Unsafe Driving Practices

You may be able to disregard the rules in the Motor Vehicle Act and survive, but disobeying the laws of physics when you drive will eventually result in a collision.

I asked a couple of truckers what bothered them about the drivers of small vehicles. We had a lively half hour discussion from which I gathered their top five concerns. Each of these concerns could have serious consequences for everyone on the highway.

A message in the DriveSmartBC inbox observes that there is such an incredible shortage of common sense about the practicalities of driving, as well as so many people who seem unable to think clearly any more. You cannot get people to drive better just by saying "drive better".

Having enough following distance behind your vehicle is just as important as having a safe following distance in front of it. Many drivers are guilty of changing lanes too soon and not applying the the Two Second Rule to the distance behind them. Why force the driver behind you into being a tailgater?

Here are the top excuses that police heard from BC drivers who were caught using a hand-held device while driving in our province last month courtesy of ICBC:

Question: I was on a motorcycle trip a few years ago with a friend , and was riding about 10 km/h faster on a two lane highway and cars were still pushing me to go faster. There was a solid line so no passing as well there were also curves to consider. The shoulder was loose gravel and for me to pull over each time the cars formed a pack behind me I would slow down and pull off to let them go.

The case of Huettner v Lo involves an unsafe lane change made by the driver of a white Kia Rondo in front of a transit bus  that was northbound on Burrard Street in the HOV-dedicated far right lane beside the Hotel Vancouver sidewalk, approaching Georgia Street. Dashcam video was enhanced to identify that vehicle's licence number.

I've had a couple of regular correspondents ask me recently about night driving glasses. These glasses have yellow lenses and are supposed to cut glare and increase contrast allowing you to see better in the darkness. After a bit of research, it appears that using these glasses is not a good idea.

Imagine that you are a firefighter, hose in hand, approaching the flames inside a burning building. You open the nozzle on your attack line and...nothing. Someone has driven over the hose outside in the street and ruptured it causing a loss of pressure.

When it comes to winter in the "warmer" areas of British Columbia, I don't think that anyone does a better job of making fun of bad drivers as Adrian Raeside. The trouble is, it's not so funny when you have to share the roads with them. Many continue to drive in the snow and slush as if it is a warm, sunny and dry afternoon.