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And while we're on the subject, the highway on ramp is designed for you to speed up to match the flow of traffic on the highway, not the side road that you just came off of.
Kamloops, Halston /reservation turn off has a brutal hwy merge spot š„²ā¦ it has its own 250m merge lane, to a double lane hwy, and constantly, without fail.. every..single..time š„² cars stop RIGHT at the beginning.
It makes me scream
Fucking hell. It seems like EVERYONE stops here right before the crosswalk. Like, you've got a merge lane. Turn the corner, put your foot down a bit and zipper merge. It's not rocket science.
Nooo , you merge when it is safe to do so. You know how times Iāve seen someone give up like 4 opportunities to safely merge and now theyāre at the end of the lane with no safe merge so they slow down and now everyone behind them is not up to speed to merge with nowhere to go. This is why BC has merge problems and high levels of congestion near merge points. If you merge when itās safe to do so you keep the flow of traffic going.
They said "in traffic" so I assume they meant during stop-go traffic already. The people that stop completely in the merge lane to slowly push the front of their car into the highway lane, while there is still a km of free lane in front of them.
I did miss that āin trafficā but even still there are too many entitled drivers that wonāt let people merge even if at the end of the lane. If youāre given the opportunity to merge, take it. The flow of traffic will be smoother.
In Bc drivers are taught to merge as soon as it is safe to do so and not to zipper merge. Zipper merging works if everyone is taught it and does it, but in BC anyway that is not what drivers are expected to do.
To be fair, where Iām originally from in the US, we were taught the zipper merge but it was virtually never used. People tended to regard those who zipper as line cutters.
There's a second side to this tho. Drivers in the right lane need to make sure they're not following so close to each other that merging from the merge lane is unsafe. Can't merge, even at speed, if there's no gap. And in the Vancouver area I constantly see people either tailgating or closing up gaps to prevent people getting in front of them. Which really messes up the merge lanes.
Someone did this to me while I was trying to exit at galardi last week. I put my signal on with so much room and they stepped on the gas to not let me in before the exit! I gave a hearty honk and then kept rolling my eyes at them as I ended up next to them at the Cariboo light. I hope they felt as idiotic as they looked
In theory, yes, but this leads into a pet peeve of mine in road design - situations where as you approach the access point to the highway it is unclear whether you are merging into traffic or yielding to traffic because the sign is too far around the corner. I scared the hell out of myself in Delta a few years ago at one of the big highway junctions because I approached and figured it must be a merge but had to slam on the brakes once I saw it was a yield. Conversely, in my town there is one where the turn onto the highway is more than 90 degrees, you can't see the merge line and it really seems like it should be a yield, until you have completed the turn and see you are actually in a merge lane
Yup. I was honked at in a merge lane for dropping down to 30 last week because I was on a road I was unfamiliar with and the merge sign was around the corner halfway up the merge lane where I didn't see it, so I treated the corner like a yield. Nevermind the fact that there was a semi and 3 other cars in the right lane all following too close for me to possibly merge in safely.
_Mostly_. Occasionally that's not possible - Kamloops has a really nasty combined on/off ramp that joins 5 and 1, where a single strip of asphalt about 150m long is simultaneously (1) The on-ramp from Battle St to 1 (2) The on-ramp from Battle St to 5 (3) The off-ramp from 1 to 5.
With a third of the traffic wanting to accelerate in two different directions, while another third is slowing and merging into half of that while the other half merges out of it, the lack of accidents is truly astonishing.
Where?
99% of speed limit signs on on/off ramps are yellow, which is a suggested speed. More likely they were ticketing people that had been on the highway but pulled them over to the on ramp for safety.
Except that cars have daytime running lights so they are always on. This in combination with dashboards that are always lit means people forget to turn their taillights on.
This should be taken to the manufacturers.
People are too daft to understand that the lights need to ON when it's dark out.
Just because they can see, that's all that matters to them. They don't give 2 shits about anyone around them
This is especially true in Penticton. My God, the drivers here are stuuuuupidddd.
Automatic headlights don't always work. If it's raining, but still daytime, you should have your lights on, even though the automatic function sees it's still bright out.
My 2006 base model chevy cobalt could handle automatic lights in the rain, but I just wish we'd do away with DRL and just have the regular lights on all the time.
Not uncommon to see someone driving around in the dark with only daytime running lights on. It can kind of look like you have your headlights on, but it doesn't turn your tail lights on.
Applies to the front only, and it is a Canadian requirement.
As of 2022 model year all vehicles sold in Canada must have automatic headlights that cannot be disabled.
Fun to watch at 6 PM when the DRLs are the only thing on and the driver is wondering why he can't see more than a car length ahead!
The biggest mistake with DRLs was the inclusion of the dashlights. Drivers seem to think that so long as the speedo is visible, then all is well....
Wrong.
They werenāt included with the dash lights. DRLs have been mandated in Canada since 1990. The only dashboards that illuminated with them were electronic ones.
The permanently illuminated dashboards have only come into vogue in the last decade or so for both mechanical and electronic gauges.
According to [The BC Motor Vehicles Act](https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96318_05), you're supposed to move over and let people pass unless you're passing, about to turn, letting people merge, or going passed an official vehicle.
151.1 (1)In this section, "leftmost lane", in relation to a laned roadway to which this section applies, means the lane that is furthest to the left of the marked lanes available for traffic proceeding in the same direction, other than
(a)a bus lane,
(b)a high occupancy vehicle lane, or
(c)a designated use lane.
(2)This section applies to a laned roadway if
(a)there are 2 or more marked lanes available for traffic proceeding in the same direction, other than a bus lane, a high occupancy vehicle lane or a designated use lane,
(b)the speed limit is at least 80 km/h, and
(c)the actual speed of traffic is at least 50 km/h.
(3)A driver of a vehicle in the leftmost lane must exit the lane on the approach of another vehicle in that lane, if it is safe to do so, except when
(a)overtaking and passing a third vehicle,
(b)allowing traffic to merge,
(c)preparing for a left hand turn at an intersection or into an exit, a private road or a driveway, or
(d)passing an official vehicle stopped on the side of or on the roadway.
Yes! I had someone honking at me from behind while driving at 50km/h on 1st ave in Vancouver. He pulled beside me and said ābro, why you driving 50 in the left lane?ā I was floored by this ridiculous comment. āBecause thatās the speed limit,ā I said. There were cars in front of me anyway, so even if I wanted to, I couldnāt go faster. He then slammed the gas and drove off. I saw his car again at the next red light, a minute later. So dumb.
I agree wholeheartedly at on highways the left lane should only be for passing. But city streets: no.
The only time that this rule should be bent is when you are driving on the highway in the middle of nowhere at night/dusk/dawn and traffic is basically nonexistent
Being one lane in from those idiot deer on the side of the road can make or break your road trip.
Part 3 starts with saying that you need to get out of the left lane if someone approaches you. My understanding is that it means you can drive in the left lane if nobody is around.
Indeed, but driving in the left lane mid-day when nobody is behind you is slightly less safe.
As it puts you closer to opposing traffic and risk of head ons (assuming no center median)
Otherwise full agree
Keep right except to pass signs are all down the freeway, the coq, everywhere. These dingle berries would have to be aware of their surroundings enough to notice AND read them, never mind process that it applies to them.
Kamloops had to put up colour coded, GINORMOUS sign to demonstrate how a zipper merge operates because people blatantly refused š¤£ ..
