Driving related decisions by the courts.
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.
The case of Topolewski v Blyschak arises from a collision between a commercial truck and a Honda Civic at the intersection of Mary Street and Hodgins Avenue in Chiliwack. Mr. Topolewski had driven his commercial truck northbound on Mary Street intending to make a right turn onto Hodgins Avenue.
The case of Heffernan v Chahal involves a collision following a right turn onto 152 Street from 82 Avenue in Surrey. Richard Heffernan stopped at the red light to turn right onto 152 Street. When the light for traffic on 82 Avenue turned yellow, he made the turn.
Alexander Holliday was issued a traffic ticket for not having a valid driver's licence and failing to display a new driver sign. The ticketed amounts would be $276 and $109 respectively along with 3 penalty points for the no driver's licence infraction. Mr. Holliday disputed the ticket.
On May 3, 2023 Barry Johnson entered the intersection of West Hastings and Bute Streets in Vancouver. He was issued a traffic ticket for failing to stop at the yellow light. That ticket showed the location of Hastings and Bute Streets which Mr. Johnson told the justice did not exist at his dispute.
The case of R v Robinson involves a traffic ticket for disobeying a traffic control device. Kevin Robinson was issued the ticket for disobeying a speed sign in Abbotsford instead of a ticket for speeding against highway sign which was more expensive.
The case of Yu v Dynamic Air Solutions involves a collision between a motorcycle and the open driver's door of a pickup truck on Southwest Marine Drive in Vancouver. The key liability issue is whether motorcyclists should be allowed to proceed down lanes with parked vehicles so long as there is sufficient room to pass.
The case of Danks v Middelveen arises from a three vehicle collision at the intersection of the Lougheed Highway and Harris Road in Pitt Meadows. A point of interest in the case involves the stopping distance behind other vehicles when everyone is waiting for the traffic lights to change.
The case of R v Zhang involves the dispute of a traffic ticket for speeding and not displaying a new driver sign. Mr. Zhang pled guilty to disobeying a traffic control device instead of the speeding offence. He did not know that the disobeying a traffic control device conviction included penalty points.