Q&A - Two Way Left Turn Lane Collision

My house fronts a busy street and when turning left from my drive way in heavy traffic. I generally go through the northbound lane and into the Two Way Left Turn Lane, stop and wait to merge right into the southbound lane. I can’t seem to find legislation saying this is illegal in British Columbia but I haven’t found anything saying it is legal either.

This has become a big issue recently. In the summer, I turned left into the Two Way Left Turn Lane and was waiting to merge right into the southbound traffic lane. A vehicle trying to get around traffic hit me head on. A police office saw it happen, and ticketed the other driver.

Initially ICBC said I was not at fault but a few months later I received a letter saying I have been found 100% liable for the accident. I don’t think this is correct but want to challenge the decisions.

Do you have any information that could assist me in challenging the decision? Or any advice would be helpful.

See if this thread ...

... is of any help.

It would seem to me that if you were stationary and the other vehicle hit you head on while using it for passing, the primary blame would have to rest with him. Do you know the nature of the ticket the officer who attended wrote?

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I don’t have details of the

I don’t have details of the ticket. I have the officers information and file number. I am in the process of getting the officers file

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Answer

I think that chances are good you need to obtain the advice of a lawyer. Consider taking advantage of the Canadian Bar Association's Lawyer Referral Service. I cannot advise about civil liability as I have no training in it and specific lawyers do.

Once you engage in a two way left turn lane, the only way that you can legally leave it is by turning left. CompetentDrivingBC has provided a link to my article on the subject. I'm assuming from your description that you were inside and parallel to the lane rather than sitting in it perpendicular to the lane.

It does not seem reasonable to me that ICBC should find you 100% responsible with the information that you have provided, but again, it is not my area of expertise.

Also, just because the police issued the other driver a ticket does not mean that he has any or all of the civil liability for the collision, merely that he may have failed to follow the Motor Vehicle Act.