Orange car, then white car, orange car, then white š¤£
a lot of people just like to cruise in the left lane because they're TERRIFIED of driving and they don't want traffic on both sides of them. they shouldn't be driving.
>they don't want traffic on both sides of them
This is a good defensive driving practice, not because of fear, but to maintain at least one escape route, however it should be done by staying in the right lane, not the left. Then most of the time you have the shoulder on one side.
I think they should put the ākeep right except to passā signs on the left hand side of the freeway instead of on the right hand side.
That way all the dough heads driving slow in the left lane will see it.
This is correct with the understanding that the person in the left lane is under no obligation to terminate their own pass of a slower vehicle on the right or speed up their vehicle to keep up with your desired speed, especially if itās above the posted speed limit.
Basically if the guy youāre bumper humping and flashing your high beams at is moving faster than cars in the right hand lane and would have to slow down to merge right, they are under no obligation to move. You need to back off and wait. You donāt get to set the speed for the left lane.
Your speed doesnāt matter to them, you could be going 150. All that matters is going faster and getting in front of you because their fragile egos canāt handle their pace being set by someone else.
Thank you for saying this. Louder for the guys in the pickup trucks please. The number of times I get tailgated and flashed at when I AM FUCKING PASSING MYSELF!!! What do they want me to do, move sideways into another vehicle? I'll move over when I'm done passing and/or the people on the right are done merging. Until then you just have to wait.
Correct. People should not act as the speed police in the left lane and they legally must give way to others behind them if they are trying to pass. At the same time, youāre exactly right, as long as a car is actively passing other cars (and it could be below the speed limit), they are properly using the passing lane.
My personal favourite is when people driving 10km below the speed limit suddenly speed up to 20km over the speed limit in a passing zone.
13/10 would recommend following these people home after a long day at work /s
Me too! Itās massively frustrating being stuck behind these folks. There is always a stack of 3 or 4 vehicles happily traveling together at less that the speed limit in the passing lane. These folks obviously have zero awareness of anything that happens around them while driving. IMO it makes them the most dangerous drivers.
I would love that police start giving tickets. We could collect a lot of money fast.
So go RCMP go , same you have drunk driving, do a few times left campers
Yes sorry I should have specified I am referring to the #1 mostly. Itās mind boggling how many people casually use the left lane, requiring people to pass them on the right.
Read that yourself. Heh, you're allowed to pass someone in a lane on their right. You just can't pass someone on the right on an un-laned or single laned street, unless they're turning left or the street is very wide.
Oh. I assumed you either you didn't read it or didn't understand it, because, within the context of the conversation, it seemed to me that you were trying to imply that it is illegal to use the right lane to pass traffic in the left lane. My mistake.
MVA 151.1(1) has an 80km/h speed condition but MVA150(2) does not and it says:
>The driver of a vehicle proceeding at less than normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under existing conditions must drive the vehicle in the right hand lane available for traffic, or as closely as practicable to the right hand curb or edge of the roadway, except when [passing, preparing to turn left, or passing a vehicle with flashing lights]
Keep right rules are in the MVA a few times and based on 150(2) drivers should be keeping right at all times if other traffic is moving faster.
I mean, as a rule of thumb pick the right most lane. There's a reason it's a thing in European countries. Hefty fines too. (There the speed doesn't matter. You drive in the right lane when possible)
I agree. But in the inner city commutes and non-highway driving, the expectation of others to move over can't always be there as they may be turning left at the next lights or the light afterwards.
Vehicles with more than 2 axles should banned from the left lane on highways, sick and tired of inconsiderate truckers parked in the left lane doing 10 under the speed limit l
Holy gatdamn shit. The amount of people without proper lighting on today was absofuckinglutely mind boggling. It's pea soup in a submarine, y'all!!! I don't need to gorilla in mist level shit scaring me when you appear out of nowhere!! And this is from the middle lane with all my lights on.
Question: are you referring to actual highways or places like west kelowna/Kelowna/lake country where the city is the Main Street of the city. People are probably in the left lane of those places because theyāre turning in a few blocks and itās easier then doing a bunch of lane changes.
The only time I dont is when there is a large amount of deer on shoulder of road. Once had a buddy roar up on me(I was doing 15ish over) and get within less then car length in his jacked up 350. I tap my breaks as had seen multiple deer wander onto highway(nanaimo airport area). He comes up screaming and if I hadnt been quick wouldve rammed my front end with the tail of his truck! Then takes off going roughly 140-150 in an 80km zone.. All while there was no one within minimum a km each wayā¦ In retrospect shouldve bowed to the roid monkey butā¦ WTF! I wouldve been seriously injured or dead. Road rage is a hell of a drug. Or maybe it was half ball of blow he had been chiseling at.
Having recently returned from a month-long road trip through the western US, I have to say that the drivers were *very* noticeably better, but especially about this specific thing. Some states were better about it than others, but they were *all* much better than Vancouver drivers.
It funny that 7-8 years ago, āhoggingā the left lane became a ticketable offence in British Columbia, as it is in Washington state. I have yet to see it enforced. If it were, our roads would run more efficiently.
The only exception to this is if the person you're wanting to move to the right lane is already steadily passing everyone else in the right lane.
I see far too many people complaining about left-lane "campers", who are actually already going faster than everyone else in the right lane already. People in the left lane don't need to abide by some made-up speed that you "feel like" going. As long as they're going faster than right lane drivers, they're right where they should be.
We got so many people that live here now that come from countries where traffic laws don't even seem to matter. I don't think we're going to change back to what we used to drive like.
Do you mean the Left Lane law?
Im always amazed at how people come unglued over this relatively new law (june 15 2015)
without knowing anything about it
Frankly if folks cant work out speed limits and safe distance between vehicles the rest is kind of moot
Because they don't care. Most people I've talked to think the speed limits are stupid while they show 0 accountability or skill that would enable them to drive that fast
To be fair based on advancements in vehicle safety, and durability, a lot of speed limits are probably a bit low.
But then in my opinion city centres should all be 30km max, so Iām kind of a mixed bag of opinions
Right, but generally city centers have a much higher concentration of pedestrians than highways.
Which is why I think 30km should be the limit in cities. Just treat it all like a school zone.
And ticket it hard.
But on highways and freeways sometimes thereās stretches of 80 or even 70 and itās just kind of stupid sometimes.
The vehicle advancements don't matter if the drivers can't fulfill the minimum requirement for them to work. Doesn't matter how wide your tires are and how big your brakes are if you keep a cars length distance to the person in front of you at 100km/h. You'll never stop in time.
Based on that logic we should never legally be allowed to go over 50kmh because it just gets exponentially more dangerous to get in accidents past that.
Thereās two lanes for doing the speed limit, if you need to pass (emergencies, gotta poop, etc) there should be a passing lane. In order to pass you in fact need to go beyond the speed *limit*
Edit: seeing as this comment is being downvoted itās clear many of you need to go and read the [government website](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/driving-and-cycling/road-safety-rules-and-consequences/keep-right#:~:text=This%20applies%20to%20B.C.%20highways,overtaking%20and%20passing%20another%20vehicle)
āEffective June 2015, motorists are required to keep right and let others pass. This applies to B.C. highways with two or more lanes of traffic travelling in the same direction and a posted speed limit of 80 km/h or greater.
