RESEARCH - Sidewalks Are Important

VTPI LogoA recent study by Todd Litman of the Victoria Transport Policy Institute (VTPI) concluded that the average city spent about 1 percent of its infrastructure budget on sidewalks, even though walking accounted for 11 percent of residents’ trips every day and pedestrian fatalities constituted 17 percent of all traffic deaths. Walking (including wheelchair, scooter and handcart use) is the universal travel mode. Improving walking conditions can provide many benefits

Trailer Light and Reflector Requirements

Utility TrailerNine lamps and six reflectors are the minimum required by law to be installed and functional on your trailer. If that trailer is not a small one, the number grows rapidly to stay in compliance depending on its length and width. Not just any lamp or reflector will do either, they all must be the right device for the right place and comply with standards.

STUDY - Are Pedestrians Comfortable with Self Driving Vehicles?

The University of British Columbia's Research on Active Transportation Lab has released information on their study about the Perceived Safety and Comfort of Pedestrian Interactions with Self-driving Vehicles (SDVs). The study was conducted to inform strategies for the responsible introduction of SDVs in a way that does not degrade the walking experience.

Q&A - Horse Drawn Carriages and Traffic Rules

Q&A ImageQUESTION: I have a question/concern about horse carriages in a very busy downtown area and at a very busy intersection blocking the pedestrian crossing, forcing pedestrians to walk around the horse and into the traffic. The same issue exists for the bike lanes. The horse carriages routinely use the bike lanes and cyclists are forced out of the designated lane into the car traffic to get around the carriage. I have also witnessed the horse carriages stopping traffic in all three directions while they make a u-turn in the intersection.

What is a Regular School Day?

school zone signA visitor to this website remarked that the term "school days" in relation to school zone signs is becoming more and more ambiguous. The Motor Vehicle Act merely refers to "A person driving a vehicle on a regular school day" and I no longer know what a regular school day is, particularly since I don't have kids in school and when I am in an unfamiliar area of the province..

RESOURCE - BC Ministry of Transportation & Infrastructure Service Plan

TranBC logo"The Ministry builds and maintains safe and resilient roadways and infrastructure, plans integrated transportation hubs and networks, provides affordable, efficient and accessible transportation options for all people in British Columbia, partners with Crown corporations and other entities to deliver transportation services, develops and implements transportation policies, and administers many related acts, regulations and federal-provincial funding programs."

CASE LAW - R v Robinson

BC Courts Coat of ArmsThe case of R v Robinson involves disobeying a traffic control device at the intersection of Maclure Road and Babich Street in Abbotsford. In this instance, the traffic control device was the speed limit sign for the road that Mr. Robinson was driving on. The ticket alleged that he had failed to obey a traffic control device, but said nothing further.

Parallel Parking and the Impatient Driver

Parallel ParkingHere's another question from the DriveSmartBC inbox: I've noticed recently that often drivers are impatient of people parallel parking and pass them on the left rather than waiting in the right hand lane for the driver to finish parking before moving forward. In the event of a collision who is at fault - the person parallel parking or the person trying to go around the parallel parking car?

VIEWPOINT - Under Insured Motorist Protection

SoapboxRose Keith of the Harper Grey LLP has published a fact sheet about Under Insured Motorist Protection (UMP). UMP is meant to provide financial protection if you are involved in a collision with another driver who is either under insured or who has no insurance coverage. Prior to the latest changes to ICBC the legal counsel that I received was to buy as much UMP as I could afford.

ARTICLE - Rethinking the One Way Street

one way street signRethinking the One Way Street references a study published in the Journal of Planning and Education Research in 2022. The authors observe that one way streets were created by suburbanization to allow a quick and simple drive in and out of suburbs commuting to city jobs. They allowed for higher speeds over greater distances with fewer stops. This led to unpleasant, often dangerous streets for other road users.