Stop Sign vs Stop Line - Welcome to the Driver's Stop Sign & Stop Line Guide The stop sign intersection is a common type of intersection in British Columbia. These intersections are often considered not busy enough or not large enough to be controlled by a traffic signal (traffic light). However, they can still be busy and potentially dangerous. What does a stop sign mean? The stop sign is a regulation sign, literally meaning "stop your vehicle." Regulation signs tell drivers about various driving laws and regulations. It is an offense to disregard them. If you don't follow the instructions on any regulatory sign, you may receive fines or penalties. Check out my article on Canada Road Signs to learn more about the different types of road signs found in…
What are the school zone hours in BC? School zone signs are in the shape of a house and are in effect 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM on school days unless otherwise posted, including posted summer school days. Are school zones in effect during summer in BC? Some school zones are in effect during summer in British Columbia. Those schools with summer school in session will have an obvious "summer school in session" sign attached to the school zone sign so that drivers don't need to be confused. Otherwise, school zones are not in effect during summer, winter, spring break, or other non-school days. Summer school in session sign Burnaby, British Columbia. What is the fine for speeding in a school zone in BC? Speeding in a school zone will…
No Parking & No Stopping Road Signs What's the difference between "no stopping" and "no parking" road signs? No Stopping Road Signs "No stopping" literally means, do not stop your vehicle. It's kind of like the opposite of a stop sign. In other words, "Keep it moving." If it helps to imagine a "Go" sign inside your mind, then go for it. These "no stopping" signs are usually found on roads where it's not a particularly safe spot to be stopping, such as on a bridge, near a hill or curve, or on the highway when driving through one of those "avalanche zones," for example. Of course, you might actually have to stop there if there's a good reason, like a traffic jam, construction, or an incident. No Parking Road…
Turning Corners Not Awesome? Not To Worry Question On Turning Corners: 'Not Wide Enough' Question: I recently failed my driving test, one of the things I did badly was turning corners. I was turning left at a 90-degree angle. The examiner wrote "your turns are not wide enough" so does that mean I turned too early? If so, how do I know when I should start turning my wheel and how much? Should I drive a little bit before I start my turns? Would love your advice. What Does 'Cutting Corners' Mean? Yes, if you are turning corners and your turns are 'not wide enough' it means that you possibly 'cut the corner' or did not move far enough forward into the intersection before starting to turn the wheel. So, your…
What does it mean to have the right-of-way? Whenever someone says "right-of-way" they are usually talking about some type of understanding that drivers have with regard to which road user is going to go first before another in a driving situation. In other words, who must yield to who whenever two or more road users would like to enter the same space at the same time. Someone needs to go first. Otherwise, two or more road users entering the same space at the same time is equal to a collision. For a related article, check out Right-of-way in the parking lot. No one really "has" the right-of-way - an attitude shift Nobody really “has the right-of-way.” The driving school where I learned how to become a driving instructor would have absolutely, positively…
What is the 4-Way Stop Intersection (North America)? The 4-way stop is a type of intersection where all drivers stop, and then take turns. These intersections aren't found worldwide. They're mostly found in North America in Canada and the U.S. If you are confused by them, you're not the only one; but don't worry. We will go through how this intersection is supposed to work, and some tips and tricks for dealing with them. Check out my 4-way stops playlist on YouTube. Four-Way Stop Rules Whoever stops first, should go first, Whoever stops second, goes second (and third, and so on). If you stop at the same time, yield to the right. And, if you stop at the same time, left-turning traffic should yield to straight-through and right-turning traffic. 4-Way…
Question on Caulfield Exit 4-way-stop There is an intersection in my neighborhood that causes a lot of confusion [Caulfield exit 4-way-stop in beautiful West Vancouver]. It is a 4-way stop (4-way sign under stop sign) but it has 2 pull-out lanes for right turns (each with another stop sign but no 4-way sign under them) as well as 2 left turn lanes. I would appreciate some clarification on this since I have young drivers that I would like to educate on the proper use of this intersection. If I am approaching the intersection and using one of the right turn lanes do I have to wait until the entire intersection is cleared before I get the right of way (I could be here all day since it’s a busy one)…