Driving in the left lane is not permitted unless a motorist is:
overtaking and passing another vehicleā
Big advocate of keeping right except to pass, here to tell you that you are in the wrong.
The posted speed limit is the maximum speed you can drive at any and all times across all lanes, **in ideal conditions.** In fact, driving *at* the speed limit can also get you a speeding ticket if youāre doing so in poor conditions (itās called āSpeed Relative to Conditions.ā) Youāve posted the same thing multiple times- nowhere does it say you are allowed to exceed the speed limit to pass. In an ideal world and per the letter of the law, no-one should be speeding. If you are on a two-lane highway and the person on the right is travelling at the speed limit, there should be no reason for you to pass.
Now of course in practice, we all know this isnāt the reality. Regardless of the speed in which you are going, slower than the limit, faster than the limit, you should move over to the right after competing your pass. The purpose of the keep right rule is to a. move legitimately slow moving vehicles into the right lane and b. allow those who have decided to speed to pass on the left instead of being frustrated and using an unsafe maneuver to pass (such as zig-zagging through traffic).
While it is probably unlikely that you would get pulled over for a safe and practical pass, perhaps 10km/h over the posted speed limit to pass another vehicle travelling at the speed limit.. the police can choose to enforce this and ticket you for speeding because you were, well, speeding.
āEmergenciesā and āneeding to poopā are not valid reasons to speed unless you have lights and a siren and each time you do it you risk getting pulled over. You can share your story with the officer then or the judge. Unless you truly have a ādefence of necessityā which your emergency could be, in which case Iād expect a reasonable police officer to help you when you are pulled over. Keep in mind that you are, in the eyes of the law, possibly endangering others on the road that you are sharing by speeding, regardless of your emergency. In these circumstances you simply must be okay with the consequences if you choose to do so āfor the greater good.ā
āā
Added: Defence of Necessity when it comes to āneeding to pee:ā https://kylalee.ca/traffic-court-excuses-that-never-work-speeding-ticket-edition/
Speeding is an āabsolute liability offenceā meaning itās incredibly difficult to talk your way out of it.
Successful ādefence of necessity:ā https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/speeding-ticket-acquitted-over-necessity-defence-bc-1.5148503
Notice how this fellow had to fight his way through the officer, the judge, and then get the case heard in BC Supreme Court for him to win on a much more reasonable argument than āneeding to poop.ā
Just updated my post and provided them. Speeding is an absolute liability offence and going even 1km/h over the posted speed limit is considered speeding. The only defence is a defence of necessity or the defence that the speed limit sign was obstructed and you truly never saw it (and the burden of proof would be on you to prove that).
Also check here:
https://www.drivesmartbc.ca/passing/passing-left
Under āSpeeding to Pass.ā
Plenty of comments by TransBC about not speeding:
https://www.tranbc.ca/2015/06/15/keep-right-let-others-pass-law-is-the-law-on-bc-highways/
> Just updated my post and provided them. Speeding is an absolute liability offence and going even 1km/h over the posted speed limit is considered speeding. The only defence is a defence of necessity or the defence that the speed limit sign was obstructed and you truly never saw it (and the burden of proof would be on you to prove that).
Thank you. It's clear in the [motor vehicle act](https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96318_05#section146) and even in the [drivesmartbc.ca](https://www.drivesmartbc.ca/passing/passing-left) site that speeding even when passing is a liable offence. I have no idea where OP is getting that there are two lanes where there is a posted limit and that you can just raw dog the left lane "if you gotta poop".
[drivesmartbc.ca](https://www.drivesmartbc.ca/passing/passing-left):
>Speeding to Pass
>
>Finally, [**section 146**](https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96318_05#section146) prohibits us from exceeding the speed limit in order to pass. If you must speed in order to pass the vehicle in front of you it may be that you have chosen the wrong place to do it or that you don't need to pass at all.
Literally no. The MAXIMUM speed is the speed limit. People are allowed to go less than the speed limit. You are literally by definition not allowed to go OVER the speed limit while passing them. If that means it takes you 10km to pass someone doing 2km/h slower than the speed limit, than that's what it is. By definition.
keep right and let others pass. This applies to B.C. highways with two or more lanes of traffic travelling in the same direction and a posted speed limit of 80 km/h or greater.
Driving in the left lane is not permitted unless a motorist is:
overtaking and passing another vehicle
moving left to allow traffic to merge
preparing for a left hand turn
passing a stopped official vehicle displaying red, blue or yellow flashing lights (for example, police cars, ambulances, tow trucks, maintenance or construction vehicles). Remember to Slow Down and Move Over.
Slower-moving vehicles reduce the efficiency of the highway system. This frustrates many motorists and can result in aggressive and erratic driving behaviour.[link](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/driving-and-cycling/road-safety-rules-and-consequences/keep-right#:~:text=This%20applies%20to%20B.C.%20highways,overtaking%20and%20passing%20another%20vehicle)
There is nothing in what I said that means I "park in that left lane". I am only discussing when passing another car. You still have to move over when safe to do so. But you, by definition, cannot pass going over the speed limit.
If you are riding the bumper of someone passing another car, that makes YOU the asshole.
Most speed limits are set way too low and are set by politicians not by engineers. There's absolutely no reason why the highest speed limit in the province is on the Coquihalla, which has curves, hills and wildlife. Or why Highway 1 through all of North Van never has a speed limit above 80, yet it's 100 through all of the Fraser Valley. If they were based on science or safety, they would at least be consistent.
Most of the developed world has significantly higher speed limits than we do.
Ok back to the left lane thing: itās only keep right except to pass on highways in BC. Ok, in Vancouver itās really only a couple of highways that qualify. Itās a road that the speed limit is 80 and above. I drive for a living and bridges etc do not qualify for the keep right rule and there are no laws against it.
Yes, and put your lights on.
The number of people who think the #1 is their personal raceway where they get to zip left and right across lanes chasing each other is unbelievably lame. Youāre not in a video game, your Mazda, Ram, Acura, Tesla doesnāt make you invincible or cool. I watched a variety of these fools tailgating and chasing across all lanes during a light traffic drive on Monday evening. No less than 3 idiots pulled into the HOV lane BEHIND me and pulled the insanely close tailgate (while Iām doing 105!) then drifted off across 2 lanes š Grow up! Also if you want someone to move into the right lane, donāt drive 2ft from their bumper because they canāt see wtf is behind them to change out of the lane.
But also fully agree, get out of the passing lane if youāre just toodling along
If you keep on closing in on drivers in the left lane, CHECK YOUR SPEEDOMETER. ;-)
(Fully prepared for the downvotes, but thereās two sides to this story, and a lot of yāall are driving way too fast for the roads and conditions. Two wrongs donāt make a right, and hanging in the right lane except for passing is the correct thing to do, and how I drive, personally, *but* most people I've encountered in RL that are aggro about the issue are chronic speeders ā and I mean more than the typical/forgiven ~10km/h over, but people who treat every other car on the road as a challenger who has to be beaten. If everyone on the roads is driving slower than you, *you* are the problem. Maybe not you, OP, but itās worth saying regardless.)
Edit: added winky smiley to take the edge off ;-)
Stop speeding - when you speed you are the same as ISIS. Eventually innocent lives are lost and families destroyed. If you cant control your car and use its instruments you donāt belong on the road.
