Unsafe Driving Practices

Information related to unsafe driving practices.

Playing Chicken With Your Car

BC Courts Coat of ArmsThe case of Stevanovic v Petrovic involves playing chicken by a driver who was certainly old enough to know better. Mr. Petrovic decided to do this with his friend Mr. Stevanovic who was standing in the street waiting to be picked up. The resulting collision caused a serious leg injury.

Vehicle Impoundment as a Penalty

Tow TruckThe use of vehicle impoundment as part of an array of penalties to discourage improper driving behaviour will expand significantly when amendments to the Motor Vehicle Act become law on September 20, 2010. In every case the cost of the impoundment will be the responsibility of the owner of the vehicle. If the owner was not the driver at the time, they may recover costs from the driver as a debt in any court of competent jurisdiction.

The Collision Repair Company's Courtesy Vehicle

Toy CarI was sitting at a red light this afternoon watching the approaching traffic. Two vehicles entered the left turn lane on the street to my left, one unremarkable and the other covered in advertising telling me that it was the courtesy vehicle for a well known collision repair company. Both were signaling for the left turn.

Over Wattage Headlight Bulbs

Low Beam Headlight PatternLast 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?

No Place to Race

VideoMotorcycles are nimble, brake and accelerate quickly and the temptation to race through other traffic can be difficult to resist for some. The riders weaving through traffic are usually young males who have not yet realized the risk that they are taking or imposing on other road users.

Driving Without Due Care Example

BC Courts Coat of Arms imageWhat do the words driving without due care and attention actually mean? Section 144 MVA says that a person must not drive a motor vehicle on a highway without due care and attention but does not go on to explain what it is. This trial involving a collision that killed a motorcycle rider is one example.