Signs & Signals

Have you ever watched a driver waiting in vain for the traffic light to turn green because they failed to stop properly at an intersection? In most parts of BC signals respond to inductive loops buried in the pavement to sense the presence of your vehicle. An understanding of how they work can prevent you from being stuck.

Question: I was driving at the intersection of 2nd Avenue and the Cambie Street on ramp in Vancouver. I turned right on a green light to head onto Cambie Street. I did not have to yield to any pedestrians as they were being held by the pedestrian signal. I moved about 20 feet into turn and my car was struck on the passenger side by a bicyle rider doing full speed.

Drivers are often confused about the difference between a regulatory sign and an advisory sign. A regulatory sign generally has black characters or symbols on a white background and an advisory sign has black characters or symbols on a yellow background. So, what's the difference?

Question: I was asked to comment on an interesting "exchange of views" on Facebook regarding a no left turn sign posted by the Delta School District at Richardson Elementary School. It began as a discussion about whether a driver had to obey the sign or not and then deteriorated into less than respectful exchanges.

Here's a document from the US Federal Highway Authority that looks at the safety benefit of pedestrian countdown signals. The study results showed that after the implementation of these signals, pedestrian crashes decreased by 9 percent, total crashes decreased by 8 percent and rear-end crashes decreased by 12 percent.

Q: I am confused by this sign on Pandora Avenue in Victoria that seems to indicate no pedestrian crossing to vehicle traffic yet there is nothing to tell the pedestrian not to cross the street here. There is even a wheelchair ramp encouraging pedestrians to cross. I suspect that there are more examples of this in the area. Can you explain what that sign means?

Question: I ride a KLR 650, as well a KTM 450 exec. Both are street legal and have smaller engine displacements. These motorcycles are built with little steel and are mostly aluminum. Neither one of my bikes will force a light change at Leathead and 97 as well as Highway 97 and Sexsmith road intersections in Kelowna.

This video from Minnesota's Local Road Research Board explains why specialty warning signs often requested by the public to solve a perceived problem can actually make the problem worse instead of better. In fact, it can spread the problem as people learn to ignore these signs as just more background noise.

A popular way to try and get speeding vehicles to slow down in residential neighbourhoods is to put up Slow Children at Play signs. Despite our good intentions, research says that there is no evidence that Children at Play signs are effective.

Question: A while ago you wrote about a test that new drivers have to get at least 80% on in order to pass. I took the test and there were at least 2 road signs in it that I had never seen before. I'm worried that there are other signs I wouldn't recognize and wonder if there is a reference that I can use to look them up.