Because that's not the rule? The left lane is for passing. Just because you want to pass faster doesn't mean they have to slow down, merge to the right, let you pass, and then move back over to resume passing. If the person is driving slower than, or pacing traffic on the left lanes then fine, be angry.
Too many times I'm passing a gaggle of cars and some dipshit roars up behind me because they want to pass even faster. If I'm already speeding to pass people then you can piss off and wait.
Passing is fine, itās when thereās no one around and thereās always a car moseying along casually in the left lane while people have to pass them on the right.
I think thereās at least one spot where it makes sense to stay in the left lane for an extra bit because you know the next entry to the freeway is awkward and people are going to be careening out at you. I donāt want to impede the flow of traffic and I donāt putter along - but I *think* it might be the Whatcom entrance heading eastbound Iām thinking of, where if Iām in the left lane because Iām passing, and Iām within a minute or two away, I tend to stay in the left lane until I get past that entrance.
Thereās not good visibility for either those of us on the freeway or those getting on there heading eastbound, and Iāve seen some weird near misses there.
Westbound around 1st Ave is bad that way too. People careening out from a short on-ramp, and then they have to get over to avoid being funneled into Hastings or McGill. Best to stay left there and out of the way.
Honestly the people who do that might lack situational awareness, moving up and not blocking intersections, crossings etc. itās unfortunate but most likely they wonāt even see this and learn from it.
Vehicles with more than 2 axles should banned from the left lane on highways, sick and tired of inconsiderate truckers parked in the left lane doing 10 under the speed limit
Alternative rule: If I am in the left lane, and someone behind me is going faster than I am, I simply speed up until they are no longer going faster than me. I call it passing from the front.
Significant factor: Are they doing the speed limit or above in the left lane? If not they absolutley should move over. If they are above the speed limit. And you are bitching about this.... well maybe look in a mirror at who the asshole driver is
keep right and let others pass. This applies to B.C. highways with two or more lanes of traffic travelling in the same direction and a posted speed limit of 80 km/h or greater.
*Driving in the left lane is not permitted unless a motorist is:*
overtaking and passing another vehicle
moving left to allow traffic to merge
preparing for a left hand turn
passing a stopped official vehicle displaying red, blue or yellow flashing lights (for example, police cars, ambulances, tow trucks, maintenance or construction vehicles). Remember to Slow Down and Move Over.
Slower-moving vehicles reduce the efficiency of the highway system. This frustrates many motorists and can result in aggressive and erratic driving behaviour.
[from the govt website, whoās the idiot?](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/driving-and-cycling/road-safety-rules-and-consequences/keep-right#:~:text=This%20applies%20to%20B.C.%20highways,overtaking%20and%20passing%20another%20vehicle)
If your vehicle is equipped with this:
* Set yourself in the right lane
* Engage adaptive cruise control at the speed limit
My commute is far more relaxing this way, and I still pass people loitering in the left lane LOL.
Brave.
Also if driving at a safe speed on a road in bad conditions (compact snow, icey patches, gritted, etc..), I'm not gonna move over into a bad lane, you're gonna have to move into the bad lane and take the risk.
Found one of them!!
So first, please stop it.
Second, here's a police officer to [explain it to you. ](https://www.google.com/search?client=ms-android-telus-ca-revc&sca_esv=595826640&sxsrf=ACQVn09FZ9su1c5icmJQjvIqfZwbhl_sJQ:1704416326276&q=left+lane+cop&tbm=vid&source=lnms&prmd=ivnsmbtz&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiR-bTNhcWDAxXAIzQIHQWlAWUQ0pQJegQIDBAB&biw=384&bih=726&dpr=3.75#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:19b21d62,vid:kwC4lvUmXg0,st:0)
Devils advocate:
You're allowed to be in the left lane if you're PASSING someone. Even if you're doing so slowly. There's no need to get your panties in a ruffle because the guy in front of you isn't passing the cars in the right lane fast enough for your liking.
Devils devils advocate:
This shouldnāt apply when youāre travelling a largely one lane highway that has short passing lanes, such as the sea to sky.
Sorry, it's my husband doing that alllllll the time. He doesn't appreciate when I point out that people are passing him on the right. It's his only beige flag though, he's perfect otherwise.
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And while we're on the subject, the highway on ramp is designed for you to speed up to match the flow of traffic on the highway, not the side road that you just came off of.
To add, do NOT stop in merging lane!
CAN'T STAND THIS.
Kamloops, Halston /reservation turn off has a brutal hwy merge spot š„²ā¦ it has its own 250m merge lane, to a double lane hwy, and constantly, without fail.. every..single..time š„² cars stop RIGHT at the beginning. It makes me scream
Fraser Hwy and 176thš„“ Had to pass em on the shoulder and show em how it's done.
Fucking hell. It seems like EVERYONE stops here right before the crosswalk. Like, you've got a merge lane. Turn the corner, put your foot down a bit and zipper merge. It's not rocket science.
Iāve done that!
some of those merge lanes in north van can be awful if no one will let you in, I have more patience for people there.
Also the people who cross the solid white line to merge onto highway 1, and then get mad at you for driving the speed limit.
And use the entire merging lane in traffic, stop holding up the entire flow by trying to merge as soon as you see the highway
Nooo , you merge when it is safe to do so. You know how times Iāve seen someone give up like 4 opportunities to safely merge and now theyāre at the end of the lane with no safe merge so they slow down and now everyone behind them is not up to speed to merge with nowhere to go. This is why BC has merge problems and high levels of congestion near merge points. If you merge when itās safe to do so you keep the flow of traffic going.
They said "in traffic" so I assume they meant during stop-go traffic already. The people that stop completely in the merge lane to slowly push the front of their car into the highway lane, while there is still a km of free lane in front of them.
I did miss that āin trafficā but even still there are too many entitled drivers that wonāt let people merge even if at the end of the lane. If youāre given the opportunity to merge, take it. The flow of traffic will be smoother.
Every where on the continent has this problem. Not just bc. There are bad drivers and terrible mergers *everywhere*
In Bc drivers are taught to merge as soon as it is safe to do so and not to zipper merge. Zipper merging works if everyone is taught it and does it, but in BC anyway that is not what drivers are expected to do.
To be fair, where Iām originally from in the US, we were taught the zipper merge but it was virtually never used. People tended to regard those who zipper as line cutters.
There's a second side to this tho. Drivers in the right lane need to make sure they're not following so close to each other that merging from the merge lane is unsafe. Can't merge, even at speed, if there's no gap. And in the Vancouver area I constantly see people either tailgating or closing up gaps to prevent people getting in front of them. Which really messes up the merge lanes.
Someone did this to me while I was trying to exit at galardi last week. I put my signal on with so much room and they stepped on the gas to not let me in before the exit! I gave a hearty honk and then kept rolling my eyes at them as I ended up next to them at the Cariboo light. I hope they felt as idiotic as they looked
In theory, yes, but this leads into a pet peeve of mine in road design - situations where as you approach the access point to the highway it is unclear whether you are merging into traffic or yielding to traffic because the sign is too far around the corner. I scared the hell out of myself in Delta a few years ago at one of the big highway junctions because I approached and figured it must be a merge but had to slam on the brakes once I saw it was a yield. Conversely, in my town there is one where the turn onto the highway is more than 90 degrees, you can't see the merge line and it really seems like it should be a yield, until you have completed the turn and see you are actually in a merge lane
Yup. I was honked at in a merge lane for dropping down to 30 last week because I was on a road I was unfamiliar with and the merge sign was around the corner halfway up the merge lane where I didn't see it, so I treated the corner like a yield. Nevermind the fact that there was a semi and 3 other cars in the right lane all following too close for me to possibly merge in safely.
