Toronto Star

Drivers changing lanes must signal first

- Eric Lai

I was in the middle driving lane of three southbound lanes on Bayview Ave., south of Hwy. 407, in Thornhill.

Just before the far right lane ended, another car zoomed up from behind and cut in, which startled me and almost caused a crash.

Isn’t this illegal? What’s the difference between being cut off and a legal lane change? Eric Lai replies:

The quick answer is: a bit of considerat­ion for others.

If the other vehicle moves ahead so you can see their signal, then merges without adversely affecting your movement, then it’s a legal lane change.

Section 142(1) HTA requires that drivers first check that their lane change be made safely, then signal their intended movement to others who may be affected.

When drivers zip up from behind and cut in, virtually clipping your front bumper, you aren’t given any opportunit­y to see or react to their signal.

If a crash with the merging vehicle resulted, or from your taking evasive action, the instigatin­g driver might be charged with an unsafe lane change or careless driving. Stephen Parker, a licensed paralegal with Pointts PC in Mississaug­a (pointts.com), replies:

It’s this sort of aggressive driving that can lead to road rage.

Police might charge for “fail to drive in marked lane,” or “change lane — not in safety” where no lane markings exist. But another driver must be adversely affected by the manoeuvre.

If a dealer has a leftover, new 2015 model and sells it in 2016, is an emission test required?

Drive Clean media liaison Kate Jordan replies:

Yes.

In Ontario, newly registered vehicles or ownership transfers that have a model year older than the current calendar year require an emissions certificat­e. This assures the new vehicle owner that the vehicle’s emission components are operating as the manufactur­er intended. Eric Lai adds:

Virtually all such new cars pass Drive Clean. Fails typically result from a “not ready” condition, from battery replacemen­t for example, rather than an actual emission problem. A conditiona­l pass is issued if a second “not ready” reading is obtained.

How long are new cars exempted from Drive Clean? Eric Lai replies:

A vehicle purchased new doesn’t normally require emission tests until it’s seven years old, except if resold and older than the current model year. Freelance writer Eric Lai is a regular contributo­r to Toronto Star Wheels. Email your non-mechanical questions to him at wheels@thestar.ca and put his name in the subject line. Due to the volume of mail, personal replies cannot be provided.

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