341. The driver of a road vehicle may not pass a cyclist within the same traffic lane unless it can be done safely, after reducing the vehicle’s speed and ensuring that a reasonable distance can be kept between the vehicle and the cyclist during the manoeuvre.
In no case may the driver of a road vehicle perform this manoeuvre if the part of the roadway on which the driver must encroach is not clear of traffic for a sufficient distance, in particular if another vehicle is oncoming or is coming up alongside the vehicle. In such a case, the driver must remain in the lane and reduce the vehicle’s speed, in particular by staying behind the cyclist. The driver must do the same in the cases referred to in sections 345 and 348.
A reasonable distance is 1.5 m on a road where the maximum authorized speed limit is more than 50 km/h or 1 m on a road where the maximum authorized speed limit is 50 km/h or less.
This section applies to the driver of a road vehicle when meeting or passing a pedestrian, with the necessary modifications. It also applies to such a driver if the cyclist or pedestrian is travelling on the shoulder or on a cycle lane that is not separated from the roadway by a median strip or any other raised physical device.
1986, c. 91, s. 341; 2016, c. 222016, c. 22, s. 441; 2018, c. 72018, c. 7, s. 811.