Miscellaneous

Information regarding topics that don't fit in established categories.

VISION - Our Eyes Were Not Designed for Driving

GlassesAccording to John Sullivan, a RAF pilot, we are the result of hundreds of thousands of years of evolution. Our eyes, and the way that our brain processes the images that they receive, are very well suited to creeping up on unsuspecting antelopes and spotting threats such as sabre-toothed tigers. These threats are largely gone and they’ve been replaced by vehicles travelling towards us at high speeds. This, we’ve not yet adapted to deal with.

Sharing With Horses

Warning Sign for HorsesOur Motor Vehicle Act defines traffic as pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles, cycles and other conveyances, either singly or together, while using a highway to travel. That's right, horses being ridden on the highway are considered to be traffic.

VIDEO - How Ramp Metering Works

VideoIf you have tried to enter the freeway in the lower mainland, you may have encountered a traffic signal on the on ramp. Why would there be a red light at a freeway entry? During times of congestion, controlling how vehicles enter the freeway can actually keep the traffic on the freeway flowing. A small wait on the on ramp is traded for what could turn out to be a significantly long wait in gridlock.

Dogs Don't Drive!

Dogs Dont DriveYour dog may be licensed, but it isn't a licence to drive a vehicle reminds a reader. This person was concerned about the number of human drivers that drive with their dogs riding in a position that might interfere with their control over the vehicle. They are correct, it's not a good idea, even with small dogs.

Gravity is Not Load Security

No Load SecurityThree incidents this week prompt me to remind everyone about load security. Two boats have taken unexpected cruises along the pavement and a falling ladder caused a minor injury collision when the driver following along behind attempted to avoid the sudden obstacle in front of her. All of these incidents were cases of improper load security.

READING - Designing Streets for Kids

NACTO LogoDesigning Streets for Kids is a supplement to NACTO-GDCI’s Global Street Design Guide, which set a new global baseline for designing urban streets. This guide builds upon the approach of putting people first, with a particular focus on the specific needs of children and their caregivers as pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users in urban streets around the world.

Ten Questions and Ten Answers

e-mail iconIt's time to deal with all the questions in the DriveSmartBC inbox that have not prompted an article of their own. Here are 10 of them, one of which initially stumped me too. I guess that goes to show that no matter how long you have been a licensed driver, there is still something that you can learn!