Red Means Stop, But Not Always Stay

Most drivers in British Columbia know that a red traffic light means stop and stay stopped until the light turns green. But that is not always the case. It depends on whether the red light is at an intersection or not.

At an Intersection

Section 129(1) of the Motor Vehicle Act requires drivers facing a steady red light at an intersection to stop before entering the marked crosswalk on the near side or, if there is no marked crosswalk, before entering the intersection. They must remain stopped until a traffic control signal instructs them that they may proceed, subject to the exceptions in the Act.

Those exceptions include permitted right and left turns on red. See section 129 of the Act for the details.

Not at an Intersection

Section 129(5) deals with a red traffic control signal that is not at an intersection. It requires drivers to stop before entering the nearest marked crosswalk in the vicinity of the signal or, if there is no marked crosswalk, before reaching the signal. It also provides that a pedestrian may proceed across the roadway.

Unlike section 129(1), subsection (5) does not require the driver to remain stopped until the signal changes. Once the driver has stopped and yielded to pedestrians as necessary, the driver may proceed even though the light is still red.

This is the situation drivers commonly encounter at a mid-block pedestrian-controlled traffic signal. If the pedestrians have finished crossing and the way is clear, there is no reason to remain stopped simply because the light is still red.

At a genuine mid-block crossing, there is no intersecting vehicle traffic to interfere with the movement of vehicles along the roadway. The signal controls the conflict between vehicles and pedestrians crossing the road.

Is It an Intersection?

The important question is whether the signal is actually at an intersection. A pedestrian-controlled signal does not automatically mean that the rules for a location that is not an intersection apply.

Section 119 of the Motor Vehicle Act defines an intersection by reference to the area where the roadways of two highways join or where vehicles travelling on different highways may come into conflict. Intersections include T-junctions as well as conventional crossroads.

A pedestrian crossing may be close to a side street and still be within an intersection. For example, a signal controlling a pedestrian crossing beside a T-junction may require drivers to remain stopped under section 129(1), even if the signal appears to control only the pedestrian crossing.

When you encounter a red light at a pedestrian crossing, stop at the required location and yield to pedestrians. If the crossing is not at an intersection, you may proceed when the crossing is clear, even if the light remains red.

Learn More

• What Do Flashing Traffic Lights Mean in British Columbia?
• How to Use a Crosswalk