DriveSmartBC

Buying a set of tire chains and stowing them in the trunk without ever trying to install them might not be a good idea. The first time you will be called to use them will mean installing them in the worst of conditions and taking too long to do the task could even mean being hit by a passing vehicle. A little practice now, as shown in this video, might make life easier somewhere down the road....

The province of British Columbia has not yet mandated that only true winter tread tires be used during the winter months on our highways. If you pass a sign requiring the use of winter tires between October 1 and April 30 each year, your vehicle must be properly equipped.

This video is part of an advertising campaign by the Transport Accident Commission in Australia. It shows graphically the possible consequences of being distracted by mobile phone use while driving.

Why does the RCMP call taker make me feel like not ever calling in reports of impaired drivers anymore? (And I am not the only one that has commented on this).

I have always felt it as my duty to alert RCMP if there is an impaired driver on the road. I am willing to provide my name, my address, my phone number, and the pertinent details about the vehicle / driver etc. etc.

Question: Is it legal to install a television or video screen in a vehicle? There are two answers to this question, one simple and the other complicated. Driver distraction and the possibility of a collision resulting from it is a very real concern.

The US National Safety Commission reports on the use of energy drinks and the possibility of caffeine impaired driving. Energy drinks contain significant amounts of caffeine and when consumed to excess can lead to caffeine intoxication. This results in behavioural changes that increase the risk of aggressive driving and collision.

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The Traffic Injury Research Foundation reports that Canadians are not overly concerned about the behaviours and safety of pedestrians and bicyclists according to a public opinion poll. However, crash data and self-reported behaviour illustrate that concern is still warranted. “Pedestrians and bicyclists are among the most vulnerable of road users,” says Ward Vanlaar, TIRF researcher and lead author of the Road Safety Monitor series.

I began driving my own car in the mid-fifties and I always used winter tires on the rear only during the winter months. Based on about thirty years of experience, I feel that I am quite capable of managing winter driving with the traction arrangement I had for rear drive in the past. However, I am not interested in contravening any legislated law or regulation.

As part of the celebration of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's 50th anniversary, they conducted an offset frontal crash test between a 1959 Chevrolet Bel Air and a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The driver of the Bel Air would not have survived the crash, but the driver of the Malibu would likely only have sustained minor injuries.

Canadian drivers seem to agree that speeding is a dangerous action. It increases the possibility of collision, injury and death on our highways. However, most drivers have a fairly elastic view of how the speed limits apply to themselves with the majority (7 in 10) reporting that they occasionally exceed the speed limit. Regardless, there is significant public support for anti-speeding measures.