I live in Ontario and see many vehicles crossing solid double lines. Is this legal? – Denise In most of Canada, crossing the painted double line on a highway is against the law. In every province except Ontario, the law prohibits crossing the double line to enter the oncoming lane. But in Ontario, the lines painted on the road are visual reminders to be extra careful when crossing – unless there’s a sign telling you not to cross them, according to the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP). “The offense of crossing the yellow line does not exist [in Ontario]OPP Sergeant Kerry Schmidt said. “If there is a sign [banning crossing the line] and you do, then you shall be charged with disobeying the sign.’ When asked if crossing solid lines is legal and safe, the Ontario Ministry of Transportation sent links to the Highway Traffic Act and the Ontario Traffic Manual. Although the law does not specifically prohibit passing lines, section 149 states that you cannot cross into the oncoming traffic lane if you are approaching the top of a hill, a curve or within 30 meters of a bridge, viaduct, tunnel or railway crossing. Those are places where there would be solid lines on the road, Schmidt said. But, in general, any time you see a solid line on the road, it’s a signal that it’s difficult to spot oncoming cars in time to avoid a head-on collision, Schmidt said. “The lines are there for a reason,” he said. “Quite often, there’ll be a dip in the road and you might not realize there’s a car – especially at night – and it’ll just appear.”
Blurred lines;
Here’s a quick refresher on the different lines you’ll see on the road and what they mean. Generally, yellow lines separate traffic going in opposite directions and white lines separate lanes of traffic going in the same direction. If there is a broken line, you can cross it to get through. If it’s solid, it shouldn’t. Sometimes, you will see a double line that is solid on one side and broken on the other. In this case, you obey the line in your lane – if you have the dotted line, you can pass if it’s safe. Most provinces treat a fixed line the same, whether it’s single or double – it’s illegal to cross. However, there are a few exceptions for individual solid lines. In British Columbia and Nova Scotia, for example, the law states that you can cross a solid yellow line to pass – as long as you do so safely. For example, page 38 of the BC driver’s manual states that a single yellow line means “crossing is permitted with caution.” Page 85 of the Nova Scotia driver’s manual states: “A single solid yellow line marking the center of a highway permits passage in either direction when traffic, sight distance and other conditions are ideal.” Have a driving question? Send it to [email protected] and put “Driving Concerns” in your subject line. Emails without the correct subject line may not be answered. Canada is a big place, so let us know where you are so we can find the answer for your city and province.