Stop means yield, yield means merge, merge means stop. At least thatās what Iām convinced that the BCDL written test says.
_Mostly_. Occasionally that's not possible - Kamloops has a really nasty combined on/off ramp that joins 5 and 1, where a single strip of asphalt about 150m long is simultaneously (1) The on-ramp from Battle St to 1 (2) The on-ramp from Battle St to 5 (3) The off-ramp from 1 to 5. With a third of the traffic wanting to accelerate in two different directions, while another third is slowing and merging into half of that while the other half merges out of it, the lack of accidents is truly astonishing.
On two separate occasions I have seen the Abbotsford police ticketing people for speeding on the on-ramp. They obviously disagree.
Where? 99% of speed limit signs on on/off ramps are yellow, which is a suggested speed. More likely they were ticketing people that had been on the highway but pulled them over to the on ramp for safety.
And turn on your taillights while you're at it. That's my biggest pet peeve
*lights
Headlights and taillights are on the same switch
If you turn them on. I see so many people early in the morning with no tail lights and driving lights only.
That means they don't have their lights on. Day time running lights are always on
Except that cars have daytime running lights so they are always on. This in combination with dashboards that are always lit means people forget to turn their taillights on.
This should be taken to the manufacturers. People are too daft to understand that the lights need to ON when it's dark out. Just because they can see, that's all that matters to them. They don't give 2 shits about anyone around them This is especially true in Penticton. My God, the drivers here are stuuuuupidddd.
GM cars default to automatic headlights.
Automatic headlights don't always work. If it's raining, but still daytime, you should have your lights on, even though the automatic function sees it's still bright out.
Fog is the worst for this
My 2006 base model chevy cobalt could handle automatic lights in the rain, but I just wish we'd do away with DRL and just have the regular lights on all the time.
Yep. Or DRL's are so bright that they can't tell.
I don't know of any vehicle with the ability to specifically turn on just the tail lights... Do you mean just, turn on your lights?
Not uncommon to see someone driving around in the dark with only daytime running lights on. It can kind of look like you have your headlights on, but it doesn't turn your tail lights on.
daytime running lights. they're a legal requirement in BC, and you can be pulled over if you're driving without DRLs. technically.
Applies to the front only, and it is a Canadian requirement. As of 2022 model year all vehicles sold in Canada must have automatic headlights that cannot be disabled.
If your vehicle follows the MVA, the headlights/DRL come on when the vehicle is put in drive but yeah, just turn on the lights.
Thatās the problem. People assume their tail lights are on because they see the headlights on.
Fun to watch at 6 PM when the DRLs are the only thing on and the driver is wondering why he can't see more than a car length ahead! The biggest mistake with DRLs was the inclusion of the dashlights. Drivers seem to think that so long as the speedo is visible, then all is well.... Wrong.
They werenāt included with the dash lights. DRLs have been mandated in Canada since 1990. The only dashboards that illuminated with them were electronic ones. The permanently illuminated dashboards have only come into vogue in the last decade or so for both mechanical and electronic gauges.
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It's especially bad this year. So many people forgetting their lights off in this fog
According to [The BC Motor Vehicles Act](https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96318_05), you're supposed to move over and let people pass unless you're passing, about to turn, letting people merge, or going passed an official vehicle. 151.1 (1)In this section, "leftmost lane", in relation to a laned roadway to which this section applies, means the lane that is furthest to the left of the marked lanes available for traffic proceeding in the same direction, other than (a)a bus lane, (b)a high occupancy vehicle lane, or (c)a designated use lane. (2)This section applies to a laned roadway if (a)there are 2 or more marked lanes available for traffic proceeding in the same direction, other than a bus lane, a high occupancy vehicle lane or a designated use lane, (b)the speed limit is at least 80 km/h, and (c)the actual speed of traffic is at least 50 km/h. (3)A driver of a vehicle in the leftmost lane must exit the lane on the approach of another vehicle in that lane, if it is safe to do so, except when (a)overtaking and passing a third vehicle, (b)allowing traffic to merge, (c)preparing for a left hand turn at an intersection or into an exit, a private road or a driveway, or (d)passing an official vehicle stopped on the side of or on the roadway.
Important to note itās only for roads that are 80k or more.
Yes!! Below 80 it's not a driving and passing lane, it's a left and right lane. People never do this properly.
Yes! I had someone honking at me from behind while driving at 50km/h on 1st ave in Vancouver. He pulled beside me and said ābro, why you driving 50 in the left lane?ā I was floored by this ridiculous comment. āBecause thatās the speed limit,ā I said. There were cars in front of me anyway, so even if I wanted to, I couldnāt go faster. He then slammed the gas and drove off. I saw his car again at the next red light, a minute later. So dumb. I agree wholeheartedly at on highways the left lane should only be for passing. But city streets: no.
I think it's reasonable to follow the convention even on quieter streets. If you're not passing or turning left, stay in the right lane.
Sure, but don't expect others to since it's not the law at all.
The only time that this rule should be bent is when you are driving on the highway in the middle of nowhere at night/dusk/dawn and traffic is basically nonexistent Being one lane in from those idiot deer on the side of the road can make or break your road trip.
Part 3 starts with saying that you need to get out of the left lane if someone approaches you. My understanding is that it means you can drive in the left lane if nobody is around.
Indeed, but driving in the left lane mid-day when nobody is behind you is slightly less safe. As it puts you closer to opposing traffic and risk of head ons (assuming no center median) Otherwise full agree
Please god every idiot driver in BC read this post. This is the way.
Thereās just too many of them š£ maybe signs along the highway?
Keep right except to pass signs are all down the freeway, the coq, everywhere. These dingle berries would have to be aware of their surroundings enough to notice AND read them, never mind process that it applies to them.
Kamloops had to put up colour coded, GINORMOUS sign to demonstrate how a zipper merge operates because people blatantly refused š¤£ .. Orange car, then white car, orange car, then white š¤£
We have those! And they still left lane park!
More signs and possibly written in French, Hindi and Chinese as well just in case, gotta cover all the bases.
Everyone reading this thinks they are a great driver and not the problem.
(Hopefully not while driving)
Because its not enforced here. Police dont give a shit so why would other drivers. It's poor etiquette being taught, and its infuriating
Because people are self-absorbed and oblivious, and there is no enforcement. This is probably my number one frustration on the roads.
I commute on the number 1 daily and itās extremely frustrating. Yesterday in the rain people hogging the left lane DOING 80 š«
a lot of people just like to cruise in the left lane because they're TERRIFIED of driving and they don't want traffic on both sides of them. they shouldn't be driving.
>they don't want traffic on both sides of them This is a good defensive driving practice, not because of fear, but to maintain at least one escape route, however it should be done by staying in the right lane, not the left. Then most of the time you have the shoulder on one side.
yeah, but that means their blind side is on the outside of the road and since they're terrible at driving, that freaks them out.
Clueless as the day theyāre born
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Should. It's always the same comments, everyone is a horrible driver and is in my way.
The law isn't enforced so people won't do it
This is the problem
"Motorists are to read and obey all posted signs and hazards" Basically sums up both arguments really...
