QUESTION:
When I learned to drive many moons ago I was taught to pull out into the middle of the intersection to wait to make a left-hand turn.
Today I find that most drivers pull out about one car length to wait to make the turn. I find this very frustrating, especially if I'm the car sitting right behind and also waiting to turn. Obviously, with heavy traffic coming the opposite way, this usually means that only the one car can make the left-hand turn.
Has the law or the accepted driving rule changed in this regard?
Judy Gosney West Vancouver
Dear Ms. Gosney:
Thank you for your question.
Even though the Motor Vehicle Act does not specify how many vehicles may wait in the intersection when turning left on a green light, it does offer some direct guidance that, when analyzed, suggests the number will usually be limited to one.
Section 165 of the Act says, in part, that when entering the intersection, drivers must remain, "To the right of the marked centre line or centre line of the roadway," and, "After entering the intersection, turn the vehicle to the left so that it leaves the intersection to the right of the marked centre line of the roadway being entered," with a few additional provisos governing intersections that don't have marked lines.
Section 189, which provides guidelines on stopping vehicles, must also be considered when stopping in an intersection. It says, again in part, that, "Except when necessary to avoid conflict with traffic or to comply with the law or the directions of a peace officer or traffic control device, a person must not stop, stand or park a vehicle . . . on a crosswalk."
In the Act there are two definitions of "crosswalk," one of which is, "The portion of a highway at an intersection that is included within the connection of the lateral lines of the sidewalks on the opposite sides of the highway," and so on. In other words, the lines within which pedestrians walk at intersections are considered "crosswalks." Although you might be able to squeeze more than one vehicle into the intersection without stopping on the crosswalk, in most cases this is not possible.
Let me offer one final word of caution about "accepted driving rules." Tacit agreement between motorists to accept or adopt certain driving behaviours can create an often unwitting collusion between them to contravene traffic laws in the interests of haste, convenience or arbitrary preference.
Don't be driven to bad habits by others, but rather be sure you know, and follow, the rules.
Peter DeVries, District West Response Sergeant North Vancouver RCMP
Follow Peter on Twitter at www. twitter.com/rcmpdevries Email questions to editor@ nsnews.com or mail them to Editor, North Shore News, Suite 100 - 126 East 15th St., North Vancouver, B.C., V7L 2P9.
