Cutting through gas stations?
 

I did a search on "gas station" and come up with nothing so I thought I'd ask:

I was filling up my car the other day and saw 3 (!!) people cut through instead of waiting through the right lane to turn right at the intersection.

I'd like to think it's an illegal and ticketable offence, but can someone confirm that and/or provide the exact wording in the MVA?

Thanks!

Lol I was thinking of that just yesterday. I usually do that too.

I think it may fall under trespassing, or something along those lines
Posted via RS Mobile

I always cut through gas stations if im in a rush...

http://saanichpolice.ca/wp/guestbook...comment-437775

Same here, no harm no foul?

However, on 12th in-between Victoria and nanaimo there's that husky gas station. If you're on the right lane and it's a red light, you turn right then left into the gas station then proceed eastbound towards nanaimo is that considered illegal?
Posted via RS Mobile

Don't think so cause it's not illegal to right turn on a red, it's not illegal to left turn into a business unless posted otherwise, and it's apparently legal to cut through gas stations.

Some Provinces have a MVA section called "avoiding a traffiic control device"...BC doesn't.

Thanks for clearing this up, guys!

If you're on W. 4th Ave. heading east, you can't turn left on to Burrard.

There's a Esso gas station on the SE corner of that intersection that I use to head north on Burrard. :)

Wow I always thought it was illegal... time to change my driving habits and cut down on my commute time!!!


Berz out

AFAIK Ontario does, so I was trying to find this in the BC MVA. Interesting that the no-fun province doesn't have this law. :thumbsup:

I just spent 20 minutes poring over the MVA and GTA's bylaws and I couldn't find anything prohibiting the use of private property specifically to avoid traffic. Odd, because like you said, out of all of the provinces, you'd think Ontario would have clearly defined restrictions for something like this.

Like anything else, there's nothing wrong with doing it as long as it's not abused.

There simply aren't enough gas station accidents to warrant legislation on this.

More importantly, we need to work on IMPROVING traffic flow as much as possible... not impeding it.

What? That's stupid. You either write the ticket for the offense of driving contrary to a traffic device, or not. If someone drives through a parking lot or gas station to get access to a different road, they are simply taking a different route. That should not be illegal unless they are trespassing.

Good point. I just figured that considering most of those drivers are rushing through (because you'd only take a shortcut if you want to get somewhere faster) an area that usually has multiple pedestrians and cars shuffling around it would be safer if it wasn't allowed.

Not to mention that most of the people cutting through are so concerned about an opening to drive into on the exit, they're not usually looking ahead or around them.

But thanks for the answers :D

I think the KEY point here is that just because you are trying to get somewhere quickly and efficiently, does NOT automatically mean that you are being any less safe.

You can be careless or dangerous at any speed.

Look at it from a different perspective. Lights and signs exist for a reason, to deal with traffic flow. By cutting a corner, you're circumventing the light/sign and going counter to what the light/sign is trying to accomplish.

I think it is a stupid rule too, yet don't discount the reasons why it exists.

What if it's 2am at night? Gas station is closed. You have signaled for a right turn at least half a block before arriving the red light. Driver in front of you doesn't seem to care or notice, let's just say he is going straight, and the left lane is empty. Should this become illegal? Or how about there are times when you're unsure if the gas station is actually open, you drive in to check it out and it is closed? You drive back out, should this also become illegal?

No, no, no, no, and no.

People also seem to forget that they are required to come to a complete stop before crossing the sidewalk when they are exiting gas stations and other parking lots....

Very interesting.

I think someone had erroneously told me in the past that this was illegal... didn't stop me from doing it from time to time though... but now that I know it's not illegal, I'll have less reservations about doing it!