Information regarding topics that don't fit in established categories.
Traffic safety remains a critical public health and economic challenge across British Columbia. The rolling model below provides a live, data-driven projection of cumulative road safety outcomes and transport incidents across the province since January 1, 2026:
Two recent collisions on Highway 19 through Nanoose Bay have renewed local concerns about road safety. A petition is calling for parking prohibitions and residents in the area want more enforcement and infrastructure improvements. In response the provincial government has announced an Operations and Safety Review of Highway 19 through the Nanoose Flats area.
Freeway entrance ramps are designed to give drivers an opportunity to build speed, find a suitable gap and merge smoothly with traffic already travelling on the freeway. An entrance to southbound Highway 99 in Richmond adds an unusual complication: a designated bus lane crosses the path of entering traffic just before the driver reaches the first general-purpose freeway lane.
Opening a vehicle door seems like a routine action, but it carries a legal responsibility. Section 203(1) of British Columbia's Motor Vehicle Act requires that you must not open a vehicle door into moving traffic unless it is reasonably safe to do so. A recent BC Supreme Court decision shows that this duty remains even when the approaching road user also shares responsibility for the collision.
Most drivers associate vehicle size limits with commercial trucks and other large vehicles. However, British Columbia's maximum vehicle height, width, length, and load overhang rules also apply to light non-commercial vehicles.
Quick Answer: Yes. Regenerative braking can increase the risk of a collision on slippery roads because lifting off the accelerator may apply braking force to the drive wheels before the driver applies the brake pedal. If that braking demand exceeds the available traction, the drive wheels can lose grip. Modern vehicles use ABS, traction control and electronic stability control to reduce this risk, but drivers should still adjust their driving to road conditions.
Question: I often see golf carts being driven on streets in residential communities, particularly around golf courses. Most don't appear to be licensed or insured. Are golf carts legal on public roads in British Columbia? What about in a gated community like Crown Isle in Courtenay?
Why would a website that specializes in road safety and traffic law in British Columbia refer to the German Road Traffic Regulations? The German regulations start with what amounts to a social contract in contrast to our Motor Vehicle Act which only contains rules that people must obey. It sets a core philosophy, framing road use as a shared responsibility for everyone and then creates a framework to guide it.
I am fortunate to receive a steady stream of driving questions from visitors to this website. Whenever I need inspiration for my weekly column, I can always count on a reader to spark an idea. This week, the operative word is "short." I am tackling a few brief but important questions that haven’t developed into full articles but still deserve a thorough response.
The amount of traffic law enforcement considered "enough" is a major point of debate in British Columbia, but safety experts generally agree that current enforcement levels are not high enough to curb the rising trend of bad driving.