Behaviour

Whenever I make a public presentation and then open the floor to questions people always highlight the traffic problems in their neighbourhoods and ask why the police never seem to be doing anything about them. Road design in the form of traffic calming might be a better alternative to the police.

I've been asked to discuss the practice of some drivers who are "slowing down, way back from a stop light, potentially blocking access for both the left and the right turn lane, especially where there is an advance green light for a left turn." The person who requested the examination is irked by these drivers as it costs them precious seconds of driving time.

Even though you hold a valid driver's licence, you might not be qualified to teach a new driver. Not only do you need to have the knowledge and skills necessary, you also need the right attitude and be able to pass it all along successfully. Experience has taught me that some parents don't have what it takes to be a good instructor.

I've been driving with eDriving's Mentor app for about a year now and know that it has made improvements in my skills. I haven't cracked the top 10% barrier yet, but I'm still trying! The secret to having a high score appears to be trying to anticipate and plan for what is happening around you as you drive.

This is a road rage incident that occurred near Saanich starting on McKenzie Avenue near Glanford Avenue and proceeding westbound. It ended at the red light on Burnside Road near the TD Bank when one driver decided to spit on the other and the police were called.

This must have been Following Too Closely Week in British Columbia. I received the story of an incident in Sooke, an analysis of a video from Richmond and was subjected to this dangerous behaviour myself. You might be able to get away with ignoring the Motor Vehicle Act, but the laws of physics will eventually prevail.

I had an interesting conversation with @itsjim84 on Twitter this morning about the case law article I posted this week on driving over painted traffic islands. He observed that in the case of a left turn queue that had extended past the left turn bay due to insufficient length it was better to be stopped on the painted island instead of in the through lane. Stopping on the island would preclude being hit from behind by through traffic and allow traffic to flow.

This video from Minnesota's Local Road Research Board explains why specialty warning signs often requested by the public to solve a perceived problem can actually make the problem worse instead of better. In fact, it can spread the problem as people learn to ignore these signs as just more background noise.

I never know what is going to wind up in my DriveSmartBC inbox, but it is bound to be entertaining, interesting, thought provoking or just plain letting off steam at an easy target. I read them all, try to reply with reason and civility and often use them as the basis for an article.