Equipment

Is this vehicle legal to drive with no drivers side mirror? The passenger side mirror is there, but the window is missing and replaced with plastic.

Last week's column on overdriving low beam headlights resulted in some interesting comments. Chief among them was the thought that this wasn't a problem because the driver had installed high wattage bulbs and now had more light to see with. Do you suppose that these drivers don't know this is a bad practice or just don't care about themselves and others who use the highway?

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.

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.

Question: 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.

Did you know that in Québec, 360 accidents involving a vehicle tire occurred over a period of 10 years, including some ten fatal accidents directly attributable to heavy vehicle tire blowout or explosion? This fact sheet presents the phenomenon of mechanical blowout of heavy vehicle tires mounted on wheels, and the process and events that lead to tire blowout or explosion as a result of heat buildup.

We could soon see white strobe lights mounted on the roof of school buses in B.C. Standards allow for a white strobe to be mounted on the center of the roof on the rear third of the vehicle. It is meant to provide increased visibility and may be operated in fog or when the bus is stationary.

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Commercial Vehicle Safety & Enforcement receives many inquiries regarding the application and compliance of aftermarket window tinting products. This vehicle safety and standards bulletin is intended to clarify existing Motor Vehicle Act Regulations and insure proper vehicle compliance with these requirements while operating a vehicle on the highway.

Would you do a column on the importance of vehicle maintenance? Not only regarding upkeep of tires, fluids, brakes, or suspension, but also the importance of regularly checking to ensure all the lights on the vehicle are clean and in good working order.