Anti-lock brakes (ABS) have gone from being a novelty to being present on most vehicles today. Have you read and understood the section of your vehicle owner's manual on this vital safety system? Contrary to popular belief, ABS does not always mean shorter stopping distances.
Moving licence plates from one vehicle to another is not just a simple matter of being able to use a screwdriver. Many people run into trouble in the form of a heavy fine and a tow truck when they try to move their plates to a substitute vehicle and don't do it properly.
I'm a bit surprised that I have never dealt with the subject of cell phone use while driving in this column. There has been ample opportunity, from observing drivers while I am at work, to reading reports about it from safety researchers, your suggestions, and even a comment from the judiciary about clamping down on drivers who use them when they drive.
Many drivers have what are referred to as restrictions on their driver's license. These restrictions may be limiting, such as being allowed a maximum number of passengers if you are in the Graduated Licensing Program or having to wear corrective lenses if your eyesight does not meet minimum standards. They may also be empowering as is the case with being allowed to operate air brake equipped vehicles or tow a trailer with a Gross Vehicle Weight over 4, 600 kg. In all cases, restrictions must be obeyed, or the driver will find themselves in difficulty if they are stopped by the police or they are involved in a collision.
I had an interesting conversation with a driver at the roadside last Monday morning. I had stopped him for driving at 107 km/h in the posted 80 zone entering a high collision zone on Highway 4 east of Port Alberni. Speed is a particular problem in this zone as a primary contributor to collisions there.
We have come to expect that our highways will always be open to us to use at any time under all conditions. When something occurs, such as a serious collision, some drivers still think that their convenience takes priority over all other issues and the highway should not be closed to them.
Maintenance workers will soon be removing the covers from school zone signs and children will be using the roads to walk and bicycle back and forth to school. As all drivers know, school zones will be in effect on regular school days during the hours and at the speed shown on the sign. If caution is exercised by all road users it will be a safe school year.
This week must be disobey restriction week for learner motorcycle riders. I attended an off road left collision involving a learner driver on a motorcycle. He was restricted to having an instructor aged 25+ and a speed of no more than 60 km/h. The instructor was 21 and explained that they couldn't have been doing more than 70 in the 60 zone before the crash.
Right of way, means the privilege of the immediate use of the highway over other users. We often speak of it, but do we really know what it means in relation to our driving? It is crucial that drivers know and follow the right of way rules to avoid conflict and collision.
I am often asked to tell the motoring public that it is illegal to change lanes in an intersection. I cannot do this, because there is no specific rule prohibiting this driving action in the Motor Vehicle Act. However, a defensive driver will choose not to do this, even if it is legal.
Many drivers have what are referred to as restrictions on their driver's license. These restrictions may be limiting, such as being allowed a maximum number of passengers if you are in the Graduated Licensing Program or having to wear corrective lenses if your eyesight does not meet minimum standards. They may also be empowering as is the case with being allowed to operate air brake equipped vehicles or tow a trailer with a Gross Vehicle Weight over 4, 600 kg. In all cases, restrictions must be obeyed, or the driver will find themselves in difficulty if they are stopped by the police or they are involved in a collision.
We have come to expect that our highways will always be open to us to use at any time under all conditions. When something occurs, such as a serious collision, some drivers still think that their convenience takes priority over all other issues and the highway should not be closed to them.
Right of way, means the privilege of the immediate use of the highway over other users. We often speak of it, but do we really know what it means in relation to our driving? It is crucial that drivers know and follow the right of way rules to avoid conflict and collision.
I am often asked to tell the motoring public that it is illegal to change lanes in an intersection. I cannot do this, because there is no specific rule prohibiting this driving action in the Motor Vehicle Act. However, a defensive driver will choose not to do this, even if it is legal.
