Double solid line laws

[ld50]

Where I live, (townhouses) we only have one way to drive into the complex. The road out front has a double solid yellow line on it. I understand you can`t turn left over a double solid line, however, the only other option we have when coming that way is to keep going, and turn around in a small parking lot at a park, or do a u-turn.

The other option is taking a very circuitus route that would take at least 15 mins on a good day, or up to 45 minutes during rush hour, in order to pull into the complex legally.

I find the idea of turning around in the park parking lot more dangerous than signalling well in advance of my complex and slowing down enough that people know what I am doing when I come from that direction. (and I always watch for the police). Turning around in the park is really the only option to keep it legal, and it introduces vehicle traffic into an area that potentially has children about. (Going further takes you where you don`t want to go, a highway on-ramp, without being specific - I`m trying to explain without giving an adress)

Unfortunately there have been numerous rear-enders from people suddenly deciding they are turning left into the complex, and I have heard of police ticketing people.

I would like to contact my city hall about this (I recently just bought my place) And I wonder whom I should contact, or what office?
There really should be a better system in place, I also have to turn left to get to work in the morning, or go right and get turned around by the local high school somehow..

I was also wondering about the ticket amount I would get if caught, and/or points against me.


-thanks

[Dax's Bad ass Jeep]

You arn't suposto but alot of people do, you are probably looking at the basic $86 you did a bad thing ticket.

[The Wall]

I could be wrong but I believe that a double yellow only bars you from returning to your lane i.e. passing. I believe that it is still legal to enter a drive/entrance way if there is one there.

[ld50]

I could be wrong but I believe that a double yellow only bars you from returning to your lane i.e. passing. I believe that it is still legal to enter a drive/entrance way if there is one there.

Yeah you know I`m not even sure anymore, you could be right, and that would be nice.

thanks, officer! ;)

[DMMcG]

You can exit or enter a through highway across a double yellow line as long as you can do so with safety and your movement can be done "without unreasonably affecting the travel of another vehicle".

Stopping on a busy through highway and blocking a line of cars that are trying to continue on (ie: they're unable to fit round you to the right) would constitute "unreasonably affecting the travel of another vehicle".


From the Motor Vehicle Act RSBC 1996


Highway lines

155 (1) Despite anything in this Part, if a highway is marked with

(a) a solid double line, the driver of a vehicle must drive it to the right of the line only,

(b) a double line consisting of a broken line and a solid line,

(i) the driver of a vehicle proceeding along the highway on the side of the broken line must drive the vehicle to the right of the double line, except when passing an overtaken vehicle, and

(ii) the driver of a vehicle proceeding along the highway on the side of the solid line must drive the vehicle to the right of the double line, except only when finishing the passing of an overtaken vehicle, and

(c) one single line, broken or solid, the driver of a vehicle must drive the vehicle to the right of the line, except only when passing an overtaken vehicle.

(2) Subsection (1) (b) (i) and (c) do not apply if a driver is avoiding an obstruction on the highway and first ascertains that the movement can be made with safety and without affecting the travel of any other vehicle.

Suspension of sections 151 and 155

156 If the driver of a vehicle is causing the vehicle to enter or leave a highway and the driver has ascertained that he or she might do so with safety and does so without unreasonably affecting the travel of another vehicle, the provisions of sections 151 and 155 are suspended with respect to the driver while the vehicle is entering or leaving the highway.


The Act and Regulations are on-line. As with any legislation there are sometimes different "interpretations" that apply. A plain reading of the legislation is all that's required. Because contravention of the Act constitutes an offence, any vagueness or uncertainty as to whether the Act has been contravened ought be decided in favour of the "accused".

That doesn't mean that an officer won't give you a ticket if he/she feels that your driving behavior merits it. An officer's interpretation of the Act will vary with the circumstances and the exercise of their discretion.

http://www.qp.gov.bc.ca/statreg/stat/M/96318_03.htm#section155

[ld50]

Wow that`s great.Maybe people are only hassled out there if they are not signalling well in advance or something. I`ll ask around.

thanks

[crazyguy]

hehe, I was going to say something like that. I got the simple version though. as long as your not impeding the flow of traffic you can exit across double solid. impeding the flow of traffic does include causing people to change lanes to go around you, buddy of mine found out once by accident but only got a warning for it.

[skidmark]

DMMcG posted exactly what I would have.

Double solid yellow lines mean stay to the right of them at all times unless there is a specific exemption, like leaving the highway in this case, allowing you not to.

There is nothing about passing involved in double solid lines, the offence occurs as soon as you fail to keep to the right of them unless allowed by statute.

[canadazuuk]

...the provisions of sections 151 and 155 are suspended with respect to the driver while the vehicle is entering or leaving the highway.

Passing on a double solid though, is prohibited, since you are not 'entering or leaving'.

Great forum.

I have a weird corner in Abbotsford that I would love to bore you all with... but I won't.

