Speed limits, passing lanes, impeding traffic

[metallicat]

Having a discussion on another forum regarding speeding and passing lanes and impeding traffic, mostly on highways.

In Canada, or specifically Alberta, are there laws regarding the left most lane of a highway? Is one legally allowed to drive exactly at the speed limit in that lane (when not passing)? Or, if you are doing that, and traffic is building up behind you, are you in violation of impeding traffic laws?

I tried to do some searches for this, but a lot came up that wasn't exactly what I was looking for.

[th]

BC Motor Vehicle Act

150
(1) The driver of a vehicle must confine the course of the vehicle to the right hand half of the roadway if the roadway is of sufficient width and it is practicable to do so, except;
(a) when overtaking and passing a vehicle proceeding in the same direction,
(b) when the right hand half of the roadway is closed to traffic while under construction or repair,
(c) on a highway designated and marked by signs for one way traffic,
(d) if necessary when operating snow removing equipment, or
(e) if
(i) the movement of a vehicle, or combination of vehicles, is permitted by and is done in conformity with the terms of the oversize permit issued under the Commercial Transport Act, and
(ii) the width of a vehicle, or combination of vehicles, or the width of a load on the vehicle makes the operation of the vehicle or combination of vehicles on the right hand half of the roadway unsafe.

(2) The driver of a vehicle proceeding at less than normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing must drive the vehicle in the right hand lane then available for traffic, or as closely as practicable to the right hand curb or edge of the roadway, except when overtaking and passing a vehicle proceeding in the same direction, or when preparing for a left hand turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.

$109 and 3 points. Of course, you have to figure out what the "normal speed of traffic" is.

[metallicat]

Normal speed of traffic...can that ever be more than the speed limit? It should only be less, or right at the limit, no?

[Snowman]

delete

[Mailman]

Local News - Gord Thompson may be the only man in Ontario ever charged under the Highway Traffic Act for obeying the letter of the law. The teacher from Campbellford and another motorist caused a four-kilometre traffic jam on Highway 401 seven years ago by driving side by side at the posted 100 km/h speed limit. They were charged with obstructing traffic and had their licences temporarily suspended.

damned if you do, damned if you don't!

It's kind of funny really, if you are doing the speed limit then no one should be passing so what does it matter what lane you are in.

[SD_SC1]

So where are you supposed to drive on a four lane highway if the speed limit's 110 and you're doing 120? I drove on my first four lane highway recently, but I didn't know which lane was the correct lane for me.

[th]

Ignore the attention whore.

[SD_SC1]

Ignore the attention whore.

I'm not an attention whore. I drove on Deerfoot Trail for the first time, and people were passing me like crazy regardless of what lane I was in.

[SierraSeven]

Hmmm.

[Mark S]

Local News - Gord Thompson may be the only man in Ontario ever charged under the Highway Traffic Act for obeying the letter of the law. The teacher from Campbellford and another motorist caused a four-kilometre traffic jam on Highway 401 seven years ago by driving side by side at the posted 100 km/h speed limit. They were charged with obstructing traffic and had their licences temporarily suspended.

damned if you do, damned if you don't!

It's kind of funny really, if you are doing the speed limit then no one should be passing so what does it matter what lane you are in.

Sounds like this guy did a really good job of making his point. I wonder what the judge said of his obstructing traffic charge.

[echo1]

Local News - Gord Thompson may be the only man in Ontario ever charged under the Highway Traffic Act for obeying the letter of the law. The teacher from Campbellford and another motorist caused a four-kilometre traffic jam on Highway 401 seven years ago by driving side by side at the posted 100 km/h speed limit. They were charged with obstructing traffic and had their licences temporarily suspended.

damned if you do, damned if you don't!

It's kind of funny really, if you are doing the speed limit then no one should be passing so what does it matter what lane you are in.

Sounds like this guy did a really good job of making his point. I wonder what the judge said of his obstructing traffic charge.

I wonder if by some stroke of luck he got the same judge.

[AnotherBeginning]

Ignore the attention whore.

I'm not an attention whore. I drove on Deerfoot Trail for the first time, and people were passing me like crazy regardless of what lane I was in.

Perhaps your reputation preceded you and they were all just trying to get the hell away from you.

[Reflections]

http://www.drivers.com/article/149/

The whole story, for what it is worth.

[Lexis85]

In my Young Driver's course, we were always taught to go with the flow of traffic, as long as we were not the last vehicles in that bunch. If we did not have someone behind us, then we had to go the speed limit. Not exactly legal, but it's safe anyways. I hate driving on the highway and some retard is hogging the left lane going 90, when typically, driving towards Vancouver, everyone's going between 120-140. My little shitbox can't go that fast so I'm somewhere between 105 and 110. Those little signs that were put up obviously don't work, and previously working at WalMart I have learned that nobody reads signs anyways.

[Flagstaff]

Use of Highways and Rules of the Road Regulation

Driving at appropriate speed

2(1) A person shall not do any of the following:

(a) notwithstanding that a speed limit is prescribed by or pursuant to the Act or any other Act in respect of a highway, drive a vehicle on that highway at any rate of speed that is unreasonable having regard to all the circumstances, including without restricting the generality of the foregoing, the following:

(i) the nature, condition and use of the highway;

(ii) the atmospheric, weather or other conditions that might affect the visibility of the driver or the control of the vehicle;

(iii) the amount of traffic that is or that might reasonably be expected to be on the highway;

(iv) the mechanical condition of the vehicle or any equipment on the vehicle;

(b) subject to this Part and Part 2, where a highway that is located outside an urban area has 2 or more traffic lanes on the same side of the centre line for use by vehicles travelling in the same direction, drive a vehicle in the traffic lane nearest the centre line unless the vehicle is being driven at or near the maximum speed permitted;

(c) drive a vehicle at such a slow rate of speed so as to impede or block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic then existing on a highway except when it is necessary to do so for the safe operation of the vehicle or to comply with Parts 1 and 2.

(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1)(b), a person driving a vehicle on a highway at a speed that is below the maximum speed limit that is established or prescribed for that highway may drive the vehicle in the traffic lane nearest to the centre line for the purpose of overtaking and passing another vehicle.