Q&A - Winter Tires & Rental Cars

Winter Tire Regulatory SignQUESTION: I live in Vancouver and My friends and I are thinking of going to the Clayoquot Oyster Festival in Tofino in late November, but I remember the Pacific Rim Highway was signposted "use winter tires or carry chains between October and April". I have tried asking many car rental companies and none of them have winter tires, and could not confirm winter tires availability for November. Do you know what we could do in this case?

CASE LAW - Spencer v Superintendent of Motor Vehicles

BC Courts Coat of ArmsIn this case, Kristen Debra-Lee Spencer challenges an Immediate Roadside Prohibition (IRP) in a Supreme Court Review of an adjudicators decision upholding the IRP on review. Ms. Spencer was issued the IRP for being in care and control of a motor vehicle, having alcohol in her body and refusing to provide a breath sample on the demand of a police officer.

Ramp Metering on Freeways

image of ramp meteringRamp metering is one solution to the difficulty drivers have entering a busy freeway. Without it, platoons of vehicles would approach in the acceleration lane bumper to bumper. Everyone would be trying to jam themselves into the first gap in the slow lane that they encountered.

Q&A - Behaving Properly at Stop Signs

Q&A ImageI need a lot of help with these questions that I can't find the right answers to from anyone: What are the rules at a two way stop when 2 cars face each other? There is a different answer on your website and also with ICBC's Learn to Drive Smart Guide. I don't know who proceeds first if both cars stop at the same time face to face and are both turning left on the through street.

CASE LAW - Wong-Lai v Ong

BC Courts Coat of ArmsMrs. Wong-Lai and her husband were crossing Prior Street between Gore and Dunlevy in Vancouver to return to their car. They were struck by a car driven by Mr. Ong. The older couple were not able to cross the street quickly, had chosen to cross where there was not a crosswalk on a wide, busy street at night in a heavy rain.

Vehicle Impound Responsibility

Q&A ImageI was driving my friends car without him knowing that I had no drivers licence. We got pulled over and the car got impounded for 30 days. He has a full time job and cannot go without a car. I on the other hand, am disabled and cannot work and am willing to do what ever it takes to get his car out of vehicle impound so he can go to work. Is it possible?

Cyclist / Motorist / Pedestrian Interaction

image of a cyclistI live on the Island Highway close to the downtown area of Campbell River. Over the past decade both as a pedestrian and as a motorist I have nearly been hit by a cyclist numerous times as they careen down the sidewalk trying to see how much air they can catch jumping the driveway cuts. Very often they are going faster than the cars on the road.