Blame the Driver, Not the Highway

SoapboxAfter many horrific motor vehicle crashes in our province comes a call for highway improvements. For the most part, the call should be for driver improvements instead. Traveling past the site of one such recent incident in my neighbourhood it struck me that inappropriate speed, failing to maintain space margins, lack of lane discipline and poor communication needs to be improved before the highway does.

Q&A - Tire Pressure Management Systems

Q&A ImageI am purchasing a set of winter tires and rims for my truck. My truck is a 2007 ford ranger. It comes standard with TPMS system. I have read that according to DOT it is mandatory in new vehicles since 2007. However Transport Canada's answer seems to be less specific and refers to the individual provinces licensing for "regulations" regarding TPMS.

Q&A - Pass On Right, Failing to Yield to Left Turn

Q&A ImageI am tired of trying to make a left turn at an intersection and having the opposing traffic going around the other guy that is also trying to turn left. I can't seem to finish my turn till we run out of cars. I am talking about intersections without lights. I've asked the local sergeant but he's not sure what to do about it.

Seatbelt Exemption for Delivery Drivers

Q&A ImageQuestion: I have a question regarding the seatbelt exemption sometimes referred to as the "Milkman Exemption." My understanding is that it applies to drivers who make multiple vehicle stops and exits within a confined area (i.e. one street or a bay or boulevard) as they are not in general traffic and never get going very fast (exemption requires speeds of 40 km/h or lower).

How to Build a Highway

TranBC logoThe more that I learn about how to construct one of BC's highways, the more I see how complicated that job really is. One would think that you decide where to go, level off a pathway, build a few bridges, throw down some pavement, put up a few signs and we're good to go. I don't know if a person could find a better way to understate the task than my last sentence!

Q&A - Rude, Aggressive and Obnoxious

Q&A ImageWe live in a small town up north with the RCMP are well known to be rude, aggressive and ...obnoxious. My 25 year old son was teaching my 21 year old son how to drive a standard last night...my younger son stalled on the road and tried to get the car started and stalled a couple of more times - he was more nervous also because there was a police car behind him.

VIDEO - How to Trigger a Traffic Light on Your Bike

VideoThis short video from the City of Redmond, Washington explains how inductive loops embedded in the pavement control traffic lights in response to traffic being present. If you are a cyclist, it can be difficult to trigger the lights if you don't know how to take advantage of the loops. Watch the video and learn how to effectively "cycle" the signal to green!

CASE LAW - Taylor v Depew

BC Courts Coat of ArmsCan you spare $206,333.05? This is the amount that the defendant, Matthew Depew, has been required to pay Sean Taylor for damages suffered in an off road collision. Mr. Taylor was riding a motorcycle in poor repair and Mr. Depew was driving a dune buggy on a single lane dirt forest road serving a forest service camp site near Campbell River.