I’ve
probably said this before, but when I applied the same tolerance under
the speed limit as I did for those driving over the speed limit and
factored in the advisory signs for speed I seldom found a driver going
slower. Having sat and considered for a
minute, I cannot recall writing a ticket for slow driving during my
traffic enforcement career.
I do remember stopping the odd driver and suggesting that if they felt
it was necessary to drive at a slower speed and they started leading a
parade, they should pull over, stop and let everyone go by. That
courtesy might also be a lifesaver as the probability
of an unsafe pass by an impatient follower can be quite high.
B.C.’s slow driving law forbids driving at a speed that impedes the
normal and reasonable movement of traffic, unless a reduced speed is
necessary for safety.
What is reasonable? Ultimately that would be decided by the justice in
traffic court but I can think of many reasons for driving at reduced
speed:
A learner driver that is not yet confident in the situation
A heavy commercial vehicle traveling downgrade
Approaching and passing a temporary hazard
Driving at night
Poor weather conditions
Following an erratic driver
Now we have to consider the variability of that decision. What I
consider reasonable might differ from you, also for many reasons. It’s
not a simple as speeding where merely driving at a speed over the limit
is an offence.
An interesting aside here is the Japanese koreisha mark that is
displayed by senior drivers. It is optional at age 70 and mandatory for
those 75 and older to indicate that their age could affect their ability
to drive. I wonder if respect for seniors translates
to some accommodation being granted to these people?
When there are multiple lanes of travel, slower drivers must use the
right hand lanes, even if they are traveling at the speed limit.
Here’s a situation where honking at another driver is part of the law.
Except when passing on the right is permitted, if an overtaking driver
sounds their horn, you are required to give way to the right and allow
them to pass.
What we’ve discussed so far applies to all highways whether they have
single or multiple lanes for a direction of travel. B.C.’s current law
requires slower drivers to move out of the left lane when overtaken by
faster traffic. This applies even when the slower
driver is traveling at the speed limit.
That said, slower drivers are NOT totally banned from the left lanes. They may use them at lower speeds if they are:
Passing someone else in the right lane
Allowing someone to merge onto the highway
Preparing to turn left
Following the requirements of the Slow Down, Move Over rules
So, to the gentleman that asked me to settle a debate over whether a
driver could receive a ticket for impeding traffic even if they were
going the speed limit on a single lane highway I would have to answer
that it would be very unlikely, but possible if they
failed to give way when honked at. That happens less than 80 times a
year in our province.
Story URL:
https://www.drivesmartbc.ca/speed/settling-debate-about-impeding-traffic
—
Constable Tim Schewe (Retired)
DriveSmartBC: Where better than average drivers satisfy their curiosity.