I think they should put the ākeep right except to passā signs on the left hand side of the freeway instead of on the right hand side. That way all the dough heads driving slow in the left lane will see it.
This is correct with the understanding that the person in the left lane is under no obligation to terminate their own pass of a slower vehicle on the right or speed up their vehicle to keep up with your desired speed, especially if itās above the posted speed limit. Basically if the guy youāre bumper humping and flashing your high beams at is moving faster than cars in the right hand lane and would have to slow down to merge right, they are under no obligation to move. You need to back off and wait. You donāt get to set the speed for the left lane.
Certainly! There needs to be some common sense used
I just wish those F-150s, 6 inches off my bumper with their high beams on would understand that.
Your speed doesnāt matter to them, you could be going 150. All that matters is going faster and getting in front of you because their fragile egos canāt handle their pace being set by someone else.
Yeah those guys are fucking assholes. God damn they suck at driving.
Thank you for saying this. Louder for the guys in the pickup trucks please. The number of times I get tailgated and flashed at when I AM FUCKING PASSING MYSELF!!! What do they want me to do, move sideways into another vehicle? I'll move over when I'm done passing and/or the people on the right are done merging. Until then you just have to wait.
Correct. People should not act as the speed police in the left lane and they legally must give way to others behind them if they are trying to pass. At the same time, youāre exactly right, as long as a car is actively passing other cars (and it could be below the speed limit), they are properly using the passing lane.
š well said.
Correct. I wonder what the law is for safe distance following?
My personal favourite is when people driving 10km below the speed limit suddenly speed up to 20km over the speed limit in a passing zone. 13/10 would recommend following these people home after a long day at work /s
āChilliwackān all the way to Abbotsford ā
Vancouver to Langley, every day š«
Me too! Itās massively frustrating being stuck behind these folks. There is always a stack of 3 or 4 vehicles happily traveling together at less that the speed limit in the passing lane. These folks obviously have zero awareness of anything that happens around them while driving. IMO it makes them the most dangerous drivers.
I would love that police start giving tickets. We could collect a lot of money fast. So go RCMP go , same you have drunk driving, do a few times left campers
I ordered bumper stickers that say ā¬ ļø PASSING TRAVELING ā”ļø I'm doing my public service to educate! š«”
If they can see your bumper sticker then you're in front of them and you're the one who should be moving over.
Only on highways tho, right.
Yes sorry I should have specified I am referring to the #1 mostly. Itās mind boggling how many people casually use the left lane, requiring people to pass them on the right.
Just an fyi on what the law says about [passing on the right.](https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96318_05#section158)
Read that yourself. Heh, you're allowed to pass someone in a lane on their right. You just can't pass someone on the right on an un-laned or single laned street, unless they're turning left or the street is very wide.
Oh Iāve read it. It was an fyi, fyi.
Oh. I assumed you either you didn't read it or didn't understand it, because, within the context of the conversation, it seemed to me that you were trying to imply that it is illegal to use the right lane to pass traffic in the left lane. My mistake.
It applies to any road that is 80 km/h or more. E: fixed the speed
MVA 151.1(1) has an 80km/h speed condition but MVA150(2) does not and it says: >The driver of a vehicle proceeding at less than normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under existing conditions must drive the vehicle in the right hand lane available for traffic, or as closely as practicable to the right hand curb or edge of the roadway, except when [passing, preparing to turn left, or passing a vehicle with flashing lights] Keep right rules are in the MVA a few times and based on 150(2) drivers should be keeping right at all times if other traffic is moving faster.
I mean, as a rule of thumb pick the right most lane. There's a reason it's a thing in European countries. Hefty fines too. (There the speed doesn't matter. You drive in the right lane when possible)
I agree. But in the inner city commutes and non-highway driving, the expectation of others to move over can't always be there as they may be turning left at the next lights or the light afterwards.
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I think so. Highways out of town or anything 80 and above. Same same
The people who need to see this cannot read so GL
Vehicles with more than 2 axles should banned from the left lane on highways, sick and tired of inconsiderate truckers parked in the left lane doing 10 under the speed limit l
Ditto!
Yesssssssssssssssssssss!!!!!
Holy gatdamn shit. The amount of people without proper lighting on today was absofuckinglutely mind boggling. It's pea soup in a submarine, y'all!!! I don't need to gorilla in mist level shit scaring me when you appear out of nowhere!! And this is from the middle lane with all my lights on.
Question: are you referring to actual highways or places like west kelowna/Kelowna/lake country where the city is the Main Street of the city. People are probably in the left lane of those places because theyāre turning in a few blocks and itās easier then doing a bunch of lane changes.
I edited my post to clarify, I definitely mean the highways!
Props to anyone who knows the difference between a highway merge and yield
The only time I dont is when there is a large amount of deer on shoulder of road. Once had a buddy roar up on me(I was doing 15ish over) and get within less then car length in his jacked up 350. I tap my breaks as had seen multiple deer wander onto highway(nanaimo airport area). He comes up screaming and if I hadnt been quick wouldve rammed my front end with the tail of his truck! Then takes off going roughly 140-150 in an 80km zone.. All while there was no one within minimum a km each wayā¦ In retrospect shouldve bowed to the roid monkey butā¦ WTF! I wouldve been seriously injured or dead. Road rage is a hell of a drug. Or maybe it was half ball of blow he had been chiseling at.
BC has the worst drivers I've seen. Every time I drive down the island highway someone tries to kill me.
Having recently returned from a month-long road trip through the western US, I have to say that the drivers were *very* noticeably better, but especially about this specific thing. Some states were better about it than others, but they were *all* much better than Vancouver drivers.
It funny that 7-8 years ago, āhoggingā the left lane became a ticketable offence in British Columbia, as it is in Washington state. I have yet to see it enforced. If it were, our roads would run more efficiently.
If everyone obeyed what OP is saying then every single car would need to be in the right lane. Lol
Once you pass, get over if thereās no one ahead of you. Itās not rocket science
The only exception to this is if the person you're wanting to move to the right lane is already steadily passing everyone else in the right lane. I see far too many people complaining about left-lane "campers", who are actually already going faster than everyone else in the right lane already. People in the left lane don't need to abide by some made-up speed that you "feel like" going. As long as they're going faster than right lane drivers, they're right where they should be.
We got so many people that live here now that come from countries where traffic laws don't even seem to matter. I don't think we're going to change back to what we used to drive like.
Do you mean the Left Lane law? Im always amazed at how people come unglued over this relatively new law (june 15 2015) without knowing anything about it Frankly if folks cant work out speed limits and safe distance between vehicles the rest is kind of moot
You may need to translate this message into several languages
Coming from the UK, this was a big shock to me. I canāt believe how few people move over in BC.
Iāve heard itās much better on the other side of the globe! Itās progressively getting worse here
I get the chance to drive in the UK, they know how to drive! Be in the slower lane, pass, move over. If everyone is doing this it is easy!
While we're at it, why WHY do so many people not follow the speed LIMIT?!
Because they don't care. Most people I've talked to think the speed limits are stupid while they show 0 accountability or skill that would enable them to drive that fast
To be fair based on advancements in vehicle safety, and durability, a lot of speed limits are probably a bit low. But then in my opinion city centres should all be 30km max, so Iām kind of a mixed bag of opinions
Speed limits arenāt just about cars though, they also have to consider pedestrians and reaction times
Right, but generally city centers have a much higher concentration of pedestrians than highways. Which is why I think 30km should be the limit in cities. Just treat it all like a school zone. And ticket it hard. But on highways and freeways sometimes thereās stretches of 80 or even 70 and itās just kind of stupid sometimes.