[ld50]

Had a driver training thing "accident avoidance" course at work yesterday. It was put on by a retired RCMP officer who spent alot of time in traffic enforcement and accident investigation.
He was actually a nice guy, and I didn`t even see him with one donut the whole time.

He basically confirmed what was said here. You can cross it when entering or leaving the roadway. Apparently there is no law about restricting traffic. The only time you wouldn`t be able to do it is if there were signs to the contrary.
Of course other rules apply, like signalling in advance, etc.

[skidmark]

That was a nice backhanded compliment.;)

Who says we all eat doughnuts? I prefer apple fritters at Tim Horton's myself.

[ld50]

Actually he had the sense of humor down.. he remarked that in two weeks of taking people on their drives (two hours of the wonderfully boring Smith system) that he had only seen one police car. Then he says "but we haven`t passed alot of donut shops"

He he, you gotta hate that stereotype!

[DMMcG]

Originally posted by ld50
<SNIP Apparently there is no law about restricting traffic. The only time you wouldn`t be able to do it is if there were signs to the contrary.
Of course other rules apply, like signalling in advance, etc.

Apparently, either you or he is misinformed.

The "law" is quoted above.

[skidmark]

The sections of the Motor Vehicle Act that deal with either slow driving or parking and standing of vehicles would provide authority to deal with those restricting traffic.

[ld50]

(2) Subsection (1) (b) (i) and (c) do not apply if a driver is avoiding an obstruction on the highway and first ascertains that the movement can be made with safety and without affecting the travel of any other vehicle.

This you mean?

You mean restricting travel by causing the cars behind me to have to switch lanes?
I don`t see this as much of a restriction, seems to me the average motorist does a lot of lane changing anyway?

I tend to believe an officer who spent twenty-five years writing tickets, or Skidmark`s answers at least, but it`s all still a little vague!
(not to take anything away from your 22 years service!)


Otherwise I have to only aproach my home from one direction, which would mean I would have to get on a highway first!

I will ask straight out then Skidmark!

4 lane highway straight stretch of road:
-double solid line
-driver in left lane westbound puts blinker on well in advance, signalling a left turn
-driver comes to stop
-cars in his lane are forced to wait or change into the right side lane
-eastbound traffic clears, driver completes the action.

would you pull this poor guy over, who just wants to get home after a long day to hug his wife and kid?

:D

Thanks for the time on here BTW, good stuff.

[DMMcG]

Originally posted by ld50


This you mean?

You mean restricting travel by causing the cars behind me to have to switch lanes?
I don`t see this as much of a restriction, seems to me the average motorist does a lot of lane changing anyway?

I tend to believe an officer who spent twenty-five years writing tickets, or Skidmark`s answers at least.
(not to take anything away from his 22 years service!)

Otherwise I have to only aproach my home from one direction, which would mean I would have to get on a highway first!

I don't understand the first three paragraphs of your post. I'm just trying to make sure that others who read your statement: "Apparently there is no law about restricting traffic", aren't mislead.

That statement is incorrect.

Your religion isn't the issue here. You believe whatever you see fit. I'm not going to hold it against you. I try to stay out of religious disputes. ;)

The letter of the law is pretty clear....though there's room left for interpretation. The phrase is:

"without unreasonably affecting the travel of another vehicle".

I would think that it's entirely "reasonable" for you to sit with your left blinker on, waiting to turn left over a double yellow line, if there's another lane in which traffic behind you can proceed. I think you'd also be successful in getting acquitted, should a police officer ticket you under this section, should the vehicles behind you have a relatively smooth gravel shoulder to safely pass you on - even though they'd have to move onto the shoulder to go 'round you.

Having said that, if you unreasonably block traffic, you're likely going to be ticketed.

[ld50]

NOOOO!

You got it all wrong, this is a four lane road with curbs on either side, no one is leaving the roadway to avoid me, just changing lanes.

The other paragraphs were in reference to the retired police officer`s comment about being allowed to exit the freeway in this manner.

And the fact that If I can only turn right to get into my complex then I will only be able to get home if I first exit a highway that is close by, then drive down my road and take that right turn..


You really confused me with the religion stuff :confused:

[skidmark]

Ah, you mean unreasonably affecting traffic, sorry, I missed the connection there.

If you are on multiple lanes, everyone can go by you on the right. I would wait a lot longer in that situation than I would if there were only one lane for traffic in your direction.

It is dangerous for you to do that though. #1 behind you doesn't slow down, doesn't signal, and moves right at the last instant. #2 is watching the back bumper of #1 and is following too closely. #2 finds himself in your trunk before he wakes up to the fact that you are waiting to turn left.

[ld50]

Warning heeded, I always signal well in advance, start slowing well before the turn and keep everything smooth.

They have several rear enders there a year apparently.

[Paul]

Originally posted by skidmark
That was a nice backhanded compliment.;)

Who says we all eat doughnuts? I prefer apple fritters at Tim Horton's myself.

Dude, try the blueberry fritters and you may never go back to apple!:redneck