Bulldozers!

BulldozerA reader explains that several times they've been on the highway and had someone, usually in a big truck or old car come right up behind, so close that they can't really see the front of the vehicle. The reader drives a small Toyota and is frightened by this bullying behaviour. The question is, what do you do when you find yourself in this situation?

REPORT - BikeMaps.org Evaluation

BikeMaps.org LogoBikeMaps.org is a crowd sourced map of cycling collision data worldwide. Incidents of collisions, near misses, hazards and thefts can be entered via the web site or through the free Android or Apple apps. The data collected is available to all. If you choose to register and log in, it will even alert you to recent incidents mapped in your area.

RESEARCH - Adaptive Cruise Control Encourages Speeding

IIHS LogoAccording to a study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, drivers are substantially more likely to speed when using Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) or automations that combine ACC with lane centering than when not using either technology. The concern here is that abuse of the system will cancel out the safety benefit of having it.

Traffic Ticket Fallacies

Traffic Ticket WriterI refused to sign the traffic ticket that I got for speeding last week. Does that mean this ticket is invalid and I don't have to pay it? Questions like this one are common from readers who were not happy following their roadside encounter with traffic enforcement. However, a violator's signature is not required to make the ticket valid.

Q&A - Straight Through for Bicycles Only

CyclistQUESTION: Eastbound on Point Grey at Alma there are two bike lanes on the north side of the street that are allowed to cross Alma without stopping. Cars eastbound on Point Grey must turn either right or left, and there is a curb/diverter on the far side to prevent them going straight through.

Cars northbound on Alma face a stop sign, and one option is to turn right through the diverter.

Pedestrians on the Highway

Pedestrian Crossing"Don't pedestrians have to use the sidewalks?" asks a reader. The concern expressed here is that when a safe place is provided for pedestrians away from traffic flow, some people choose not to use it. The reader observes that these people make life difficult for drivers by adding one more hazard on the roadway.