnipeg has tons of photo radar. The lane change and slow down rule is the same in MB, and also applies to tow trucks.

[Speedy von Vloppen]

basic rules will be the same as yours but contact your local AAA they should have booklet on traffic laws for nearly every country...I always pick up a copy before I go overseas, each country has it's own peculiar rules and traffic signs that you've never seen before...even in Canada rules can vary province to province and even city to city just enough to get you killed...stick to the speed limit and pull over when you're confused...

I still avoid the downtown where I live, after 11yrs living here it's still causes me confusion with all the one way streets and alternating traffic flow at different times...

do 30mph in 50K zones, 65mph in 100K and you'll be fine...police in Canada from my experience never give a ticket until you're 10K over the limit in the cities and 20K over on the highways...

I'll be fine with KPH since my speedometer shows both MPH and KPH. Plus, I can probably set my Garmin to show KPH. That's a great idea about the AAA book. Gonna check it out.

[wyly]

Radar detectors are legal in SK, AB and BC.

Lots of photo radar in AB, your detector won't help much.

They have a law in AB that requires you to slow to 60 KMPH and move to the inside lane whwnever you see an emergency vehicle with lights flashing on the shoulder: police ambulance fire etc. If you don't do both the ticket is huge like $500.

I thought it was $600, either way a lot of hurt...speeding through construction zones fines double...

[William Ashley]

I'm going to be driving up to Canada for the first time in either the spring or summer of '12. I'll be visiting Winnipeg and the surrounding area. I really don't need an out of country traffic ticket and therefore want to be aware of how traffic laws differ there from those in the US. I'm aware that radar detectors are illegal in Canada. This issue won't affect me since I don't use one. What about making a right on red? In most American states, if a traffic light is red, you're allowed to come to a stop and then turn right if no traffic is coming. I'm going to be using a Garmin to get around. At least one American state (I forget which one -- not my home state) has made it illegal to mount a GPS device on your wind shield. Stupid, stupid law, but it exists. Are you allowed to have your GPS device mounted on your wind shield in Manitoba? Also, are speed limits posted in miles per hour or kilometers per hour.

If you can think of anything else I should know about driving in Canada, or specifically in Manitoba, please let me know. Thanks.

3 seconds FULL STOP before turn on right, signs will indicate .. take a look at the drivers hand book of the province you are in MANITOBA.. driving laws are provincial not federal.

www.mpi.mb.ca/PDFs/DriverHandbook/CompleteHandbook.pdf for Manitoba

http://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/statutes/ccsm/h060e.php

Where can I find out traffic rules for Illinois? (not that I'll be going there for atleast another 4 years.. it is one of those brain teasers I havn't figured out... like do traffic cops have their lights in their rear license plate instead of their roofs? I wasn't sure if it was a show off or if he wanted to pull me over.. none the less the traffic jam got me and he caught up.. no pull over but weird stuff.

Or do I pay tolls at every toll booth or just the one I enter? If I exit and enter the same toll area do I pay 4 times or 2 or once? Etc.?

The only place in the US I was truely confused driving in.. even Texas with the APC's seemed a natural response just not to try to pass them. (always use caution if the thing driving in front of you has tires taller than the vehicle you are driving.)

Edited September 4, 2011 by William Ashley

[Bryan]

When in Winnipeg, be prepared for the traffic lights. A green arrow pointing to a red light tends to confuse out of towners. As does traffic in both directions using the same turning lane on St. james.

[Wilber]

I'm going to be driving up to Canada for the first time in either the spring or summer of '12. I'll be visiting Winnipeg and the surrounding area. I really don't need an out of country traffic ticket and therefore want to be aware of how traffic laws differ there from those in the US. I'm aware that radar detectors are illegal in Canada. This issue won't affect me since I don't use one. What about making a right on red? In most American states, if a traffic light is red, you're allowed to come to a stop and then turn right if no traffic is coming. I'm going to be using a Garmin to get around. At least one American state (I forget which one -- not my home state) has made it illegal to mount a GPS device on your wind shield. Stupid, stupid law, but it exists. Are you allowed to have your GPS device mounted on your wind shield in Manitoba? Also, are speed limits posted in miles per hour or kilometers per hour.

If you can think of anything else I should know about driving in Canada, or specifically in Manitoba, please let me know. Thanks.

