Video shows motorcyclist illegally passing on the right before highway crash

Mounties have released video of a motorcycle crash on the Trans-Canada Highway in Vancouver, saying it shows the perils of illegally passing on the right and driving on the shoulder.

An officer was driving on Highway 1 last month when he was illegally passed by the driver of a black Harley Davidson, according to a statement from the B.C. Highway Patrol.

“When the police officer activated his lights and siren, a blue pickup truck signalled and pulled off to the right as required by law. Instead of doing the same thing, the motorcyclist continued passing on the right, which resulted in running over a road sign and into the rear of the blue pickup,” the statement from police said, summarizing the incident shown in the video.

The motorcycle driver wrecked his bike but was not seriously injured, Mounties said. He was “briefly arrested” for fleeing police, fined $305 and had his Harley impounded for seven days.

“Passing on the right enrages other motorists, but that’s not the main reason that it’s illegal,” B.C. Highway Patrol spokesperson Cpl. Michael McLaughlin said, in the statement.

“The side of the road has rocks, sand, garbage, shredded truck tires and other hazards, and if someone pulls off the road suddenly, you could end up badly hurt or worse.”

McLaughlin said the kind of “dangerous and illegal” driving behaviour shown in the video is common on the busy highway, and warned authorities can and will take enforcement action against people passing on the right.