BC to register quads, regulate use
November 10, 2009 by ShuNews
Filed under BC law, BC news, Environment, Freedom, Recreation, Safety, Travel
The BC government will require registration and licensing of off-road recreational vehicles and will regulate their safe and responsible use. (Photo by Александр Андрейко / Wikimedia Commons)
BC manages off-road vehicles.
Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts.
Rules for off-road vehicle registration and licensing, helmet use, youth safety and environmental measures will be implemented over the next two years under a new off-road vehicle (ORV) management framework, announced Tourism, Culture and the Arts Minister Kevin Krueger today.
Two or four winter tires?
October 22, 2009 by Tim Schewe
Filed under BC law, Feature stories, Safety, Travel
Behind the Wheel –
I began driving my own car in the mid-fifties and I always used winter tires on the rear only during the winter months. Based on about thirty years of experience, I feel that I am quite capable of managing winter driving with the traction arrangement I had for rear drive in the past. However, I am not interested in contravening any law or regulation. Is there a law that requires me to have winter tires on all 4 wheels of my new rear wheel drive only pickup?
Based on my experience as a collision analyst, I can tell you that any vehicle will steer more predictably if the traction at each wheel is the same. Whether you choose to use four all season tires or four winter tires is up to you, but operating with two all season tires on one end and two winter tires on the other is an invitation to problems. Mixing tire types will affect both steering and braking.
Cell calls and texting banned while driving
BCAA applauds new cellphone legislation; suggests drivers start to comply with the new rules now.
The British Columbia Automobile Association (BCAA) is applauding the provincial government in introducing legislation to restrict the use of hand-held cellphones and other portable electronic devices while driving, and asks drivers: “why not start now?”
The law, which comes into effect January 1, 2010, requires that:
Proper display of licence plates
October 14, 2009 by Tim Schewe
Filed under BC law, Feature stories, Freedom, Travel
Behind the Wheel –
I was wondering if it was the law in B.C. to display both license plates on a vehicle? I see a lot of vehicles with only the rear license plate.
The humble licence plate has but one job, positively identifying the vehicle it is attached to. Without license plates, how would we know who owned the vehicle? How would you complain about an erratic driver or report your stolen vehicle? Photo enforcement would be stymied and even the lowly parking ticket would have difficulty.
Unlicensed drivers and vehicle impounds
July 23, 2009 by Tim Schewe
Filed under BC law, Feature stories, Freedom, Travel
Behind the Wheel –
Taking your neighbour’s request at face value turned out to be an expensive lesson for Jessica. She had loaned her vehicle to a neighbour and somewhere along the journey the neighbour met up with the police. The neighbour was a vehicle impound candidate because they didn’t have a valid driver’s license and Jessica was now faced with making an application to the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles to attempt to have her vehicle returned to her before the end of the impoundment period.
The neighbour was well aware that they were unlicensed because vehicle impoundment does not occur until after the person is convicted of driving without a driver’s license and they don’t bother to renew.
Parallel parking and the impatient driver
July 2, 2009 by Tim Schewe
Filed under Feature stories, Safety, Travel
Behind the Wheel –
I’ve noticed recently that often drivers are impatient of people parallel parking and pass them on the left rather than waiting in the right hand lane for the driver to finish parking before moving forward. In the event of a collision who is at fault – the person parallel parking or the person trying to go around the parallel parking car?
This question turned out to be more involved when I corresponded with the person asking it and learned about what had prompted the query. She had found a place to parallel park, stopped in position to back in, signaled, made sure that the vehicle behind had stopped and began to back in. Like most of us, she concentrated on getting into the parking space properly and did not watch to see that the vehicle behind her remained stopped.
New law dictates reduced speed near emergency vehicles
Effective June 1, a new BC law requires slowing for emergency vehicles. (Photo: ShuNews)
On average, three emergency responders are killed every year in BC while they are attending emergency situations.
After 21 people died in seven years (12 at roadside), the BC government has instated a new rule governing traffic speed near emergency vehicles.
