403 HOV lane markers

C

Cranky Pete

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I guess nothing on the 4-series highways should faze me now, but I continue to be shocked at how many drivers weave in and out of the HOV lane, regardless of lane markings. As if our highways weren't dangerous enough, now I have to watch for idiots on my left when I'm in the passing lane. Gaaaah!

It seems pretty darn simple: like all the big signs say, DON'T CROSS THE SOLID LINES.
 
Many HOV lanes in the USA have dividers making it impossible to cross between the regular lanes and HOV lane except in the designated areas.
 
Cranky Pete said:
I guess nothing on the 4-series highways should faze me now, but I continue to be shocked at how many drivers weave in and out of the HOV lane, regardless of lane markings. As if our highways weren't dangerous enough, now I have to watch for idiots on my left when I'm in the passing lane. Gaaaah!

It seems pretty darn simple: like all the big signs say, DON'T CROSS THE SOLID LINES.
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I agree with you however I am guilty on some occasions... When the left lane bandits have more than 1 passenger they seem to make it to the HOV all the while there is still plenty of space in the right lanes... I triple check to make sure there's noone in passing lane though.

"Do not cross the solid lines" = "Keep left lane open for passing" = "Give Motorcycles extra room for safety"

They are posted but they are rarely followed...
 
As far as I can tell the no-lane-change areas of the HOV are more to promote flow than safety.
 
Watch out. Its demerit points as well as a ticket when you are caught going over the solid lines.

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chodatus said:
I agree with you however I am guilty on some occasions... When the left lane bandits have more than 1 passenger they seem to make it to the HOV all the while there is still plenty of space in the right lanes... I triple check to make sure there's noone in passing lane though.

"Do not cross the solid lines" = "Keep left lane open for passing" = "Give Motorcycles extra room for safety"

They are posted but they are rarely followed...
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I'm not sure if is this what you meant, but you seem to be implying that the HOV lane should be treated like the left lane, i.e. for faster traffic. That's not the case....and if those "left-lane bandits" have moved all the way to the HOV lanes, it's a least one more vehicle out of the regular lanes.

It's one of the drawbacks of the HOV lanes if you get into the lane thinking it's going to go faster. In light traffic, you're probably better off in the regular lanes if you generally like to go faster. I usually drive around 120, and move into the passing lane only when it's faster than the middle lane (passing other vehicles). When there are HOV lanes, I'm usually in them but if I don't think the HOV lane is going to go at least 110 to 115, I won't bother. If traffic's heavy I will be in the HOV lane and content to just coast along. Despite the fact that so many still cut in and out, it's a lot less likely someone is going to suddenly veer into your lane they way jackrabbits bounce around in the regular lanes. That's why I think bikes should be allowed in.
 
Emefef said:
I'm not sure if is this what you meant, but you seem to be implying that the HOV lane should be treated like the left lane, i.e. for faster traffic. That's not the case....and if those "left-lane bandits" have moved all the way to the HOV lanes, it's a least one more vehicle out of the regular lanes.

It's one of the drawbacks of the HOV lanes if you get into the lane thinking it's going to go faster. In light traffic, you're probably better off in the regular lanes if you generally like to go faster. I usually drive around 120, and move into the passing lane only when it's faster than the middle lane (passing other vehicles). When there are HOV lanes, I'm usually in them but if I don't think the HOV lane is going to go at least 110 to 115, I won't bother. If traffic's heavy I will be in the HOV lane and content to just coast along. Despite the fact that so many still cut in and out, it's a lot less likely someone is going to suddenly veer into your lane they way jackrabbits bounce around in the regular lanes. That's why I think bikes should be allowed in.
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I hear ya, but I'm talking about the people going 100 km/h, who are usually left lane hoggers when there are no HOV lanes. I usually wait until the dotted lines but some people just rub me the wrong way and I have to get out and pass... I agree with you though that HOV should not be treated as the passing lane, but it would be nice to coast 115-120.
 
kiwi said:
Watch out. Its demerit points as well as a ticket when you are caught going over the solid lines.

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 4
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It's also demerit points and tickets for going over 100 km/h... risk and reward I guess.
 
There are orange solid lines on the 403 on all lanes near Mississauga for a dangerous stretch. It does not stop the German car d-bags from weaving across lanes.

I see lots of people in HOV with only one passenger. Lots cross the solid lines. Lots of Griswalds with the cruise control set at 99km/hr.

There is no public education on highway driving. None. People see the HOV and think it's a passing lane, so they sit in the left lane at 100.

OPP? as usual, do nothing.
 
It's not really a big deal. I just treat it like an extra lane on the highway. The difference between operating a vehicle on a 3 vs 4 lane highway are pretty negligible. I'm guilty of it on occasion because sometimes there's some slow person in the HOV lane so I'd rather be in the fast lane but then there's so slow idiot in the fast lane so I move back to the HOV lane. I do try to avoid doing it over the solid lines, though. I don't really understand why it's such a big deal. The line should just be dotted the whole way.
 
