Miscellaneous

I am generally not a person who likes the rain, but as I sit with my coffee in hand looking out the window this morning I'm happy to see it. No doubt, so is the vegetation that depends on it. Not so for drivers though, social media has been full of well meant advice to slow down due to the potential of slippery roads.

Road safety is always changing, and in British Columbia, the next decade will bring some major shifts in how we drive, how roads are designed, and how traffic laws are enforced. Whether you’re a daily commuter, a professional driver, or someone who just enjoys a weekend road trip, the future of BC’s roads will affect you.

I think leaving a vehicle running, sometimes without the driver in it, while parking in a public place by should be a fineable offence under an anti-idling law. It has become so common now and is especially toxic when the vehicle is a large truck. Would you write about this please?

The question this week revolves around vehicle noise in quiet neighbourhoods. Why don’t the municipalities do more about it asks my correspondent. This may be a case of the squeaky wheel not getting the grease!

Question: When I purchased a truck the seller did not notify me that it had a rebuilt status and he did not write "R" (for rebuilt) in the appropriate section of the APV9T transfer paper. He lied to me and did not disclose information that he was obligated to disclose.

There is nothing like a near miss or collision to focus your mind on road safety. I often hear from people hoping to enlist my help in solving their issue. Requests have ranged from posting lower speed limits to constructing left turn lanes recently.

Emergency services in British Columbia tie a yellow ribbon on crashes. This happens when they are busy and leave the scene before a tow truck has arrived to remove the vehicle. It's a signal to you that you don't have to call 911 to report it.

You've just received a traffic ticket and from your point of view the officer definitely had a bad attitude when they issued it to you. I'll dispute the ticket and tell the court exactly what I think may cross your mind as you consider your situation. Surely the justice will see your point and give you a break.

Are defective vehicles a crash hazard? I suppose it depends on what part of the vehicle is defective and what the defect is. Few crashes are listed as being directly caused by poor maintenance or deliberate improper modifications. Most often it is a driver error that is cited.

Do you make new year's resolutions? I decided that I should this year and because of my interest, why not make it on my driving. With a little thought I resolved to take more time to scan my surroundings carefully before I did something like make a lane change or move away from a stop sign.