Drivers in British Columbia must keep a new minimum distance from people walking and riding on roads.
The new rules, introduced at the start of June, require motorists to stay at least one meter away from vulnerable road users if the speed limit is 50 km/h or less and one-and-a-half meters away on highways with speeds above that.
The regulations have been introduced to protect vulnerable road users including pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, people riding horses or in vehicles pulled by animals, and people who use electric wheelchairs, mobility scooters and electric kick scooters.
Drivers passing vulnerable road users who are in separated and protected cycling lanes and on sidewalks must allow a minimum of half a meter.
Motorists who don’t follow the new rules could be hit with a fine of $109 and receive three driver penalty points for failing to take proper precautions with vulnerable road users or $368 and three driver penalty points for failing to maintain prescribed minimum passing distances.
