New Drivers

Information regarding new drivers and the Graduated Licencing Program.

Q&A - Twin Daughters and GLP

New Driver Signs 2011I have twin daughters who will very soon be getting their 'L'.  The believe the passenger restriction for a learner's licence is 1 supervisor and 1 other passenger.  This will be a considerable lost opportunity for them to practice driving when we go somewhere as a family.  If you've dealt with this situation do you have any advice?

Q&A - First Ticket

New Driver Signs 2011A few days ago, I have just received my first Novice License and had retained my L for a year without any issue or ticket. Today, I have driven up Burnaby mountain, and down for the first time and was ticketed out a speeding at 92km/hour in a 60km/hour zone.

CASE LAW - R v C.J.S.

BC Courts Coat of ArmsC.J.S. is a young person who held a class 8 motorcycle learner's licence. He was participating in a group ride from Campbell River to Gold River on Highway 28. He was seriously injured in a collision near the intersection of McIvor Lake Road when a Prius that he had been following signalled right and turned left.

CASE LAW - Gainder v The Minister of Justice

BC Courts Coat of ArmsMandeep Gainder, a novice driver, was discovered sitting in his idling car which emitted a strong odour of marihuana from the passenger compartment. Constable Troughton performed a Standardized Field Sobriety Test on Mr. Gainder who admitted smoking the drug and failed the test. A 24 hour prohibition for drug use was issued by Constable Earle. This suspension was not disputed.

Sleep, Text, Be Impaired & Supervise a New Driver

New Driver Signs 2011Every once in a while a visitor to DriveSmartBC will pose a question that makes me go “hmm...” This week brought one of those moments with the query “Does a driver supervisor have to be sane?” Without thinking, my response was that of course a supervisor would have to be sane, but after I thought about it, the only thing that a supervisor requires is a minimum age and a valid driver's licence.