Class 7L ICBC L Driver Restrictions Welcome to ICBC L driver restrictions. A Learner is a new driver who has either never driven before, has driven a small amount, or has infrequently enough to be needing another Learner’s license. These are the most inexperienced drivers. Passing the knowledge test with ICBC, – which includes a road signs test – is required to ‘get the L.’ Check out my knowledge test blog for all the details. Related: How long does it take to learn how to drive? L Driver Restrictions Snapshot Supervisor age 25+ with a valid Class 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 license Supervisor must sit beside you in the front passenger seat Display the official L sign on the back of your vehicle Zero alcohol or drugs in your blood when…
Right-of-way in the parking lot in British Columbia Parking lots in British Columbia are not a joke; but only the second most common place where collisions happen, only after intersections. It's obviously important to understand right-of-way in the parking lot, how to drive safely in parking lots, and who should yield to who. In this article, we'll dive into the rules, both for drivers yielding to each other, and of course, pedestrians, as well. Let's take a look at the British Columbia laws and some common scenarios. Question from a reader Question : I am driving out of a parking lot. Several meters ahead of me, the back up lights on car in a parked space come on. Do I continue driving forward past the car, which is obviously in reverse,…
Question : I have a question about stopping behind transit buses as they are loading/unloading passengers at a bus stop. Are vehicles allowed to wait behind them until they start moving again? There's been a couple of rare instances where a driver of another transit bus approaching a bus stop has expressed anger towards the passenger vehicle drivers for stopping behind an already stopped bus. What I mean is: A bus stop was located just across from the intersection. A transit bus was stopped at the stop, to load/unload passengers. Behind the bus, there were two passenger vehicles stopped. Now, another transit bus has approached the bus stop from behind. I've seen the bus driver here express anger and frustration towards the drivers stopped in front of them (verbally and…
Where Is It Illegal to Park a Car? Some people might be wondering where it's illegal to park a vehicle in BC. After all, you can't just park a car anywhere. Although, wouldn't that be nice? Let's go through the rules for beautiful British Columbia (BC Motor Vehicle Act) and then we'll go through some various cities because, of course, each city may be slightly different than the next with their rules and regulations for parking and stopping vehicles. For a related article, check out Right-of-Way in the Parking Lot. Where is it Illegal to Park a Car in Beautiful British Columbia? These are the general province-wide (Motor Vehicle Act British Columbia) laws. Where the curb is painted yellow On the 'wrong' side of the road i.e. against traffic direction…
5 Way Stop Yep, the 5 way stop is a real thing. And to cut straight to the point, it works exactly like the 4-way stop sign intersection. It's exactly the same thing as an "all-way stop;" all-way simply means "everyone." These 5 way stop intersections are pretty rare in my experience, but they do pop up from time to time to seemingly make sure we are on our toes, so to speak. 5 Way Stop Intersection Rules Let's review the basic rules for 4-way stops since these are the exact same rules for the mysterious 5-way stop. The first thing to remember is that we must always yield the right of way to pedestrians. In terms of vehicles, we must yield to any vehicle that stopped first, before…
Question from a reader about the sometimes perplexing intersection of Main and Kingsway in beautiful Vancouver, Canada. Scenario: Going North on Main St, stop at light until green, and when safe, proceed to make a right turn onto Kingsway. Although this particular intersection is an awkward right turn, however there are no restrictions listed on intersection lights(except no left turn). Police had a hard time coming up with a violation ticket, and resorted to Section 165"(5) A person must not turn a vehicle at an intersection unless it is in the position on the highway required by this section." I have seen people turn here daily safely and within the rules. I wonder if anyone else has experienced this intersection detail. Is it just me, or does it look like…