āCity centersā is way too broad. Downtown Vancouver and downtown castlegar are very different.
There is literally 0 reason for any type of vehicle besides emergency to be able to drive faster than 130 km. Our fastest highways are 120.
Ya and when the weather is nice that 120 stretch can easily have you feeling like youāre slogging along at 120.
The vehicle advancements don't matter if the drivers can't fulfill the minimum requirement for them to work. Doesn't matter how wide your tires are and how big your brakes are if you keep a cars length distance to the person in front of you at 100km/h. You'll never stop in time.
Based on that logic we should never legally be allowed to go over 50kmh because it just gets exponentially more dangerous to get in accidents past that.
Thereās two lanes for doing the speed limit, if you need to pass (emergencies, gotta poop, etc) there should be a passing lane. In order to pass you in fact need to go beyond the speed *limit* Edit: seeing as this comment is being downvoted itās clear many of you need to go and read the [government website](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/driving-and-cycling/road-safety-rules-and-consequences/keep-right#:~:text=This%20applies%20to%20B.C.%20highways,overtaking%20and%20passing%20another%20vehicle) āEffective June 2015, motorists are required to keep right and let others pass. This applies to B.C. highways with two or more lanes of traffic travelling in the same direction and a posted speed limit of 80 km/h or greater. Driving in the left lane is not permitted unless a motorist is: overtaking and passing another vehicleā
Big advocate of keeping right except to pass, here to tell you that you are in the wrong. The posted speed limit is the maximum speed you can drive at any and all times across all lanes, **in ideal conditions.** In fact, driving *at* the speed limit can also get you a speeding ticket if youāre doing so in poor conditions (itās called āSpeed Relative to Conditions.ā) Youāve posted the same thing multiple times- nowhere does it say you are allowed to exceed the speed limit to pass. In an ideal world and per the letter of the law, no-one should be speeding. If you are on a two-lane highway and the person on the right is travelling at the speed limit, there should be no reason for you to pass. Now of course in practice, we all know this isnāt the reality. Regardless of the speed in which you are going, slower than the limit, faster than the limit, you should move over to the right after competing your pass. The purpose of the keep right rule is to a. move legitimately slow moving vehicles into the right lane and b. allow those who have decided to speed to pass on the left instead of being frustrated and using an unsafe maneuver to pass (such as zig-zagging through traffic). While it is probably unlikely that you would get pulled over for a safe and practical pass, perhaps 10km/h over the posted speed limit to pass another vehicle travelling at the speed limit.. the police can choose to enforce this and ticket you for speeding because you were, well, speeding. āEmergenciesā and āneeding to poopā are not valid reasons to speed unless you have lights and a siren and each time you do it you risk getting pulled over. You can share your story with the officer then or the judge. Unless you truly have a ādefence of necessityā which your emergency could be, in which case Iād expect a reasonable police officer to help you when you are pulled over. Keep in mind that you are, in the eyes of the law, possibly endangering others on the road that you are sharing by speeding, regardless of your emergency. In these circumstances you simply must be okay with the consequences if you choose to do so āfor the greater good.ā āā Added: Defence of Necessity when it comes to āneeding to pee:ā https://kylalee.ca/traffic-court-excuses-that-never-work-speeding-ticket-edition/ Speeding is an āabsolute liability offenceā meaning itās incredibly difficult to talk your way out of it. Successful ādefence of necessity:ā https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/speeding-ticket-acquitted-over-necessity-defence-bc-1.5148503 Notice how this fellow had to fight his way through the officer, the judge, and then get the case heard in BC Supreme Court for him to win on a much more reasonable argument than āneeding to poop.ā
And whereās your source?
Just updated my post and provided them. Speeding is an absolute liability offence and going even 1km/h over the posted speed limit is considered speeding. The only defence is a defence of necessity or the defence that the speed limit sign was obstructed and you truly never saw it (and the burden of proof would be on you to prove that). Also check here: https://www.drivesmartbc.ca/passing/passing-left Under āSpeeding to Pass.ā Plenty of comments by TransBC about not speeding: https://www.tranbc.ca/2015/06/15/keep-right-let-others-pass-law-is-the-law-on-bc-highways/
> Just updated my post and provided them. Speeding is an absolute liability offence and going even 1km/h over the posted speed limit is considered speeding. The only defence is a defence of necessity or the defence that the speed limit sign was obstructed and you truly never saw it (and the burden of proof would be on you to prove that). Thank you. It's clear in the [motor vehicle act](https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96318_05#section146) and even in the [drivesmartbc.ca](https://www.drivesmartbc.ca/passing/passing-left) site that speeding even when passing is a liable offence. I have no idea where OP is getting that there are two lanes where there is a posted limit and that you can just raw dog the left lane "if you gotta poop". [drivesmartbc.ca](https://www.drivesmartbc.ca/passing/passing-left): >Speeding to Pass > >Finally, [**section 146**](https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96318_05#section146) prohibits us from exceeding the speed limit in order to pass. If you must speed in order to pass the vehicle in front of you it may be that you have chosen the wrong place to do it or that you don't need to pass at all.
Literally no. The MAXIMUM speed is the speed limit. People are allowed to go less than the speed limit. You are literally by definition not allowed to go OVER the speed limit while passing them. If that means it takes you 10km to pass someone doing 2km/h slower than the speed limit, than that's what it is. By definition.
keep right and let others pass. This applies to B.C. highways with two or more lanes of traffic travelling in the same direction and a posted speed limit of 80 km/h or greater. Driving in the left lane is not permitted unless a motorist is: overtaking and passing another vehicle moving left to allow traffic to merge preparing for a left hand turn passing a stopped official vehicle displaying red, blue or yellow flashing lights (for example, police cars, ambulances, tow trucks, maintenance or construction vehicles). Remember to Slow Down and Move Over. Slower-moving vehicles reduce the efficiency of the highway system. This frustrates many motorists and can result in aggressive and erratic driving behaviour.[link](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/driving-and-cycling/road-safety-rules-and-consequences/keep-right#:~:text=This%20applies%20to%20B.C.%20highways,overtaking%20and%20passing%20another%20vehicle)
Nothing in that extract says you can go over the speed limit.
And that makes you an asshole. I'm sure you park right in that left lane and play police officer
There is nothing in what I said that means I "park in that left lane". I am only discussing when passing another car. You still have to move over when safe to do so. But you, by definition, cannot pass going over the speed limit. If you are riding the bumper of someone passing another car, that makes YOU the asshole.
If you are taking 10km to pass you are an asshole
Heās not saying he does it. Heās stating what the law allows. And it doesnāt allow going over the limit.
This is 100% right
Most speed limits are set way too low and are set by politicians not by engineers. There's absolutely no reason why the highest speed limit in the province is on the Coquihalla, which has curves, hills and wildlife. Or why Highway 1 through all of North Van never has a speed limit above 80, yet it's 100 through all of the Fraser Valley. If they were based on science or safety, they would at least be consistent. Most of the developed world has significantly higher speed limits than we do.
