British Columbia uses only white and yellow paints, when creating the lines that go on the Province’s roads and highways. Yet it needs to govern the changing of lanes in up to one-half dozen different situations. British Columbia’s lane change driving laws are supposed to make that possible.
Rules that relate to a white line:
White lines should be used where all traffic is going the same direction.
A solid white line sends this message: Do not pass.
A broken white line tells the motorist that it is legal to pass other vehicles, as long as caution gets used by the driver that has chosen to change lanes.
Rules that relate to a yellow line:
• Yellow lines should be used on a 2-way street.
• The presence of a solid yellow line indicates that it is OK to pass, but the driver needs to exercise an extra amount of caution.
• A broken yellow line signals the existence of an area in which passing moves can be undertaken, as long as the driver exercises an acceptable level of caution.
• Drivers that travel over a roadway with one solid yellow line, parallel to one broken one should realize that passing is OK on the side with the broken line.
On roadways where double yellow lines have been painted onto the road’s surface, vehicles should refrain from passing. Yet there are times when it is legal to cross those 2 yellow lines. Such a move is allowed if a motorist is entering or leaving a road. Still, a motorist violates the law by obstructing the flow of traffic, while crossing the paired lines with the yellow paint.
British Columbia has issued contradictory rules, regarding what to do, when encountering an obstruction on the road.
One rule state that the driver should stay to the right of the solid line. An alternate rule states that motorists can cross that solid line, if such a movement can be carried out safely, and if it does not impede the flow of traffic.
Due to the existence of those contradictory rules, a motorist has some ground to stand on, if charged with a violation, after having crossed a pair of yellow lines. Still, the existence of the contradictory law makes it hard to support the correctness of such a move.
Fortunately, a Personal Injury Lawyer in St John’s training has prepared that professional for just such a challenge. That is why the charged motorist should hire a lawyer, especially if the charge relates to some action that appears to qualify as a violation of any of British Columbia’s lane change driving laws. Most such charges pertain to the law that covers the permissible actions along areas where the roadway has 2 yellow lines.