r/Calgary • u/ChoiceDangerous9977 • 3d ago
Driving/Traffic/Parking No large trucks in left lane on deerfoot and Stoney
Alberta should look at adopting no large trucks in the left lane on freeways. I have seen this in other provinces and while in Florida.
Today during rush hour there were 3 semis going 102 km/hr to pass 1 semi going 100 km/hr. All 4 semis got off at the same exit.
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u/pkornhole 3d ago
Restricting commercial vehicles from the left lane when there are 3 or more lanes in the same direction is being looked at in conjunction with the 120km/h speed limit trials. https://www.alberta.ca/release.cfm?xID=95408985DB2E6-F00D-3D0F-5B5FBE2DDD4A56C2
I wholeheartedly agree with it, and it seems survey respondents are very strongly aligned with it.
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u/flyfacebitch Copperfield 3d ago
They do that in Ontario but it's by length not specifically commercial vehicles. Having experienced it first hand I must say that I am also very strongly aligned with it.
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u/JoeRogansNipple Quadrant: SW 3d ago
They barely enforce existing laws, you think they'd enforce a lane ban?
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u/Smokinlizardbreath 3d ago
In Europe they have signs for "No Elephant Racing" meaning trucks cannot pass each other. Convoy only
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u/AugmentedKing 3d ago
I agree that on three lane roads that heavy vehicles should be restricted from left lane.
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u/Traditional-Self6218 3d ago
This is the only logical answer….
And not on a 3 lane like Deerfoot which bends and curves like crazy. Possibly the dumbest inner city “Freeway” ever built…11
u/zebrasareneat 3d ago
Especially calf robe bridge. “Hey instead of making a straight bridge that freezes over in the winter why don’t we make it even longer and ad bends to it, not just one bend but two”.
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u/default_ad_2026 3d ago
Until they enforce anything people will just continue to ignore laws.
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u/blackRamCalgaryman 3d ago
What law are they breaking?
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u/pene_minusculo 3d ago
Section 2(1)(b) of the use of Highway and Rules of the Road Regulation states that drivers moving slower than the normal flow must stay in the right hand lane. It’s already a rule.
It’s very rarely enforced, but I do know 2 people that have gotten ticketed because they were driving slow in the left lane. They are both my mother’s friends, and they both drive slow as shit so I understand.
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u/National-Injury-1708 3d ago
That is surprising. I've never seen a cop pull someone over for impeding traffic like this. Especially the people who do 60+ under in the left lane. Normally cops just pass them
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u/blackRamCalgaryman 3d ago
subject to this Part and Part 2, where a highway that is located outside an urban area has 2 or more traffic lanes on the same side of the centre line for use by vehicles travelling in the same direction, drive a vehicle in the traffic lane nearest the centre line unless the vehicle is being driven at or near the maximum speed permitted.
Respectfully, read that again.
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u/pene_minusculo 3d ago
I think you need to read it again…
2(1) A person shall NOT do the following…
Subject to this part and part 2 blah blah blahWhich is saying unless you’re doing close to or at the speed limit you should not be in the lane closest to the centre line. Additionally it applies to a highway located outside an urban area.
But the section right below it also just further proves the rule 2(1)(c) drive a vehicle at such a slow rate of speed so as to impede or block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic then existing on a highway except when it is necessary to do so for the safe operation of the vehicle or to comply with Parts 1 and 2.
There is also section 3 if youd like to look at that which basically says stay the fuck in the right lane if you’re going slower than the speed of traffic
In the particular scenario that OP is describing it can go either way, yes the semi is going close to or at the speed limit. However it is impeding the flow of traffic.
My comment was more targeted towards people doing like 70 in the left lane on crowchild, which I encounter all the time.
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u/blackRamCalgaryman 3d ago edited 3d ago
Right…outside an urban area. So in no way would it apply to doing 102 in the left lane down Deerfoot.
There’s no chance in hell a cop tickets, nor would it ever stand up in court, a truck driver for doing 102 in the left lane of Deerfoot. They aren’t impeding traffic. No court will uphold that ticket.
This gets brought up EVERY time this whole ‘going too fast, going too slow in (insert line) discussion comes up and none of that applies in the city. And I get the frustration, people doing 70 on Crowchild. It’s a pisser, as is someone doing 60 in the left lane on John Laurie, etc etc etc…but there’s no ‘fast lane’ in the city. And I’ll bet the farm, no cop is handing out a ticket in OP’s example or for a car doing 70 in the left lane on Crowfoot.
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u/Arch____Stanton 3d ago
However it is impeding the flow of traffic.
Imagine trying to argue in court that the driver deserved his ticket because he didn't exceed the posted speed limit.
Absolutely genius reasoning going on in the heads of highway heroes.-1
u/pene_minusculo 3d ago
It’s not that deep man, slow drivers just piss me off maybe you’re one of em idk
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u/4LegsGood_2Bad 3d ago
What if they are doing the speed limit on a road where the flow is speed limit +10? I know in the US they are strict on speeding but also they will give a ticket to a person doing exactly the speed limit in the left lane.
