VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Hogging the left lane on the highway will cost those who are caught $167 under a new provincial law.

In addition to that fine, you could be hit with three penalty points.

Transportation Minister Todd Stone says there will be a campaign to educate people about this new law and its intent.

“These changes are small, but they make good sense for motorists,” says Stone. “These changes are part of the ongoing work that our ministry does to make our highways safer for the travelling public.”

Essentially, the instruction is to keep to the right except to pass unless you’re preparing to turn left or clearing up space for an emergency vehicle.

Ian Tootill with the driver advocacy group Sense BC backs the move.

“Encouraging people to keep right and encouraging traffic flow is a good way of improving safety on the highways,” Tootill says. “I expect that crashes will be reduced and I expect that frustration among some drivers will be reduced as well.”

This law will only be in effect for highways with speed limits of over 80 km/h.

When congestion causes drivers to slow to speeds of 50 km/h, you’re permitted to move into the left lane to ease that congestion.