The article that I wrote two weeks ago concerning solving your own road safety problems prompted an inquiry from the East Kootenays. The writer complained that a section of Highway 31A leaving the town of New Denver was marked with a 50 zone ends speed sign and the next kilometre or so of the road had many driveways, some intersections, a pedestrian crossing for a public trail and was regularly used by cyclists and pedestrians.
Opening a vehicle door seems like a routine action, but it carries a legal responsibility. Section 203(1) of British Columbia's Motor Vehicle Act requires that you must not open a vehicle door into moving traffic unless it is reasonably safe to do so. A recent BC Supreme Court decision shows that this duty remains even when the approaching road user also shares responsibility for the collision.
Please let me know if it is legal to drive with a walking cast. Does it matter whether it is on your right or left foot? Could it affect your braking time, cause your foot to slip off the pedals, or create problems if you are involved in a crash?
Passing lanes are designed to help drivers move safely around slower traffic, but problems can arise when a pass is not completed before the lane ends. A BC court case provides an important lesson about cooperation, awareness, and avoiding a collision when two lanes become one.
Provincial pilot projects aren't the only way traffic rules evolve in British Columbia. Discover how municipalities can introduce permanent road safety improvements using powers already granted by the Motor Vehicle Act.
Not every traffic rule in British Columbia is permanent. Part 13 of the Motor Vehicle Act allows the provincial government to temporarily change traffic laws through pilot projects so new technologies, vehicles and road rules can be tested before deciding whether they should become permanent.
A BC Supreme Court case considered a rear-end collision that occurred while drivers were complying with BC's Slow Down, Move Over law. The court concluded that complying with the law did not make the following driver negligent when another vehicle made an unsafe last-minute lane change.
Wrong-way driving on divided highways is uncommon, but the high closing speeds involved often make these collisions severe. Understanding why drivers go the wrong way and knowing how to respond can improve your chances of avoiding a crash.
Drivers sometimes have only seconds to react when another vehicle does something unexpected. In that moment, the safest option may not be obvious. But if your split-second decision results in a traffic violation, will the courts excuse it because you were trying to avoid a collision?
When residents become concerned about speeding in their neighbourhood, one suggestion almost always comes up: "Why doesn't the city install speed bumps?" It seems like a simple, inexpensive solution.