DriveSmartBC

Question: The intersection of Valley Road and Summit Drive in Kelowna is a two-way stop for traffic on Valley Road. If one driver approaches from the south intending to turn left and another approaches from the north intending to turn right, which driver has the right of way?

Speed limits exist to improve safety, yet many drivers feel pressure to exceed them. During one week I heard from three drivers facing very different situations: one was being pressured by an employer to speed, another felt unsafe obeying the speed limit because everyone else was driving faster, and a third admitted speeding and wanted advice about disputing a ticket. Together, their stories illustrate the everyday pressures that encourage otherwise responsible drivers to break the law.

Question: Can someone with their N licence have more than one friend in the car if they are the designated driver?

Question: When turning right at an intersection with a bicycle lane, should you merge into the bike lane before turning or turn across it?

Question: Do Intersection Safety Cameras improve road safety in British Columbia, or are they simply another way for governments to collect revenue?

Question: If an Intersection Safety Camera ticket is sent to the vehicle's owner, do they get penalty points on their licence? I found a web post that says you only get penalty points if you were caught by a police officer. Is that true?

Parking too close to a driveway, crosswalk, fire hydrant, or other roadside feature can result in a parking ticket and, in some situations, your vehicle may also be towed. It can also create unnecessary hazards for other road users. One DriveSmartBC reader asked for a reminder of the minimum parking distances required in British Columbia after repeatedly finding vehicles blocking access to the end of his driveway. Knowing these distances before you park can help you avoid enforcement action and inconvenience.

Question: I loaned my vehicle to my girlfriend while I was out of the province. She was caught excessively speeding, received a traffic ticket (officially called a violation ticket), and my vehicle was impounded for seven days. I wasn't even in British Columbia at the time, but now I can't get to work because my vehicle is in the impound lot. How can I be responsible for something I didn't do?

A pedestrian who crosses the road illegally in British Columbia may commit an offence under the Motor Vehicle Act, but that does not remove a driver's duty to take reasonable steps to avoid a collision. Drivers must still exercise due care, warn pedestrians of danger when necessary, and yield where required by law.