Western Canada - Right Hook Law
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RustyBarnacle
05-20-09, 11:54 PM
On a social forum that I am on there is some argument on the laws around right hooks. All the drivers seem to think that as long as they can get past they are allowed to turn. I'm pretty sure thats not right but can't seem to find a law to support my argument.
Anyone know? Vancouver, BC Canada
Capt_Sensible
05-21-09, 12:25 PM
A good question. I don't have an answer for you, but would suggest you contact David Hay, a lawyer who has a regular column on cycling related legal issues in the VACC newsletter. He may be able to answer your question. You can get his contact info' from page 6 of the latest issue (http://www.vacc.bc.ca/pdf/Urbane_Cyclist_Spring09_40.pdf).
RustyBarnacle
05-21-09, 12:41 PM
This was a response to an email I sent on a biking website with an info link:
While it would be nice to have a law that required drivers to give cyclists a certain distance when passing them, at the current time there is no such requirement. Some of our colleagues to the South, in Washington State and Oregon do have a 3 foot law, that requires drivers to give at least 3 feet distance when passing, but there is no such requirement here at this time.
The current provisions in the Motor Vehicle Act are:
Duty when overtaking
a. Existing Provision:
(1) Except as provided in section 158, the driver of a vehicle overtaking another vehicle
(a) must cause the vehicle to pass to the left of the other vehicle at a safe distance, and
(b) must not cause or permit the vehicle to return to the right side of the highway until safely clear of the overtaken vehicle.
We are lobbying the Provincial Government to improve on those provisions, by requiring a meter or more of distance from the cyclist when passing.
Brian Collier
Vice-President, BCCC