October 1, 1996
Reference:  2406/96
Min Log:    46719

J. Michael Cain
Director of Research
S.E.N.S.E.
1687 West Broadway Suite 200
Vancouver BC V6J 1X2


Dear J. Michael Cain:

Further to your August 8, 1996, letter suggesting my Ministry use "Keep 
Right Except to Pass" signs instead of "Slower Traffic Keep Right" 
signs. I apolgize [sic] for the delay in responding.

Ministry staff advise me that using the "Keep Right Except to Pass" 
signs as a norm would result in more traffic congestion as a higher 
traffic volume would then be traveling on one lane only. You may be 
interested to know that the "Slower Traffic Keep Right" sign is the 
Transportation Association of Canada's (T.A.C.) recognized standard 
sign for use on multi-lane highways to direct drivers to the right hand 
lane.

I am aware some jurisdictions use "Keep Right Except to Pass" signage 
for  passing on climbing lanes. Nonetheless, my Ministry is concerned 
about the possibility of driver error. For example, by using "Slower 
Traffic Keep Right" signs in the uphill direction of three lane hills 
(when downhill passing is allowed), the centre lane becomes the through 
lane for faster uphill traffic. This arrangement minimizes the 
probability of a faster driver in the outside uphill lane suddenly 
pulling out to overtake a slower vehicle. It also reduces downhill 
passing opportunities and the potential of head-on collisions that can 
occur when an uphill driver moves into the center lane at the same time 
a downhill vehicle moves into that lane to pass. Therefore, I do not 
deem it desirable to change the Ministry's signs policy in this regard.

Yours sincerely,

[signed]
Lois Boone
Minister


Province of British Columbia
Minister of Transportation and Highways
Parliament Buildings
Victoria, British Columbia  V8V 1X4