Coming through Oakville/Burlington a couple weeks ago, we had a car come out of the HOV on the QEW across the solid divider lines, cut in between me and the rider I was with. I saw it coming early and was able to drop back from our staggered position to create space. From my perspective, it looked like the car nearly clipped the rear end of the other riders bike.

Generally people have no clue. on my way home yesterday in my car in less then 4 kms I had one car cut me off in the centre lane cuitting 3 lanes across from the left lane to make her ramp.

Then just down the road, I have a mini van trying to rub out the front of my car coming from the right lane (I was passing her). On the brakes, making my horn wail, she finally takes notice and moves back into her lane ( she was not signalling). As I went buy and give her the WTF? glare gesture she's staring at me like she has no clue. Kind of looked just like this ...but I guess this is what most people on the rioad look like.

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In hindsight I should have let her be responsible for getting me a new car. What is sad is that this happened on pretty wide open roads. I live and work outside of the GTA so we don't have highly congested traffic.
 
CafeRay said:
There are orange solid lines on the 403 on all lanes near Mississauga for a dangerous stretch. It does not stop the German car d-bags from weaving across lanes.
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If its the QEW you are talking about, then I am guilty. However, in my defense, they have the orange solid lines running ALL the way up to the Mississauga road exit making it near impossible to get in the exit lanes in rush hour traffic. That is, unless I wanted to sit in right lane traffic all the way from Highway 10.

No thanks. I'll take my chances and change lanes politely.
 
They ding you but good for crossing those lines.

I had a guy cross from an on-ramp right across several lanes while doing 80 kph.
I ended up with a choice of entering the HOV, emergency stopping or getting side-swiped.

A cop was giving out a ticket on the left shoulder, so he waved us both over, I stopped and the other guy kept going.

Anyway, if you keep weaving in and out of the HOV, you'll end up with a letter and an interview in no time.
 
The true intention of those double lined "do not cross" dividers is so when the regular traffic is bumper to bumper and crawling while the HOV lane is wide open and everyone is doing 100+, that some numb nut does not try to join from a dead stop into a high speed traffic at any time or place but just in the designated area.

Notice how the cross hatch lines point away from the HOV lane almost directing you back to the left lane? That was done on purpose as the proper designed use of an HOV allows for disembarking it whenever possible, but only joining it at predesignated spots. Ofcourse Bantario had to dumb it down to the lower denominator and made it no joining or leaving HOV in those designated spots.

How is leaving the HOV lane any more dangerous than changing lanes from left lane to middle lane? Goes without saying that mirror and blind spot checks are mandatory and if enough space is allowed. If done correctly leaving an HOV lane is no more dangerous.

You guys make it seem as if though a guy changing lanes over the double lined areas is gonna throw the world of its tilt.

In the end he/she are breaking the rules and will suffer the consequences. Dont be a hypocrites and justify your 120+ km/h speeding while fist shaking someone overtaking and leaving HOV lanes at non designated areas.
 
Dresden said:
If its the QEW you are talking about, then I am guilty. However, in my defense, they have the orange solid lines running ALL the way up to the Mississauga road exit making it near impossible to get in the exit lanes in rush hour traffic. That is, unless I wanted to sit in right lane traffic all the way from Highway 10.

No thanks. I'll take my chances and change lanes politely.
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Yes, QEW.

The lines are there because of the massive accident rate on that stretch. If you cross the lines, it's three points.

I don't know why, but that stretch of the QEW is insane with drivers.
 
Red_Liner740 said:
The true intention of those double lined "do not cross" dividers is so when the regular traffic is bumper to bumper and crawling while the HOV lane is wide open and everyone is doing 100+, that some numb nut does not try to join from a dead stop into a high speed traffic at any time or place but just in the designated area.
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This is the real dangerous part. I use the 403 through Mississauga for my daily commute at rush hour. Needless to say the three regular lanes are usually inching along and the HOV is moving at full speed. I've lost count the number of times I've seen cars that are at a virtual standstill in the left lane cross the line into the HOV lane in front of a car moving at 100 KMH. If I have a passenger and I'm using the HOV lane I'm always very concerned about the cars I'm passing at a 100 KMH differential pulling into the HOV in front of me.
 
Red_Liner740 said:
In the end he/she are breaking the rules and will suffer the consequences. Dont be a hypocrites and justify your 120+ km/h speeding while fist shaking someone overtaking and leaving HOV lanes at non designated areas.
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The issue is that with the HOV lanes, drivers treat the passing lane as a right lane. The HOVs should be on the right side, not the left.

The other real issue is that over the last 30 years, the GTA has swelled from 2 million to over 6 million, with no real increase in road capacity or public transport, while rail use for cargo has been replaced with 18 wheelers on the highways.

I avoid the 400 highways by bike.
 
CafeRay said:
Yes, QEW.

The lines are there because of the massive accident rate on that stretch. If you cross the lines, it's three points.

I don't know why, but that stretch of the QEW is insane with drivers.
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I believe the current solid orange lines are there due to construction on the bridge. I've been travelling that stretch regularly for years and have never seen an accident on that stretch (HWY10 - Mississauga road). Not insinuating that it doesnt happen.
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