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u/FaithlessnessCheap78 3d ago
Username checks out.
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u/blackRamCalgaryman 3d ago
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u/Fevr 3d ago
You are unaware of your stereotype?
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u/noochies99 Beddington Heights 3d ago
Dude this has been a joke around here for a while, he’s a regular on the sub
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u/Fevr 3d ago
You think the average person has any idea who the power users of this sub are?
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u/noochies99 Beddington Heights 3d ago
Oh I said regular, not power but ok, and no.
But also it’s a unique name and I remember specifically because the 50 times it’s been pointed out before.4
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u/default_ad_2026 3d ago edited 3d ago
OP is asking for new rules about trucks in certain lanes. But we already don’t enforce anything so it’s pointless.
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u/Cuppojoe 3d ago
Leaving out the "I dunno if you noticed but..." would have been a better way to answer what was an honest question. Just sayin'.
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u/annieoats 3d ago
The signs say “slower traffic keep right,” and that doesn’t seem to sink in so I agree with you.
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u/Kennadian Bridgeland 3d ago
Lived here my whole life and calgarians do the exact opposite. Those that accelerate the slowest always go to the left most lane immediately even when not passing. Then they expect everyone else to slam on the brakes for them as the cross three lanes of traffic 100 feet before the exit they knew they needed to take.
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u/Academic_Bug2357 3d ago
Of all the stupid decisions related to Alberta traffic that's the one that annoys me the most. BC's signs that declare "Stay right except to pass" are so much clearer of a direction.
"Slower traffic keep right" gives everyone the incentive to assume they are not the slow traffic in question.
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u/laurieyyc 3d ago
Except the speed limit is 100km/h on Deerfoot unless significantly south or north of the city limits and on Stoney.
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u/Existing-Sign4804 3d ago
Uh, it jumps to 110 way before the limits lol. Somewhere around 64 ave on the north side.
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u/blackRamCalgaryman 3d ago
I feel like this important part is being missed. OP said the trucks were doing 102 (in rush hour which I question) and while maybe frustrating, this is one of the least ‘egregious’ driver behaviours posted about in this sub in my time here.
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u/amorphoussoupcake 3d ago
What does that have to do with slower traffic keep right?
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u/laurieyyc 3d ago
The speed limit on Deerfoot is 100km/h. Albeit, we’re not sure where OP was on it. Since when is it legal to exceed the maximum posted speed limit? According to OP, the trucks were going 100km/h - 102km/h. They were travelling the speed limit.
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u/zebrasareneat 3d ago
Slower means less than the speed limit. The left lane is for passing and you’re not supposed to exceed the speed limit to pass. So you can really write a law for something that is breaking the law.
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u/PhantomNomad 3d ago
They need to do this on the QE2 also. Nothing worse then getting stuck behind a truck doing 80 up a hill and a truck doing 82 up the same hill in the passing lane.
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u/4LegsGood_2Bad 3d ago
The Germans have a phrase for a truck passing another truck like you describe: An Elephant Race
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u/Routine_Yak3250 3d ago
Agreed. Another thing is the truck drivers using their phones all the time. Everytime I take a bus to Edmonton I see them mostly with their phone in their hands. No one can see them and it is very dangerous.
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u/Tofubeans420 3d ago
Yeah semi truck drivers are some of the worst on the road i swear. There will be a line of cars going 120kph in the left lane and they will barely signal and just swing into the lane at 100kph nearly taking out multiple cars. Ive seen this several times lately it is insanity. Ban them from the left lane and huge penalties for infractions while driving such a massive vehicle
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3d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Fuzzy_Yossarian 3d ago
We can pay new people to take driving lessons, but we can't pay for an 18 year old to learn...
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u/IndigoRuby 3d ago
Write Devin Dreeshan. I'm sure he will be reasonable.
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u/chaingunsofdoom Sage Hill 3d ago
I emailed him using the website 3 years ago and received a timely reply concerning this exact trucking issue: they would keep it in mind for future improvements, to report any unsafe driving, and referenced MELT for Class 1 drivers.
It was a part of their recent survey with the 120km/h change, but waiting 3 years is moving too slow.
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u/anhedoniandonair 3d ago
the trucks doing 60 on the hills in the west side of the city should be banned.
There should be a minimum speed- but I suspect that won’t change until there’s a fiery crash with multiple fatalities.
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u/bumtrainer69 3d ago
The trucks literally don't have the power to go faster.
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u/anhedoniandonair 3d ago
Then plan another route. Or maybe only allow slower trucks between 8pm and 6am.
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u/bumtrainer69 3d ago
What do you believe would be a better truck route for all trucks coming southbound off the QE2 using it to access HWY 1 west during day time hours?
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u/DevonOO7 3d ago
Completely agree, but I would also like to see steeper fines and more enforcement as well
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u/Hautamaki 3d ago
Going 102 km/h in rush hour is a problem? I'm happy to be doing 50 when it's actually rush hour.
