Driving related decisions by the courts.
Novice drivers licensed in BC are prohibited from using any type of electronic device while driving. This includes the use of GPS navigation and any type of hands free unit as well as devices that fully licensed drivers are allowed to use.
The case of Tataryn v Browne involves a single vehicle rollover crash on Long Lake Road near Kamloops. Farm workers riding in the box of the pickup truck at the time of the crash were injured. Debra Browne found that the owner's responsibility for their vehicle meant that she was vicariously liable for damages.
The case of Vujevic v Parnell involves the determination of liability for a u turn crash that happened near the intersection of the Mount Seymour Parkway and Fairway Drive in North Vancouver. At this location the Mound Seymour Parkway is a three lane road in a residential area.
The case of Legere v Harvey involves liability for two crashes on Highway 97 at Gallagher Lake north of Oliver. The first crash was between a southbound Mazda 3 driven by Gail Harvey and a deer. The second crash occurred immediately after between Ms. Harvey's Mazda 3 and a northbound Dodge Ram driven by Ryan Legere.
Vasu Virda is a delivery driver for Uber Eats in Vancouver. When he is sent a delivery offer by the company he must accept it by tapping the Uber Eats app on his cellphone. He did this while being observed by Officer Kim who issued a traffic ticket for using an electronic device while driving.
Do the police ever charge a fellow officer with a traffic offence? I suspect that members of the public would respond "no" to that assertion and would be skeptical of protests to the contrary. This case involves an unmarked police car speeding on the Okanagan Connector near Merritt.
The case of Huettner v Lo involves an unsafe lane change made by the driver of a white Kia Rondo in front of a transit bus that was northbound on Burrard Street in the HOV-dedicated far right lane beside the Hotel Vancouver sidewalk, approaching Georgia Street. Dashcam video was enhanced to identify that vehicle's licence number.
Sos Yeghiyan was issued a traffic ticket for speeding with a ticketed amount of $196. He paid the discounted amount and later on had second thoughts about doing so. Mr. Yeghiyan appealed his conviction and attempted to withdraw his guilty plea. He was not successful.
Cindy Li was involved in a hit & run crash. She had heard the siren of an approaching fire engine and slowed in preparation to yield to it. While her vehicle was still moving, it was struck from behind by another car.
Most drivers believe that if they are facing a green light at an intersection they have the absolute right of way to drive through without any need to consider stopping. A recent case in the B.C. Supreme Court on making left turns through stopped traffic illustrates that this is not a reasonable expectation.