These Tips from a Student Driver were Submitted by 'KK' - Thank you! I had my test today in Surrey. It was my first try but unfortunately I didn't make it. I did great on the things I was scared of messing up in but screwed up on the most obvious thing which ended up costing me the entire test because it was a "dangerous action" (which is considered an automatic fail). Tips from a student driver - I was at a stop sign waiting to turn left It was a very quiet area with lotssss of trees that were making it hard to see the on coming cars, especially from the right side. I was waiting to turn and my left side was clear of cars and I checked…
Welcome to the Parallel Parking Tutorial for New Drivers Parallel parking for some reason has a bad rep. But it can be nearly perfected with practice. There is no need to drive around the block 15 times looking for a 'pull through' or 'pull over' spot. You don't need to avoid parallel parking! Learning it is not that bad. You can totally learn how to parallel park. Experienced drivers just do it. When it comes time to teach someone else how we are often at a loss for words. What are we actually doing when we parallel park? Do we even know? Hopefully, these tips can give a rough guideline. Maybe they can't teach a new driver exactly what to do down to an exact science. https://twitter.com/Tbone7219/status/1449450610512781315 https://twitter.com/MagicPi2/status/1506207544435425283 How to…
Left On Red In British Columbia? Left turn red light. Wait, what? Turning left on a red light is a thing that is actually sometimes legal. But you really need to pay close attention to the road you are planning to turn onto. This will determine the legality. Most people wonder about right turns on red lights, and different places have different rules for these types of turns. In British Columbia, you may turn right on a red light if it's safe to do so and if you completely stop first. Oh and avoiding those pesky turning restriction signs helps too. If you think about why we are allowed to turn right on a red light, it may help to understand the rules about turning left. Basically, we are not…
Vehicle Break Down On Train Tracks, and a Train is Coming? Wouldn't that be your lucky day, a vehicle break down on train tracks. To be driving along, minding your business, driving over some simple train tracks. And then all of a sudden you find yourself stopped in the middle of the train tracks. And you look and see a train is coming. Your car just won't move; it's completely disabled for some reason. Time is running out. What to do? If you think this never happens, think again. Apparently, a train hits a vehicle or a person every 3 hours in the U.S. Canada isn't immune. Man arrested for DUI after car drives through field, gets stuck on train tracksDispatch: Car gets stuck on tracks, driver escapes just before…
If I ever go missing, look for me here Escape from the city to... Dempster Highway, Yukon. Hmm, 736 km long highway in the middle of no where with no gas stations till the end of the road? Better get some gas. Better bring some extra gas. A LOT of extra gas. The Dempster Highway is not a very inviting or forgiving type of road. I would recommend to bring at least four extra tires. We had 5 in total, and we needed 4 of them by the time we were done, although all 8 tires were 'marginal' to begin with. Sometimes you're 20-something and buy a $1,000 minivan with 250,000 km for a road trip into the middle of no where. These things happen. Once you're on the Dempster,…
Turning Left Question: Hello our office is in the 1300 block of the Alberni Highway on Vancouver Island. There have been two accidents within a few months of each other. One serious and the other not as bad but the car did end up rear ended in the ditch. People are trying to turn left into many of the businesses that line the highway and are coming to a complete stop. It is a two lane 70 km/h hwy that has many businesses on both sides of the hwy. The center line is two lines and the passing lines alternate every few hundred meters to either side of the road. My question is are you allowed to make a left in these situations? I assume no as it would cause…
Emerging from a lane, driveway, or parking lot Question : Hi, I am not sure if I understand this information regarding emerging from a lane, driveway, or parking lot. So I must stop always when crossing the sidewalk? Even when coming to a parking lot from a main road? It just does not feel right. Annonmymous No, you don't need to stop before turning into a parking lot if there are no pedestrians anywhere to be seen for miles. ICBC nor any person in their right mind would expect you to do this either. However, when exiting a parking lot/lane it is written in the motor vehicle act that vehicles must stop This is probably because when you turn into a parking lot you are turning right/left and you have somewhat…
