DriveSmartBC

Airbags go hand in hand with seatbelts to protect a vehicle's occupants during a crash. They have become smarter as manufacturers and regulators have refined how they work and how they are required to work.

Every day just over 1000 people aged 25 or younger are killed in traffic collisions around the world. In fact, it is the leading cause of death for people in the age group containing 15 to 19 year olds, while it is the second most common cause of death in two other groups, those aged 10 - 14 and 20 - 24.

Kurtis William Rock was an 18 year old who spent the day drinking beer in the park with friends. At the conclusion of the drinking session he loaded two minors in his mother's Buick Rendezvous and entered traffic in the City of Vancouver.

Failing to remain at the scene of an accident, or hit and run as it is more commonly known is without a doubt a daily occurrence in British Columbia. We all know that we are doing something seriously wrong when we hit a cyclist, pedestrian or other vehicle on the highway and leave the scene to escape civil and criminal liability.

This is a case to determine liability for a collision where one party was driving through an intersection at or just over the speed limit. The other had stopped at a stop sign and was attempting a left turn when the collision took place.

Ever wondered which intersections in BC have the highest crash rates? Here is a list of the worst in the province courtesy of ICBC and Google Maps. The choice of intersections is based on collision statistics for 2008.

A vehicle driven by the plaintiff, Mona Saffari, collided with the rear of a vehicle driven by the defendant, Martin Lopez, and owned by the defendant, Stephanie Pfeifer. At the time, both vehicles were headed from North Vancouver toward Vancouver and had entered the on-ramp to proceed southbound on the Lions Gate Bridge. Mr. Lopez had stopped suddenly on the on-ramp and was held partially at fault for the collision in this judgment.

In this case, Mr. Erickson had parked his truck on the wrong side of the road at night, leaving his headlights on high beam while he collected his mail from the community mailboxes there. Ms. Scott approached and was unable to see properly because of the headlights.

Imagine the surprise of the motorist at a collision I once investigated. He parked at the side of the road, opened his door, and a passing car tried to tear it off! It's a good thing he didn't step out while he opened the door.