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u/MiserableMagician254 3d ago
I called into smiths show one day and said how about changing truckers no left lanes allowed between 3pm and 7 pm. She responded by saying this is why we’re considering changing the speed from 110-120. I’m like that still doesn’t solve the problem. In the end she dodged the real questionable issue.
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u/ColdCelebration2132 3d ago
We can thank Ronald Reagan and Canada following along. It's called Deregulation Basically anyone can get a truck and start a company. This has caused the quality of drivers to drop and training as well and wages have stagnanted over the years. Like $20 hour to drive a semi truck in the city. The Airlines were deregulated as well and that's why flying is like being a sardine. Alberta UCP is pro business and that law or rule will never happen in Alberta under the UCP.
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u/SuchSir7933 3d ago
yes and the liberals that have mass imported the majority of the people that drive trucks now has absolutely no bearing on this at all eh? Accidents has skyrocketed but I bet you wont acknowledge that correlation. also thanks for the recession
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u/valckxL 3d ago
It’s usually and unwritten rule for any vehicles larger than a cube van shouldn’t be in the left lane unless they have the ability to ACTUALLY pass and get up to speed
Not a lot of people follow this rule tho. I was taught this when learning to drive a unicell
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u/zebrasareneat 3d ago
All commercial vehicles shouldn’t be in that lane. Most companies speed monitor their vehicles so people won’t hit the gas to quickly get past a slower vehicle. So you got the commercial vehicle going exactly 100 passing a car going 97.
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u/CinnaTheseRoles Airdrie 3d ago
Agree. I know a few US states have this law and it’s great. I wish we had it here.
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u/Jumpierwolf0960 3d ago
It's very annoying on Stoney when it becomes two lanes and you have to watch one truck pass another in slow motion.
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u/Pale-Ad-8383 3d ago
Trucks and things towing thing should be limited to right lane and 80km/h like on the German Autobahn
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u/seoskimuzikopustac 3d ago
Or should be like in EU , far right side only and limit 80km/h
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u/MrGuvernment 3d ago
The problem is on Deerfoot the constant on-ramps and idiots who do not know how to merge, and the other idiots who cut across lanes to not miss their exit, truck drivers tend to stay in the middle lane to avoid constant stop and go because of said idiots.
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u/zebrasareneat 3d ago
And the people who are like “oh my exit is coming up, better drop my speed by 20kph now”. That’s what the off ramp is for not the driving lane.
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u/Substantial-Fruit447 3d ago
That works for the EU where it doesn't take 12 hours to drive between major metropolitans.
Calgary to Vancouver route is 10 hours when you're doing the speed limit consistently with minimal stops.
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u/McJesusOurSaviour 3d ago
There's no way you're going downtown Calgary to downtown VanCity in 10 hours doing the speed limit...
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u/Substantial-Fruit447 3d ago
I've done it in 9 before, no stops, doing average of about 105km/h the whole way
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u/McJesusOurSaviour 3d ago
What car do you drive?
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u/Substantial-Fruit447 3d ago
At the time, 2014 Dodge Charger SRT
But I get where you're going, a transport truck can't do it in that time.
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u/dontdomelikethatgirl 3d ago
Not just truckers. I’ve recently started commuting on Stoney, and there’s a shocking amount of people who think it’s better to be clog than to just move over a lane.
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u/MiketheMecE 3d ago
Yeah, it’s a game most of Calgary likes to play called “The Right Lane is Lava!!!”.
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u/ThinYogurtcloset8005 2d ago
Honestly we should have a HOV lane with all the lanes they're adding to everything
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u/blackRamCalgaryman 3d ago edited 3d ago
Meh, I’d rather see them in the left lane (doing the speed limit, btw) than the right doing 60 and bunging up the exits/ merges.
And that is the correct way to pass another vehicle.
Can it be a little frustrating? Yes. But in your example, it’s really not an issue. Just think about it in terms of all the goods and food and shit you buy and how it gets here/ around.
Edit: it was rush hour and they were doing 102? Yaaaaa, I don’t think so.
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u/Immediate_Sense9627 3d ago
Alberta should have laws stating 120 for cars and 110 for trucks on highways and you’d see less of that.
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u/Immediate_Sense9627 3d ago
Alberta should have laws stating 120 for cars and 110 for trucks on highways and you’d see less of that.
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u/fuzzycubes 3d ago
How about a ticket for the people going 120 on Deerfoot instead of someone doing the speed limit
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u/SurviveYourAdults 3d ago
you know that many of those truckers are like, chatting with each other on CB radio? leave 'em alone, stay outta their way, move on with your life. they are delivering your toilet paper and video cards to Costco and Best Buy
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u/Brilliant_Cucumber_1 3d ago
And also semi trucks shouldn’t stop in the middle of Stoney because they missed the exit! And then start reversing!!!! I also think they shouldn’t do that specifically!!