Blazed: Drug Driving in Aotearoa

image of movie projectorThis short video from New Zealand examines 3 Maori boys waiting in a car for their father to return. They parody the father driving while under the influence of marihuana (blazed) during the wait. It is humourous on the face of it, but if you really think about it they are really keenly aware of the dangers of drug impaired driving.

I have received many e-mails telling me that marijuana does not impair driving, but my experience tends more toward what I see in the video.

Wrong Way on the Freeway

Wrong Way SignWhen you are driving on the freeway and the yellow line appears on the right side of your vehicle, it's past time to correct the problem. You are driving on the wrong side of the road! Contrary to what one might think, instances of wrong way driving on divided highways are not rare. Thank goodness most instances are corrected by the wrong way driver before a crash occurs.

RESOURCE - Bendix Brake School

bendix logoDo you drive or service vehicles with air brake or electronic safety systems on board? The Bendix Brake School is a free resource that teaches how Bendix products work in these applications. While it is manufacturer specific, the information in general will apply to similar offerings by other companies. The material includes a complete airbrake training course whose interactive content includes quizzes and exams.

VIDEO - How to Steer a Car

VideoAlthough this instruction takes place in a right hand drive vehicle, the principles are exactly the same for left hand drive. Three methods or steering are shown: push-pull steering for general driving, hand over hand for slow speed maneuvering and fixed input for small changes in direction.

Stupid in a No Stupid Zone

Question MarkNow and again you hear about something so stupid that you shake your head and wonder what the heck was that driver thinking? Yesterday's case in point was an older female who stopped in the fast lane on the opposite side of a divided highway to take a picture of a fatal collision. All the traffic behind had to screech to a halt to avoid colliding with her.

VIEWPOINT - My Day in Traffic Court

SoapboxI've recently attended a dispute hearing for a speeding in a municipality charge. When I arrived the officer greeted me in the hallway before the courtroom and invited me into a small interrogation room. He then asked me what my intentions were, and after a quick run down of the possible options, I replied that I was here to plead not guilty.

Driving in the Fog

Foggy HighwayI drove the Inland Island Highway from Campbell River southbound and I encountered heavy fog until approximately Parkville. Driving within my visible stopping distance meant going about 80 km/hr, less at times, with maybe 200 m of visibility. I was really surprised at the speed of drivers going past me, some I estimated at 130 km/hr plus. Many were pickups and SUVs.