Overtaking vehicle on road with double-yellow line

[cdn_bc_ca]

Was having a discussion with somebody about dashed vs. single solid vs. double solid yellow lines on a roadway in regards to passing other vehicles.

On a dashed yellow line, allowed to pass when safe.
On a solid yellow line, allowed to pass when safe.
On a double-solid yellow line, not allowed to pass.

I checked the motor-vehicle act and it seems contradictory to me. Here are the relevant parts:

Driving on laned roadway

151 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 by sections 171 and 172,
(d) when approaching an intersection intending to turn left must drive the vehicle in the centre lane or in the lane nearest the centre of the roadway on the right hand half of the highway,
(e) when approaching an intersection intending to turn right must drive the vehicle in the lane nearest to the right hand side of the roadway,
(f) must not pass a vehicle on the left if that action necessitates driving on that part of the highway designated for travel in the opposite direction, and
(g) if a traffic control device directs slow moving traffic to use a designated lane, must when driving slowly drive the vehicle in that lane only.

But then further down it says:

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.

So what is the difference between a dash, single solid, and double-solid yellow line?

Thanks.

 

[MHz]

solid= no passing
solid your side dashed other side = you cannot pass, oncoming vehicles can
dotted= both directions can pass

 

[earth_as_one]

Common sense dictates that if a vehicle is stopped on the road and blocking your lane, you may cross a solid line. Otherwise what MHz said.

 

[lone wolf]

You may cross a solid line - with caution - ONLY after making sure the way is clear and you will not be a conflicting movement. You are automatically at fault if you are on the wrong side of the road in any circumstance.

 

[damngrumpy]

If the line is solid you cannot pass, if the vehicle is stopped proceed with caution but my
understanding is you are supposed to slow down and be prepared to stop, and you can't
pass that vehicle on a blind curve moving or not but I could be wrong. Solid line no
passing either way

 

[MHz]

I was taught that speeding was allowed as it was less dangerous if you were in the other lane for as short a period of time as possible, that was a few decades ago btw.

 

[earth_as_one]

If I cross a solid line to pass a stopped vehicle, I always use extreme caution. I've learned from experience that sometimes what appears to be stupidity or selfish inconsideration can often be a car accident, something fell off the vehicle, a child is about to walk out from behind the stopped car into the passing lane.... Sometimes a very good reason exists to explain what appears to be poor driving skills or rudeness...

Also I always assume an oncoming speeding car is about to appear when making a decision to pass.

 

[MHz]

I had a gutless Chevette where I needed 1/4 mile at a slight downhill grade before it was 'safe', then I had another car that could go from 100 -150 in the length of a semi an just a few seconds. You shifted into top gear at 120mph. I felt safer in the faster car but it was 4x as hard on gas.

 

[Dexter Sinister]

Where I live, a dashed line you can freely cross for any reason as long as it's safe to do so, a single solid line means you can't pass but you can make a left turn across it to enter another roadway or a driveway, a double solid line you can't cross under any circumstances, and any roadway without markings, like a residential street, is treated as a road with a single solid line, no passing but you can turn left.

 

[gerryh]

Isn't wonderful that the motor vehicle act is so clear and everybody has the same understanding of what the rules are?

 

[petros]

J Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers - Last Kiss - YouTube

 

[cdn_bc_ca]

Thanks for the responses. You guys are great!

Further reading the MVA, I found some interesting bits:

Crossing at other than crosswalk
180 When a pedestrian is crossing a highway at a point not in a crosswalk, the pedestrian must yield the right of way to a vehicle.

I've noticed on many occasions where pedestrians cross a road without regard to traffic because they think the "pedestrian always has the right of way".

Excessive speeding
148 (1) A person who drives a motor vehicle on a highway at a speed greater than 40 km/h over the applicable speed limit set under the authority of an enactment commits an offence and is liable on conviction to not less than the aggregate of the fine amount and the...

Excessive speeding = 40Km/h over limit.

Yellow light
128 (1) When a yellow light alone is exhibited at an intersection by a traffic control signal, following the exhibition of a green light,
(a) the driver of a vehicle approaching the intersection and facing the yellow light must cause it to stop before entering the marked crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or if there is no marked crosswalk, before entering the intersection, unless the stop cannot be made in safety,
...
(2) When a yellow light alone is exhibited at a place other than an intersection by a traffic control signal,(a) the driver of a vehicle approaching the signal must cause it 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, unless the stop cannot be made in safety, and
...

here in the LM, it appears that Yellow Light means speed up.

 

[L Gilbert]

The way I understand it from Mounties (which also coincides with fire dpt. policy) is that a double solid is not crossable unless indicated by someone/something directing traffic. Single solids mean passing is ok while using caution. Any intermittent line is crossable except when unsafe to do so.

 

[Dexter Sinister]

Isn't wonderful that the motor vehicle act is so clear and everybody has the same understanding of what the rules are?

These are provincial regulations, hardly a surprise that they'd differ across provinces, but you're still right, they certainly could be clearer than they are.

 

[lone wolf]

Thanks for the responses. You guys are great!

I've noticed on many occasions where pedestrians cross a road without regard to traffic because they think the "pedestrian always has the right of way".

Right or wrong, it's never wise to argue right-of-way with someone who has a huge weight advantage

 

[DriveSmartBC]

There is a bit of misinformation here. A double solid yellow line not only says "no passing," it also says "keep to the right of me at ALL times."

The bit about driving from one lane to the other over a solid line is a reference to changing lanes over a solid line on multiple laned roadway.

You can pass an overtaken vehicle over a single solid yellow line if it is safe to do so.

 

[Elder]

to alleviate the angst and ignorance re traffic road lines please visit this site.


Signs, Signals, and Markings - Road Marking

 

[eh1eh]

There is a bit of misinformation here. A double solid yellow line not only says "no passing," it also says "keep to the right of me at ALL times."

The bit about driving from one lane to the other over a solid line is a reference to changing lanes over a solid line on multiple laned roadway.

You can pass an overtaken vehicle over a single solid yellow line if it is safe to do so.

Yes. The paint on the road is there as a driver aid. If you pass a car when there is a broken line on the road and you get in an accident then you would be charged the same as if you passed where there was a solid or double solid line, 'over take and pass unsafely' or some technical variation of that.

 

[B00Mer]

The way I understand it from Mounties.

You mean "the Queens cowboys.." as truckers call them. ;-)

[youtube]42GABPU3AtY[/youtube]

The single solid yellow line is a common source of confusion in British Columbia, Canada. The ICBC "Learn To Drive Smart" (and talk smartly?) guide, on page 38, says, "Single yellow line — passing is allowed with extra caution."

Unfortunately, it doesn't say "signal light optional," though this driver appears to remember it that way. They also get a bit carried away with how much room to give the bicycle riders.

What really has me wondering is if the middle bicycle rider broke the law in crossing the solid white line, into the bike lane?

 

[lone wolf]

Where it gets really interesting is when you are making a signaled and properly-positioned left turn over a double solid line and get clipped by someone illegally passing you - and you get charged for making a left turn not in safety