California doesn't allow windshield mounted GPS. Surprise. The only province I know of that doesn't allow right turns on a red (after a full stop) is Quebec.

[Smallc]

California doesn't allow windshield mounted GPS. Surprise. The only province I know of that doesn't allow right turns on a red (after a full stop) is Quebec.

I thought that was only on the Island of Montreal?

[Wilber]

I thought that was only on the Island of Montreal?

Could be.

[dre]

Could be.

That would really annoy me.

[bush_cheney2004]

That would really annoy me.

Some people are easily annoyed.

[dre]

Some people are easily annoyed.

Im a pretty patient driver... But waiting to turn right at a light when you can see that theres no traffic approaching from your left is pointless and tedious. Thats probably why its legal to treat red lights as stop signs when youre turning right huh?

[bush_cheney2004]

Im a pretty patient driver... But waiting to turn right at a light when you can see that theres no traffic approaching from your left is pointless and tedious. Thats probably why its legal to treat red lights as stop signs when youre turning right huh?

I don't mind waiting at all. I'll bet you are one of those tormented souls who gets aggravated if a vehicle occupies the right traffic lane without turning right at a light controlled intersection, painfully delaying your life.

[Guest American Woman]

... do I pay tolls at every toll booth or just the one I enter? If I exit and enter the same toll area do I pay 4 times or 2 or once? Etc.?

You have to pay a toll at every toll booth. Don't ever just drive past a toll booth unless you want to pay the consequences. Every time you exit and enter you must pay. There's nothing confusing about it - if there's a toll booth, you pay. If you're on the tollway for an extended distance, you will pay multiple times.

[Bryan]

You have to pay a toll at every toll booth. Don't ever just drive past a toll booth unless you want to pay the consequences. Every time you exit and enter you must pay. There's nothing confusing about it - if there's a toll booth, you pay. If you're on the tollway for an extended distance, you will pay multiple times.

Thank God we don't have toll booths in Manitoba. Paying once would be bad enough, but what you describe sounds like extortion.

The funny thing is, I've driven coast to coast in both Canada and the U.S., and I don't even remember ever seeing a toll booth. Makes me wonder if I've obliviously just driven past one and managed to get away with it.

[Guest American Woman]

Thank God we don't have toll booths in Manitoba. Paying once would be bad enough, but what you describe sounds like extortion.

The funny thing is, I've driven coast to coast in both Canada and the U.S., and I don't even remember ever seeing a toll booth. Makes me wonder if I've obliviously just driven past one and managed to get away with it.

You can't miss them, so if you encountered them, you'd know. The vast majority of highways in the U.S. aren't tollways - and I would wager that the majority of the states don't have any. There are always alternative routes where there are tollways, but the tollways are the better highway. The multiple tolls that I referred to aren't high at any place, the cost is broken down by section, so the longer you use the tollway, the higher the fee you'd end up paying.

[Smallc]

The funny thing is, I've driven coast to coast in both Canada and the U.S., and I don't even remember ever seeing a toll booth. Makes me wonder if I've obliviously just driven past one and managed to get away with it.

If you drove to Halifax from Quebec City without going via PEI or taking the long way around in Nova Scotia, you paid a toll on highway 104 (and if you went to PEI, you paid a toll when leaving - about $40 for the bridge, or $65 for the ferry). If you went to Vancouver by anyway other than Whistler in 2009 or earlier, you paid a toll. As far as I know, there are only 2 toll highways in Canada (Highway 104 and the 407 ETF). There are some toll bridges and ferries though.

Edited September 5, 2011 by Smallc

[Bryan]

I've driven to Vancouver many times, and I've never paid a toll, that I know for sure. I generally went north in BC first (Smithers, Terrace, Prince Rupert, up into Alaska, etc), then ventured south from there.

I would not count being charged for a Ferry as a toll. I guess it is, but I would expect to pay for that. I don't expect to pay to drive on a road.

[Smallc]

I've driven to Vancouver many times, and I've never paid a toll, that I know for sure. I generally went north in BC first (Smithers, Terrace, Prince Rupert, up into Alaska, etc), then ventured south from there.

You may have came down on highway 1 or 99 then. It's the Coquihalla that was a toll road, but the tolls were only to pay for the highway. That took over 20 years, and now the tolls are gone. Like I said, the only toll highways left (other than bridges and ferries) are the 104 in Nova Scotia, and the 407 ETF.

Edited September 5, 2011 by Smallc