A reminder regarding road safety

Des Allumettières Boulevard traffic sometimes raises the blood pressure of area drivers; with its busy intersections, numerous traffic lights, which sometimes do not work, and the variety of speed limits.

Drivers commonly complain of frustrating situations; for example, when a driver maintains speeds under the limit, while driving in the left-hand lane.

According to the spokesperson for the Gatineau Police (SVPG), Agent Andrée East, “When there are two lanes or more which allow for traffic in the same direction, drivers should use the left-hand lanes for passing slower vehicles.” She explained that, “when drivers are not specifically passing a slower vehicle, they should remain in the right-hand lane, and not in the left.”

However, unlike with a highway, drivers sometimes maintain their course in the left lane of des Allumettières because they intend to exit towards the left at the next intersection, at Vanier Road, for example.

“It is vitally important to respect maximum speed limit, and the minimum limit too when it is indicated, because not respecting a minimum speed limit creates a danger. It is prohibited for a vehicle that is being passed by another one to accelerate with the purpose of impeding the other driver’s effort to pass,” Ms East told the Bulletin.

She added that “when a driver wishes to pass another vehicle, it first ensure that the vehicle behind him or her has not already signalled its intention to pass, or started to make that manoeuvre. The driver wishing to pass must then wait for the person behind to finish his or her manoeuvre before engaging.”
(Trans.: LR)