Driving Too Slowly

Can a Driver Be Charged For Driving Too Slow?

It Is Actually Possible to Get a Traffic Ticket For Driving Too Slowly Whereas Doing So Is An Offence Contrary to the Highway Traffic Act. Driving Too Slowly Also Creates a Dangerous Safety Hazard For Others Traveling At Normal Speeds.

Understanding the Charge of Driving Too Slowly Including the Applicable Penalties

It may be quite surprising; however, it is true that driving too slowly may be unlawful. Additionally, driving too slowly can present as a dangerous safety hazard and indeed there are examples of where an unexpected and unusually slow vehicle caused a tragic accident. Driving too slowly can be similarly as dangerous as driving at excessive speed. Of course, safe and cautious driving is always strongly encouraged; however, unnecessarily slow driving, and becoming an obstacle to other traffic, or possibly frustrating other drivers so severely as to trigger erratic conduct, can pose significant danger.

The Law

A driver who is driving too slowly may be charged with violating section 132 of the Highway Traffic Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8 whereas such states:

In an Interesting civil law case, section 132 of the Highway Traffic Act was referenced as, among other things, an unlawful means element within Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association v. Boak, 2022 ONSC 1001, alleging tortious inference in economic relations relating to rolling roadblocks or blockades upon the Ambassador Bridge between Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan.

Summary Comment

Like driving too fast, a driver who is driving too slowly also poses serious risks to other drivers whereas traffic that is moving at a normal and anticipated speed may be surprised by an unexpectedly slow moving vehicle resulting in the need for sudden braking or sudden swerving and thereby posing as a highly dangerous situation.  Although driving too fast is much more common, the concern for driving too slow also exists.