Two Lane Right Turns on a Red Light

Question: I would like to know about right turns at the intersection of Dunbar Street and 16th Avenue in Vancouver. When turning right from Dunbar northbound to 16th eastbound, is it legal to turn right on a red light from the middle lane?

I see many drivers do this but I am not comfortable doing it myself. Drivers behind me honk their horns if I wait for a green light.

Consider Using the Curb Lane Instead

My first thought if this troubles you is to suggest that you approach the intersection in the curb lane instead of the centre lane and turn right where you are comfortable doing it.

Both lanes are required to turn right at the intersection as you describe.

Right Turns at Red Lights

129 (3) Despite subsection (1), and except when a right turn permitted by this subsection is prohibited by a sign at an intersection, the driver of a vehicle facing the red light, and which in obedience to it is stopped as closely as practicable to a marked crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or if there is no marked crosswalk, as closely as practicable to the intersection, may cause the vehicle to make a right turn, but the driver must yield the right of way to all pedestrians and vehicles lawfully proceeding as directed by the signal at the intersection.

Section 165 of the Motor Vehicle Act starts out by saying that if you are going to turn right at an intersection, you must approach and turn from the curb lane. However there is a provision for this intersection:

(4) If at an intersection there is a traffic control device indicating the course to be travelled by vehicles turning at the intersection, a driver must turn a vehicle at the intersection in the manner directed by the traffic control device.

Traffic in the left most right turn lane shown here may turn right on red just as the curb lane is allowed to.

Be Careful!

I see what looks like two lanes here for through traffic, one for vehicles and one for bicycles. This will require that a driver look very carefully for cross traffic prior to making the turn.

Also, remember that you must complete the turn in the lane that you started the turn in.

Don't get prodded into making risky right turns here by impatient drivers behind you honking their horns. You could be pushed into causing a collision.

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