This 'Phantom Lane' has been bothering me Okay, the thing is, maybe it's just me but there's a FAKE LANE on Canada Way at 10th and I just have to tell someone about it since it's not good to keep things inside. I've seen a lot of 'almost accidents' here, at 'the Triangle.' It seems like drivers thinking about turning right on a red light, beside the petrol station here, seems to think there is a magical 'right lane' for them to turn into. That is probably because, from their perspective, it kind of looks like there is. In fact, there is a very mysterious and mischievous triangular space acting like a right lane. But don't be fooled. This is just a FAKE LANE. Don't do it! Fake Lane I…
'Hidden' Stop Signs? All drivers - new drivers especially - should be aware that stop signs can "hide" behind trucks as well as overgrown bushes/shrubs. Keep your eyes constantly moving when driving and look for clues that there's an intersection. If you're not sure if you have a stop sign (or a pedestrian) or not, it is better to be safe than sorry; go slow enough to check it out. If you can see the back of another stop sign, then there is a 99% chance that you will be facing a stop sign too (my own personal calculation) Pay attention to the shapes of signs. Signs of this shape will never say anything else other than "STOP." It is illegal for vehicles…
Intersections with Bad Visibility - Stop Sign at Commercial Drive & East 14th Avenue Stop signs are everywhere, and while some of them have good visibility, many of them do not. We still need to deal with them as drivers. In this article, we'll dive into the process of how to safely turn right, left, or go straight when the visibility isn't as good as we would like, using Commercial Drive and East 14th Avenue in Vancouver as an example. For more info about stop signs in general, check out my guide: Stop Sign vs Stop Line Guide for Drivers. This intersection is also controlled by pedestrians via a flashing green light, but we're just going to ignore that whole thing for now. Intersections with Bad Visibility - Stop Sign…
Searching for driving practice areas? When you're trying to learn how to drive, location is crucial. If you don't find the appropriate location, bad things can happen, including too much stress, and just wasting time if you're trying to do something you're nowhere near ready to do. Trying to find driving practice areas can seem like a bit of a challenge. Over the years I've found several areas that I would recommend to people who are just learning how to drive. For those folks who would like a quiet area to practice controlling the vehicle without having to worry too much about other drivers trying to get somewhere, this article is for you. Let's dive into this. Burnaby - Burnaby Heights Google Maps to Burnaby Heights Burnaby Heights can be…
Welcome to Blind Spots in a Car (& Shoulder Checks) What are blind spots in a car? Blind spots are simply specific areas that you can not see when you are sitting in the driver's seat. You can't see this area in your mirrors or in the corner of your eye(s). The only way to see the blind spot is to shoulder-check. Another road user could be right beside your vehicle, and you wouldn't be able to see it at all. Obviously, this is potentially dangerous. Blind Spots in a Car While Driving Let's dig deeper. Let's take the following photo of a driver's point-of-view as an example. In the rear-view mirror, not much is happening. We can see a silver car in front, a black truck, a red Porsche,…
ICBC New Driver Restrictions Snapshot Class 7 "N" New Driver ICBC License Snapshot Drivers must have zero alcohol or drugs in their bodies while driving Drivers must clearly display the official ICBC "N" sign on the back of their vehicle No hand-held or hands-free electronic devices are permitted while driving One passenger only (immediate family exempt) unless with supervisor age 25+ with a valid Class 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 license No Electronic Devices Class 7 ICBC Electronic Device Regulations No hand-held cell phones or other electronic devices No hands-free cell phones or other electronic devices Do not touch, operate, hold, or adjust your phone Bluetooth with the wireless headset is not allowed Using a speakerphone that can be operated with one touch or voice commands is not allowed Do…
Turn Signals When Reversing Your Vehicle Are drivers supposed to signal when backing up? If so, which way? Even as we use turn signals while driving forward, we tend to confuse each other. This is clearly evident if you've ever driven anywhere. Question: When Backing Up, Which Signal Should I Use? When you back up, simply use the same kind of signals that you would if you were driving forward. In other words: Backing straight? Don't signal Backing to the right? Signal right Backing to the left? Signal left Do You Have To Use Your Blinker When Backing Out? Do you need to signal when pulling out of a parking space? You should use your turn signal before reversing out of a parking spot unless you 100% know for certain…
