Dear Cop - Painted Meridian

I would like to know if it is legal to cross a painted meridian? My neighbor's home is located directly across from a painted meridian on Springfield Road and instead of following the flow of traffic, I have seen
him frequently backing out of his driveway to position his vehicle in the
middle of the meridian where he waits for oppositional traffic to ease up,
after which he can drive off. I have also often seen him backing up into
the meridian while there are vehicles approaching from the opposite direction, which places them in what I could imagine as the uncomfortable
position of having to negotiate a vehicle reversing towards them.

Caution in Backing Vehicle
Section 193 of the Motor Vehicle Act indicates that the driver of a vehicle must not cause the vehicle to move backwards into an intersection or over a crosswalk, and must not in any event or at any place cause a vehicle to move backwards unless the movement can be made in safety.

Section 156 of the Motor Vehicle Act indicates that if the driver of a vehicle is causing the vehicle to enter or leave a highway and the driver has ascertained that he or she might do so with safety and does so without unreasonably affecting the travel of another vehicle the driver of a vehicle may make the proper safe maneuver over a painted median.

Constable R.A.(Richard) ASELTON
Central Okanagan Traffic Services - Media Liaison

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.