Canadian Dopers - Road Rules Question

Factual Questions
1

I’m asking a question on behalf of Mrs Smurf, because me being the towering intellectual that I am :stuck_out_tongue: I should know the answer to something.

A work colleague of my wife (the colleague’s son spent some time recently in Canada) recently told my wife that in Canada there is no requirement to indicate your intentions when changing lanes, and that in fact there is no legal requirement to have indicators on your car full stop. A second colleague piped up that it’s true.

I call BS on this story, and my opinion is they were pulling her leg.

However I did some research on the Canadian transport department’s website but couldn’t locate a specific law, regulation or rule which specifically stated the requriement for indicators on Motor Vehicles nor that they were required to be used when changing lanes. So I have nothing concrete to print out and say throw that in their faces. :slight_smile:

I suppose I am asking for mainly a yay or nay from some Canadian Dopers that the story is in fact a heaping pile of BS & they were just having a lend of Mrs Smurf

If you happened to have a link that provide the info in writing would be fantastic as well.

2

I would imagine that turn indicators are necessary. But don’t check the “Canadian transport department” for an answer. In Canada motor vehicles and road rules are regulated by the provinces, so you’ll need to check provincial laws to find your answer. Provincial laws can and do differ in some ways–what province are your wife’s colleagues talking about?

3

Here’s a link. Basically, it says that your wife’s colleague is full of it. It also jibes with what I was taught when I took driver’s ed.

4

Transportation is a provincial responsibility, not federal.

Here’s what the Ontario Ministry of Transportation has to say about lane changes, for example.

I could dig deeper, but be assured we have a requirement to indicate change of lanes, directions, etc.
ETA: This is better.

5

That guy in front of me today agreed with your wife’s colleagues.

6

I believe he spent his time in Vancouver. which is in British Columba right? (I’m going out on a limb and not checking that.)

I used the ‘canadian transport department’ as a catch all, I couldn’t recall the precise name of the wesbite I was looking at (and now can’t find again that I look for it) but seemed to be a federal level department which had info on regulations for road, rail, sea and air transportation.

7

Well, in Ontario, the Ministry of Transportation has this to say in the online Driver’s Handbook:

8

Relevant BC regulations

This means that it’s not illegal to drive a vehicle with malfunctioning signal lights provided you use hand signals. Somewhere else I’m sure it’s legally required that any new vehicle have signal lights.

9

That explains it. Traffic is so bad in Vancouver and its environs that to signaling a lane change will just as likely make someone close the gap and make you get in behind them than let you in front of them.

But no, signalling is always mandatory on public roadways across Canada. Getting caught not doing so in British Columbia will get you a fine of $110 (and 2 demerit points from your license).

I live in BC, by the way.

10

You’re looking for the Highway Traffic Act for British Columbia.

Wave this in their faces. Of course, customary driving habits frequently ignore the law.
On preview…gah!

11

Road rules, yes. Motor vehicles, not entirely.

Motor Vehicle Safety Act ( 1993, c. 16 )

Specifically,Technical Standards Document No. 108, Revision 4 - Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment will seem to indicate that you need turn signals, no matter what your province says. :slight_smile:

12

Yes. That’s the site I found, but couldn’t locate that document you’ve linked to.

Thanks to everyone for chipping in. One of the reasons I love the Dope, you can get an answer to the most esoteric* questions in no time at all.

  • Not that this was necessarily a particularly esoteric question, but you get what I mean. :smiley:
13

I think that’s just Saskatoon. Some days I think I’d rather walk through the alpha ghetto at midnight than drive down Idylwyld during rush hour.

14

Rubbish! Section 142 of the Ontario Highway Traffic Act says you must use a signal for turns, lane changes, as well as pulling out if you’re parked at the side of the road.

15

Idylwyld is easy. Saskatoon traffic is only bad when compared to Saskatoon traffic in the past. Or when compared to, oh, say Vanscoy.