DriveSmartBC

Is hitchhiking illegal in British Columbia? The short answer is not everywhere. However, the law is more complicated than simply saying that hitchhiking is either legal or illegal.

You may have noticed a new version of the familiar highway sign in British Columbia: Keep Right, Let Others Pass.

The Province of British Columbia is developing a new road safety strategy that is expected to guide road safety work through 2030. The strategy is scheduled for publication in late 2026.

Question: I routinely drive in a particular area and was recently ticketed for turning right at a red light. I was told that a new sign prohibited right turns on red. I had driven this route many times before and did not notice the sign, which appeared to have been installed only recently. Is there any way to find out when the sign was installed? And can I ask for some leeway because I did not know the restriction was there?

Who goes first at a 4-way stop? The basic rule seems simple: first to stop, first to go. However, when two or more drivers stop at about the same time, things become more complicated. Do you know who should have the right of way?

What responsibility does a driver have when stopping a vehicle creates a hazard for other road users? A 2009 decision of the Supreme Court of British Columbia illustrates that complying with a specific traffic rule is not necessarily the end of the matter.

Question: I live on a street where there is a T intersection. I'm wondering if it is OK to park in the top T portion of the intersection.

Most drivers know that the parking brake is there to keep a parked vehicle from moving. But what happens if you are driving and the service brakes suddenly stop working?

Question: My husband and I are planning to take the 14 hour drive from Peace Country down to the Okanagan, on to Vancouver and back to Alberta for the long weekend in May. I'm a learner driver and am super excited to visit my small home town and be able to drive around in it.

I never know what I am going to receive in my e-mail regarding this column. A while ago, I received a tongue-in-cheek request to settle a disagreement between a husband and wife about U-turns. Neither of them realized that there are actually very few places in British Columbia where a driver can legally make one.