I am fortunate to receive a steady stream of driving questions from visitors to this website. Whenever I need inspiration for my weekly column, I can always count on a reader to spark an idea. This week, the operative word is "short." I am tackling a few brief but important questions that haven’t developed into full articles but still deserve a thorough response.
HOV Lanes and Slower Traffic
"My question is about HOV lanes: Since there is a solid line to separate HOV traffic from regular traffic how do we safely apply the move over for the let faster traffic to go by problem?"
There is more depth to this question than first appears. Under BC law, The solid line means that it is illegal to move from one lane to another. In addition, the HOV lane is specifically exempted from the slower traffic keep right rules. However, the law also states that if you choose to drive at a speed that is lower than the normal speed of traffic, you must use the right hand lane available for traffic.
This creates a contradiction. Does it mean that if you want to travel at the posted speed limit while everyone else is speeding, you are barred from using the HOV lane? Ultimately, that might be a question for a traffic court justice to decide.
Because I prefer to stick to the speed limit, I often choose to use the regular right-hand lane even if I qualify for the HOV lane. When I do use the HOV lane, I generally have a bulldozer sitting on my back bumper, or other drivers weave around me. This increases the risk of a collision for everyone. In heavy traffic, self-preservation easily outweighs convenience.
The Safety of Cable Barriers
"Whose idea was it to use stainless steel cable to trap cars with in the event you run off the road? Those things could be very dangerous to a biker if forced off the road in to the "barrier.""
For the answer to this one, I turned to the Wikipedia article on cable barriers. It notes: "In many countries of the European Union these cable barriers are not allowed to be used along highways as they perceived to be especially hazardous for motorcyclists. However, a study of motorcyclist injury rates for several types of highway barrier did not find an appreciable difference in fatal and severe injuries between cable barrier and W-beam barrier. Both were significantly more hazardous than concrete barrier, however were less hazardous than having no barrier at all."
Reporting Uneven Manhole Covers
"How do we get the manhole at the turn off for main street at the north end of the Second Narrows bridge level with the rest of the pavement. Who we gonna call?"
British Columbia has strict highway maintenance standards in place. While the official surface maintenance standards don't mention this specific issue, they do address road distortions and specify precise timeframes for repairs. Since road maintenance contractors must make regular inspections, they should already be aware of the issue.
However, the reporting process looks a bit different for municipal roads compared to provincial highways maintained by Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) contractors.
In either case, one of these two jurisdictions is responsible and maintains public contact information to report hazards. Check the local municipal website for city streets, or use the provincial Road Maintenance Contractors contact information for highways. If you happen to call the wrong office, staff are usually able to point you toward the correct jurisdiction based on past experience.
Learn More:
- Development of Guidelines for Cable Median Barrier Systems
- Cable Barrier Technical Bulletin - Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
- Engineering Services - Local Government in British Columbia
Have you ever been tailgated in the HOV lane, or spotted a hazardous road condition on your commute? Let's get the conversation moving! Please use the social media links below to share this article with your network and help keep BC drivers informed.
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