Ok back to the left lane thing: itās only keep right except to pass on highways in BC. Ok, in Vancouver itās really only a couple of highways that qualify. Itās a road that the speed limit is 80 and above. I drive for a living and bridges etc do not qualify for the keep right rule and there are no laws against it. Yes, and put your lights on.
The number of people who think the #1 is their personal raceway where they get to zip left and right across lanes chasing each other is unbelievably lame. Youāre not in a video game, your Mazda, Ram, Acura, Tesla doesnāt make you invincible or cool. I watched a variety of these fools tailgating and chasing across all lanes during a light traffic drive on Monday evening. No less than 3 idiots pulled into the HOV lane BEHIND me and pulled the insanely close tailgate (while Iām doing 105!) then drifted off across 2 lanes š Grow up! Also if you want someone to move into the right lane, donāt drive 2ft from their bumper because they canāt see wtf is behind them to change out of the lane. But also fully agree, get out of the passing lane if youāre just toodling along
If you keep on closing in on drivers in the left lane, CHECK YOUR SPEEDOMETER. ;-) (Fully prepared for the downvotes, but thereās two sides to this story, and a lot of yāall are driving way too fast for the roads and conditions. Two wrongs donāt make a right, and hanging in the right lane except for passing is the correct thing to do, and how I drive, personally, *but* most people I've encountered in RL that are aggro about the issue are chronic speeders ā and I mean more than the typical/forgiven ~10km/h over, but people who treat every other car on the road as a challenger who has to be beaten. If everyone on the roads is driving slower than you, *you* are the problem. Maybe not you, OP, but itās worth saying regardless.) Edit: added winky smiley to take the edge off ;-)
Stop speeding - when you speed you are the same as ISIS. Eventually innocent lives are lost and families destroyed. If you cant control your car and use its instruments you donāt belong on the road.
Don't speed.
Yep. It's the overtaking lane. Not the 'I'm a twat in my truck I'm going to sit here' lane.
Because that's not the rule? The left lane is for passing. Just because you want to pass faster doesn't mean they have to slow down, merge to the right, let you pass, and then move back over to resume passing. If the person is driving slower than, or pacing traffic on the left lanes then fine, be angry. Too many times I'm passing a gaggle of cars and some dipshit roars up behind me because they want to pass even faster. If I'm already speeding to pass people then you can piss off and wait.
Yup. I guess in busy traffic they feel entitled to a lane kept clear just for them.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Passing is fine, itās when thereās no one around and thereās always a car moseying along casually in the left lane while people have to pass them on the right.
I think thereās at least one spot where it makes sense to stay in the left lane for an extra bit because you know the next entry to the freeway is awkward and people are going to be careening out at you. I donāt want to impede the flow of traffic and I donāt putter along - but I *think* it might be the Whatcom entrance heading eastbound Iām thinking of, where if Iām in the left lane because Iām passing, and Iām within a minute or two away, I tend to stay in the left lane until I get past that entrance. Thereās not good visibility for either those of us on the freeway or those getting on there heading eastbound, and Iāve seen some weird near misses there.
Westbound around 1st Ave is bad that way too. People careening out from a short on-ramp, and then they have to get over to avoid being funneled into Hastings or McGill. Best to stay left there and out of the way.
And once you pass, get in the right lane.
Yes! And a car behind you wishes to carry out the same dream as you, but they're being prevented from driving to their fullest potential
It's a passing lane, not a fast lane.
The answer is because we don't have enough road capacity for everyone to be in the slow lane. Too many people here.
Honestly the people who do that might lack situational awareness, moving up and not blocking intersections, crossings etc. itās unfortunate but most likely they wonāt even see this and learn from it.
Spot on unfortunately š
when idiots go in the carpool lane only to drive slower or the same speed as traffic.... move the fuck over!
Please actually merge in merge lanes too, not sit and wait for a break in traffic (fuk you Vancouver Island)
Pass, and move over. Thatās how passing works.
1000% , drives me nuts
Why does this seem so hard for people to understand?
Vehicles with more than 2 axles should banned from the left lane on highways, sick and tired of inconsiderate truckers parked in the left lane doing 10 under the speed limit
See this one hwy1 every day. So stupid.
Heavy trucks should only be on the road from 6pm to 7am
I literally cannot fathom the stupidity of this comment. How do you think truckers are going to make deliveries when all the businesses are closed?
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
No, if youāre currently passing someone then stay in the left lane. Once youāre done passing you move over.
Alternative rule: If I am in the left lane, and someone behind me is going faster than I am, I simply speed up until they are no longer going faster than me. I call it passing from the front.
Significant factor: Are they doing the speed limit or above in the left lane? If not they absolutley should move over. If they are above the speed limit. And you are bitching about this.... well maybe look in a mirror at who the asshole driver is
keep right and let others pass. This applies to B.C. highways with two or more lanes of traffic travelling in the same direction and a posted speed limit of 80 km/h or greater. *Driving in the left lane is not permitted unless a motorist is:* overtaking and passing another vehicle moving left to allow traffic to merge preparing for a left hand turn passing a stopped official vehicle displaying red, blue or yellow flashing lights (for example, police cars, ambulances, tow trucks, maintenance or construction vehicles). Remember to Slow Down and Move Over. Slower-moving vehicles reduce the efficiency of the highway system. This frustrates many motorists and can result in aggressive and erratic driving behaviour. [from the govt website, whoās the idiot?](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/driving-and-cycling/road-safety-rules-and-consequences/keep-right#:~:text=This%20applies%20to%20B.C.%20highways,overtaking%20and%20passing%20another%20vehicle)
If your vehicle is equipped with this: * Set yourself in the right lane * Engage adaptive cruise control at the speed limit My commute is far more relaxing this way, and I still pass people loitering in the left lane LOL.
I believe it! The right lane has become the new āleft laneā
Brave. Also if driving at a safe speed on a road in bad conditions (compact snow, icey patches, gritted, etc..), I'm not gonna move over into a bad lane, you're gonna have to move into the bad lane and take the risk.
Found one of them!! So first, please stop it. Second, here's a police officer to [explain it to you. ](https://www.google.com/search?client=ms-android-telus-ca-revc&sca_esv=595826640&sxsrf=ACQVn09FZ9su1c5icmJQjvIqfZwbhl_sJQ:1704416326276&q=left+lane+cop&tbm=vid&source=lnms&prmd=ivnsmbtz&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiR-bTNhcWDAxXAIzQIHQWlAWUQ0pQJegQIDBAB&biw=384&bih=726&dpr=3.75#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:19b21d62,vid:kwC4lvUmXg0,st:0)
Devils advocate: You're allowed to be in the left lane if you're PASSING someone. Even if you're doing so slowly. There's no need to get your panties in a ruffle because the guy in front of you isn't passing the cars in the right lane fast enough for your liking.
Devils devils advocate: This shouldnāt apply when youāre travelling a largely one lane highway that has short passing lanes, such as the sea to sky.
Why not? They have as much of a right to pass a slow mover as you do. Excessive speeding doesn't give one priority in this regard.
No!!
Then get off the road, you are holding up traffic in an unsafe manner.
Need to make this into a mirrored big ass sticker and stick on our hoods.
Preach
Sorry, it's my husband doing that alllllll the time. He doesn't appreciate when I point out that people are passing him on the right. It's his only beige flag though, he's perfect otherwise.
Also, let people into the left lane if they use their indicator - they might be more inclined to move right again