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Behind-the-Wheel

Dear Cop - Merging

There are 2 locations on Gordon Dr, heading south, that you have to merge from 2 lanes into 1.

The first is at Barnes and the second is just after Lequime by the Mission Sports Field. If I am driving in the right lane and approaching the merge back to the left lane, I'm not sure of the correct procedure.

If the person driving in the left lane is driving slow or under the speed limit, do I have the right of way to merge into the left lane ahead of him, while keeping within the speed limit or do I have to yield to the left lane traffic and wait for a safe gap to do so?

When two lanes merge into one lane, such as a curb lane ends and merges into the median lane, the driver in the curb lane must complete a lane change into the median lane yielding to the through traffic already occupying the median lane. You may change lanes in front of another slower vehicle occupying the median lane as long as there is enough safe distance between vehicles and the lane change can be accomplished without incident.(No cutting off vehicles)

If you are traveling at the posted speed limit in the curb lane and the vehicle in the median lane is traveling under the posted speed limit, you may legally pass on the right utilizing the curb lane.

Driving on laned roadway

Section 151 of the Motor Vehicle Act indicates that a driver who is driving a vehicle on a laned roadway
(a) must not drive it from one lane to another when a broken line only exists between the lanes, unless the driver has ascertained that movement can be made with safety and will in no way affect the travel of another vehicle,
(b) must not drive it from one lane to another if that action necessitates crossing a solid line,
(c) must not drive it from one lane to another without first signalling his or her intention to do so by hand and arm or approved mechanical device in the manner prescribed.

Passing on right

Section 158 (1) of the Motor Vehicle Act indicates that the driver of a vehicle must not cause or permit the vehicle to overtake and pass on the right of another vehicle, except
(a) when the vehicle overtaken is making a left turn or its driver has signalled his or her intention to make a left turn,
(b) when on a laned roadway there is one or more than one unobstructed lane on the side of the roadway on which the driver is permitted to drive, or
(c) on a one way street or a highway on which traffic is restricted to one direction of movement, where the roadway is free from obstructions and is of sufficient width for 2 or more lanes of moving vehicles.
(2) Despite subsection (1), a driver of a vehicle must not cause the vehicle to overtake and pass another vehicle on the right
(a) when the movement cannot be made safely, or
(b) by driving the vehicle off the roadway.

Constable R.A.(Richard) ASELTON
Central Okanagan Traffic Services - Media Liaison

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.



More Behind the Wheel articles

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About the Author

Tim Schewe is a retired constable with many years of traffic law enforcement experience. He has been writing his column for most of the 20 years of his service in the RCMP.

The column was 'The Beat Goes On' in Fort St. John, 'Traffic Tips' in the South Okanagan and now 'Behind the Wheel' on Vancouver Island and here on Castanet.net.

Schewe retired from the force in January of 2006, but the column has become a habit, and continues.

To comment, please email

To learn more, visit DriveSmartBC



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The views expressed are strictly those of the author and not necessarily those of Castanet. Castanet does not warrant the contents.

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