Few of us like to live life on the edge. We save money for a rainy day, plan ahead in our lives and expect that everything around us has a built in safety factor. If it turns out that an insufficient safety factor injures us we expect someone to be responsible for it.
Would you believe me if I told you that the positioning of a stop sign at an intersection has nothing to do with where you must stop? Yes, the sign tells you that you must stop, but the markings on the roadway, or lack of them, tell you where the stop has to take place. There are four possibilities for a driver to consider.
In the past a private road in British Columbia could become a public road simply because the province has spent some money to maintain it under section 42 of the Transportation Act. This can result in roads that cross private property to become public rights of way without the property owner's knowledge or consent.
Alexander Holliday was issued a traffic ticket for not having a valid driver's licence and failing to display a new driver sign. The ticketed amounts would be $276 and $109 respectively along with 3 penalty points for the no driver's licence infraction. Mr. Holliday disputed the ticket.
Two years ago I wrote about my experience that a significant part of the safety problem in a school zone was caused by teachers and parents themselves. Their driving behaviour as they showed up to work or dropped off their children sometimes left a lot to be desired. Did they not realize that they were contributing to the problem?
The short answer is no. In British Columbia, it is illegal to operate a vehicle with smoked, tinted, or covered headlights and tail lights. Whether you use a spray-on tint, a vinyl wrap, or a snap-on plastic cover, any material that obscures or shields your vehicle's lighting is a violation of the Motor Vehicle Act Regulations (MVAR).
Take a look at other vehicles on the highway right now. How many of them have only one headlight working? Isn't that the same as driving with one eye closed? If you have normal vision, would you consider driving with one eye closed at night?
A gentleman from Courtenay explained about the regular difficulty that he encountered when he used the two way left turn lanes in that city. Most recently, he was travelling northbound on Cliffe Avenue attempting a left turn into Tim Horton's. A woman turned southbound out of the Husky just ahead of him into the two way left turn lane as well. They were now approaching each other head on.
Question: The intersection at Valley and Summit drive in Kelowna is a 2 way stop for drivers on the North and South side of Valley road. Does the car approaching from the South turning left have the right of way or does the car turning right approaching from the North?
A conversation that I had this week highlights a dangerous situation that is well worth discussing, vehicles making right turns across cycle lanes. Drivers may not understand the duties required of them as many of us are only starting to experience driving alongside cycle lanes.