ICBC Road Test Class 7 - What Is It? The ICBC Class 7 test marks the leap from the 'L' (7L) phase to the 'N' (7N) stage, unlocking solo adventures on the open road along with different restrictions on the license. Class 5 Road Test ICBC - What Is It? The Class 5 license means you can say goodbye to the annoying restrictions of the "N" stage. Plus, if you ever get a ticket, for example, the punishments aren't as harsh. How Long Are the ICBC Road Tests? ICBC Class 7 Road Test They say the Class 7 test takes 45 minutes, but that includes all the time in the end for debriefing, going inside to do paperwork, etc. Usually, the actual driving time is about 30 minutes ICBC Class…
STOP SIGN3-WAY TAB4-WAY TABYIELDMAX SPEED AHEADMAX SPEEDMAX SPEED UNLESS POSTEDSPEED LIMIT ENDSSLOWER TRAFFIC KEEP RIGHTONE WAY DO NOT ENTERTWO WAY TRAFFICROAD CLOSEDLOCAL TRAFFIC ONLYSLOW VEHICLES PROHIBITEDKEEP RIGHTNO RIGHT TURNNO U-TURNDO NOT PASSSTOP LINE INDICATORTURN LEFT TURN LEFT OR RIGHT NO TURNS PASSING PERMITTEDTHIS LANE LEFT OR RIGHT THIS LANE THRU THIS LANE LEFTTHIS LANE THRU OR RIGHTTHIS LANE LEFT, THRU OR RIGHTTWO LANES LEFT LEFT LANE THRU, RIGHT LANE RIGHTLEFT LANE LEFT, RIGHT LANE LEFT OR THRUTWO-WAY LEFT TURN LANE BEGINSTWO-WAY LEFT TURN LANE ENDSTWO-WAY LEFT TURN LANENO RIGHT TURN ON RED SIGNAL NO TRUCKSTRUCK ROUTENO BICYCLES RESERVED LANENO STOPPINGEMERGENCY PARKING ONLYHANDICAPPED PARKING ONLYNO STOPPING AVALANCHE AREACURVE WARNINGCURVE WARNINGREVERSE CURVE SWITCHBACK WINDING ROADCONCEALED CROSSROAD AHEADCONCEALED SIDE ROAD AHEAD"T" INTERSECTION AHEAD"Y" INTERSECTION AHEADRAILWAY CROSSING AHEADRAILWAY CROSSING AHEADRAILWAY CROSSING SIDE ROAD AHEADRAILWAY…
Wondering about Speed Limits in BC? Welcome to the article all about residential streets, and speed limits in British Columbia, Canada. Speed Limit Map BC Did you know you might be able to find a speed limit map on your mobile device? How to Enable Speed Limit Map on Android Open the Google Maps app and tap on your profile icon in the upper right corner, tap on Settings, Tap the toggle switch next to Speed limits, Tap on Navigation settings. What is the speed limit if not posted in BC? Unless otherwise posted, the speed limit inside a municipality is 50km an hour and outside is 80km an hour. Around schools and playgrounds, it's 30km an hour during posted hours. Police can ticket you if they believe you were driving…
Turning Left Left turns are a necessary evil when driving a car. They can seem dangerous. They can seem complicated and nerve-wracking. But, they don't have to be. There are ways to make sure your left turns are safe, too. This article will dive deep into best practices, details, tidbits, practical, actionable steps you can take, and safety tips for how to turn left while driving at different kinds of intersections. Who has the right of way when turning left on a solid green light? Technically speaking, no one "has the right of way" until another road user has actually yielded. Thinking "I have the right of way," is a great way to get into a collision. Having said that, if it's just a regular ole green light intersection, then…
How Many Mistakes Are Allowed on Road Test ICBC? Navigating the road test can be a bit like solving a puzzle – there's no fixed number of mistakes that spell failure anymore, thanks to changes by ICBC. Instead, it's all about the route you take. There are different routes, some with more right turns than others. The number of mistakes you're allowed on those right turns can vary too. Imagine this scenario: you're cruising along, making a right turn, and oops, you forget to do that all-important right shoulder check. Then, it happens again. And again. The examiner starts to notice a pattern, a glitch in the matrix that needs fixing. Now, you might think that missing a couple of right shoulder checks doesn't sound like a big deal –…
Welcome to British Columbia (Canada) Road Lines & Pavement Markings Understanding road lines matters; not only to be able to pass pesky tests to get your driver's license and resultant freedom, but also to, you know, stay out of trouble while you are driving, and get from A to B in one piece. In this guide, we'll dive into the road line meanings from a beautiful British Columbia (Canadian) perspective. For similar articles, check out my epic article about the Road Signs of Canada or How to Drive Defensively and Prevent Collisions. Road Lines Introduction Yellow road lines are used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions White lines are used to separate traffic moving in the same direction Yellow Road Lines Separate Traffic Moving in Opposite Directions Yellow lines…
