Why Improve Your Driving Skills?

Sometimes I think that our system is designed to keep us in the driver's seat. Even in an urban area, you need a vehicle to get around with convenience. Bend a few vehicles? Pay ICBC a (relatively) few dollars more and they take care of the big bills. Can't or won't follow the driving rules? Pay for a few penalty points and don't worry, you have to get a lot of tickets before they take your licence away. Had your licence taken away? Probably not for very long, even if you killed someone.

Opening a Door on the Traffic Side

BC Courts Coat of ArmsThis case is a small claims action for damages to the open driver's door of a parked pickup truck when it was hit by a passing cyclist. The case was not decided in favour of the pickup owner.

VIN Plate Visibility

VIN PlateI have been asked two questions about personal security that are vehicle related lately. One concerns blocking your vehicle identification number or VIN plate so that it cannot be read by anyone and the other is carrying a photocopy of your vehicle licence and insurance document with the address on it removed.

Speeding Fines Can't be Reduced

Q&A ImageI found your article that explains the Motor Vehicle Act (MVA) requires that the JP impose the fine legislated for the speed being travelled. If they find between 20 and 40 over, for instance, they must impose the $196 fine and cannot reduce it. I am not able to find where the MVA says that speeding fines can't be reduced.

Police Should Fight Crime

SoapboxFirst off, no disrespect to the police. I have a problem when day in and day out the police are pulling people over for traffic violations and running road blocks when there is so much crime going on in B.C cities and towns.

Lane Change in an Intersection

image of a car making a lane changeI am often asked to tell the motoring public that it is illegal to make a lane change in an intersection. I cannot do this, because there is no specific rule prohibiting this driving action in B.C.'s Motor Vehicle Act. However, a defensive driver will choose not to do this, even if it is legal.

Radar Calibration Evidence

Q&A ImageQuestion: The police officer used a radar gun to check my speed. According to him, there are no records for radar calibration on it. This is a real, live issue for my trial. If the radar gun does not have service records, then how do we know that it is functioning correctly?

Bullying a New Driver

No Road SenseIt was not uncommon to be told that a new driver sign was not being displayed because adults took the sign as a signal to bully the new driver. I thought that was just a convenient excuse to give the policeman when you couldn't be bothered to make sure that the required sign was in place. After all, who wouldn't realize that a new driver deserved more room and a little leeway for mistakes because they were just beginning their driving career?

Wet Weather Driving

image of wet weather drivingWelcome to wet weather season in British Columbia! Some areas are blessed with this situation more often than others, but drivers need to be aware of the perils of wet highways. The well being of you and other road users depend on it.

Does a Good Driving Record Count in Traffic Court?

Q&A ImageQuestion: I had a clean driving record until last week when I received my first ticket in 41 years of driving. I had recently started driving taxi part time and at the end of a 9 hour shift I dropped the taxi off and got into my own car. Five minutes later I went through a school zone without slowing down, having missed the school zone sign.