RESOURCE - The iRAP Road Safety Tool Kit

Road Safety Toolkit LogoThe Road Safety Toolkit provides free information on the causes and prevention of serious road crashes. Building on decades of road safety research, the Toolkit helps engineers, planners and policy makers develop safety plans for car occupants, motorcyclists, pedestrians, bicyclists, heavy vehicle occupants and public transport users.

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CASE LAW - R v Reid

BC Courts Coat of ArmsIn the case of R v Reid, Judge Lemiski examines an incident in which Reid was the driver of a motor vehicle that fatally injured a young boy in a parking lot. Reid parked her vehicle, failed to place the gear selector in park, and then mistook the gas for the brake, pinning the boy between her vehicle and a building.

Operating a Dangerous Machine

image of dangerous machinery warning signImagine a machine that almost anyone can buy and operate. You read the training manual, practice it's use under the supervision of someone who is also a user and has some proficiency in it's operation. Finally, you take a test to see if you too have basic proficiency in it's operation. If you pass, the supervisor lets you use the machine with minimal oversight as you see fit.

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.

STUDY - Assessing Community Attitudes Toward Speed Limits

MUARC LogoThe Accident Research Centre at Monash University, Australia, has released a report that explores community attitudes towards current speed limits and examines some of the reasons for these attitudes. The majority surveyed were in favour of reducing speed limits on two lane 100km/h undivided rural roads and on rural gravel roads, but only about one third supported lower limits in urban areas at this time.

Q&A - Why Shouldn't I Coast Through Stop Signs?

Q&A ImageWhat is the purpose of completely coming to a stop at a 3 or 4 way stop when there are no vehicles or pedestrians near the intersection? A rolling stop should be sufficient, as MOST drivers including professional drivers never completely stop. There are at least 3 good reasons for NOT coming to a complete stop. I cannot think of one good reason for coming to a COMPLETE stop.

Are Your Tires Worn Out?

Bald TirePlace two average adult feet side by side on a piece of paper and draw a box around their edges. The area of this box is about the same as the area of your tires in contact with the road on an average automobile. Tires are your only contact with the highway, and collisions result when that contact is lost.