How long does it take to learn to drive? It's a process It takes most people about 60 hours of practical driving time behind the wheel to learn how to drive if they've never driven a car ever before. This is coming from my experience as a driving instructor for about 10 years in beautiful North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. How long does it take to learn to drive? In this article, I'll get into some more detail and explain why it takes a while to learn this important life skill. For a related article, check out: Driving a Car for the First Time? Practical Tips. Learning to drive is like building a house One thing I realized after teaching driving lessons for almost a decade was that learning how…
Welcome to Hazards While Driving - ICBC Road Test Preparation Is this one of the hazards while driving? What is this hazard perception thing about? "Hazard perception" is an official thing that people get marked on when they go for the ICBC road test. Depending on the road test (class 5 or 7), drivers will do this either when driving or when stopped. It's a kind of simple test to ensure that a driver is thinking and aware of potential hazards while driving that may be lurking around their vehicle. Preparing for your ICBC road test? Be sure to check out my epic article: ICBC Road Test Tips For Classes 5 & 7 [Instructor Gets Deep]. Hazard Perception on the ICBC Road Rest Hazard Perception Question from Taylor: "Apart from the…
How To Turn Right at Green Lights - Beautiful British Columbia, Canada Introduction... Knowing how to turn right at green lights safely is another one of those important skills that learners, new drivers, and all drivers must practice to get really good at. And while turning right at green lights doesn't seem as dangerous as turning left at an intersection, it's somehow more difficult and complicated to teach to a new driver (and to learn). That is why I would always teach left turns at traffic lights first. Also, learners would know how to turn left and could avoid terrifying their parents too much when they went to practice driving. BC Motor Vehicle Act - Turning At Intersections, Green Lights Turning at intersections 165 (1)If the driver of a vehicle intends…
ICBC Road Test Results Sheet for Class 5/6/7/8 The ICBC road test results sheet can look confusing. This might be because demerit points are not used for these particular road tests anymore. It's all about understanding ICBC's "Global Skills" and marking system. ICBC's Global Skills Drivers are being tested on ICBC's "global skills." These are broken down into: Observation Space Margins Speed Steering Communication Within each of these global skills, there is a list of items. Think of this as a list of things you could do wrong (or right). In other words, the examiner will only write down something on this paper if you do something wrong, miss something, or make an error. So, if your paper has no marks, I think it's safe to say you passed your…
Reporting Reckless Drivers In the picturesque province of British Columbia, where lush forests meet breathtaking mountain ranges and stunning coastlines, the roads wind through some of the most spectacular scenery in Canada. But amid this natural beauty, a concerning issue lurks – dangerous drivers who pose a serious threat to road safety. The need to address reckless behavior on our highways and byways has never been more critical. From the bustling streets of Vancouver to the remote stretches of the Trans-Canada Highway, we all share the responsibility of ensuring safe travels for ourselves and our fellow citizens. In this article, we delve deep into the issue of reporting dangerous drivers in British Columbia, exploring why it matters, how it can make a difference, and what actions you can take to…
Winter Driving Safety Tips: Navigating Canadian Winters with Confidence Introduction Canadian winters are notorious for their harsh conditions, with snow, ice, and freezing temperatures making driving a challenging task. As the snow blankets the roads and ice forms on the surfaces, it's crucial for drivers to adapt and stay safe on the roads. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore essential winter driving safety tips specifically tailored for the unique challenges presented by Canadian winters. By following these guidelines, you can confidently navigate the icy roads and ensure your safety, as well as the safety of others, during the winter months. 1. Prepare Your Vehicle Before winter arrives, it's essential to prepare your vehicle for the harsh conditions: Winter Tires: Invest in a set of winter tires designed to provide…
