When meeting other vehicles, you must keep to the right of the centre line of the roadway.
Head-on collisions are usually fatal. Driver distraction (e.g., texting/talking on a cellphone, eating, etc.), driver impairment (fatigue, alcohol, drugs) or driver errors, such as faulty judgment or techniques while passing, are often contributing factors in these collisions.
When passing, it's very important to keep the time spent on the wrong side of the road to a bare minimum.
When passing:
- Make sure the pass is legal, safe and necessary. Don't cross solid or double solid yellow lines, pass on the crest of a hill, before a curve, at intersections or any place where your sight distance is limited.
- Maintain a minimum three-second following distance between you and the vehicle you are following (see Using time to estimate your following distance). When you decide to pass, accelerate to build up speed before passing. The greater the difference in speed between you and the vehicle you're passing, the shorter your passing time will be.
- Continue to accelerate throughout the entire pass. Don't slow down until you're back in your original lane and well in front of the vehicle you just passed. Keep in mind that it's illegal to speed even when passing.
- Wait until you see the vehicle being passed in your inside rearview mirror before pulling back into your travelling lane. Remember, you must signal, check your mirrors and shoulder check to ensure it's safe to re-enter your travelling lane.
Note: At high speeds, the lane change is more gradual and takes longer to complete.
Do not exceed the speed limit when passing.
When passing other vehicles, you must always pass on the left except:
- where there are two or more traffic lanes in your direction of travel
- any time the vehicle ahead is about to make a left turn and it is possible to pass safely on the right without driving on the shoulder
You may not pass any vehicle that is stopped at an intersection to permit pedestrians to cross.
When being passed on the left by another vehicle, stay to the right of your lane and maintain your speed. Don't accelerate or obstruct the passing vehicle from returning to the right lane.
Passing lanes
Passing lanes are designed to allow vehicles to pass safely and improve the flow of traffic. A passing lane is an additional lane added to a highway that permits a slower vehicle to move into the right hand lane, while a faster vehicle can pass safely in the left hand lane.
The right hand lane is designated for travel and the left hand lane is only to be used for passing. Maintain your speed when moving into the right hand lane and do not speed up.
Signs will alert you of a passing lane ahead. Have patience, maintain a safe following distance and wait for the passing lane instead of using the oncoming traffic lane, which can be dangerous.
