Cutting Through Parking Lot

Q: I work in the Landmark towers and in order to get home I turn right onto Springfield facing south on Dayton. I frequently notice drivers deciding that it will be faster for them to cut through the Home Hardware parking lot to avoid a lineup at the intersection of Dayton and Springfield.
Pedestrians in the Home Hardware parking lot are frequently at great risk
because of inattentive drivers or people speeding to get through the lot to
get one or two car lengths ahead. I know that in a number of
municipalities, cutting through a parking lot in this manner is not legal.

Question: is it legal to cut through a parking lot ostensibly to avoid an
intersection lineup in Kelowna?

A: There are certain provinces that have a law in regards to this type of driving maneuver. In British Columbia there is no law that prohibits this driving maneuver. The erratic driving violations while using the parking lot to avoid a traffic line up at an intersection can be dealt with through other Motor Vehicle Act laws, but using a parking lot to avoid the line up at an intersection is not illegal.

Constable R.A.(Richard) ASELTON
Central Okanagan Traffic Services - Media Liaison
Kelowna R.C.M.P. Detachment

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