Collisions with Wildlife in British Columbia No one wants a collision with wildlife, but sometimes, it happens, especially in beautiful British Columbia where we have many highways that may have many different animals lurking around the edges or right in the middle of the roads. While driving in beautiful British Columbia, you might encounter: Bears Deer Moose Cattle Wild Horses Bison Mountain Goats Bighorn Sheep Ram (Not the Dodge variety) Elk Caribou Smaller animals Watch for Wildlife Road Signs CARIBOU ELK RAM MOUNTAIN GOATS/BIGHORN SHEEP BISON WILD HORSES CATTLE MOOSE DEER BEAR DEER What happens if you hit a deer in BC? If you hit a deer or another wild animal in British Columbia, or if you see a dead animal on the road, it's best to call the local…
Turning At Intersections With Pedestrians In The Crosswalk Question about waiting for pedestrians: When a pedestrian is crossing, do you have to wait for them to cross all the way to the other side before you proceed? Great question. It seems to me that different people have different opinions about this subject. There seems to be no solid answer from the motor vehicle act. So...I will share what I think, and how I taught students in driving lessons. It's good to be efficient, but not at the expense of safety Pedestrians are the most vulnerable road users. When a car and a pedestrian fight, the pedestrian never wins. Cars can be replaced, but people can't It's good to remember that pedestrian crossing isn't just some inconvenience. It's someone's wife, husband,…
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…
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…
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…
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)…
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,…
Welcome to Steering Techniques By Steering Techniques I mean a few different things. I'm talking about the placement of your hands on the steering wheel while you are driving, especially while turning the steering wheel for corners and while parking. But also, how you hold the steering wheel when you are simply driving down the road in a straight line. This all matters. Most people are worried about how to pass the road test, but it's important to realize that the road test is only going to be 30 minutes give or take out of your entire life. You'll be driving for a lot longer than that in real life, and it's important to understand that certain steering techniques can seriously hurt you if you had a collision one day.…
Wondering if you should pull into the intersection for left turns? Should I pull into the intersection? This is a common question, and it's a great question. I'm going to answer this from my British Columbia, Canadian perspective. Other places might do things differently. If you're turning left on a green light, then yes, generally speaking, you should pull into the intersection when you're yielding to oncoming traffic and/or pedestrians. The only exception would be if there were no available spaces to turn into. This happens sometimes when the traffic is backed up on the other road. Or, sometimes there are issues on the road you're about to turn into (a broken down car, construction, etc.) Why pull into the intersection? The reason you should pull into the intersection is it…
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…
How ICBC Claims Work Introduction Wondering how ICBC claims work? ICBC collision claims are relevant if you have been involved in a crash with another vehicle, if you've experienced a hit-and-run, or if you've hit an object that caused damage to your vehicle. In this epic article, we will discuss collision as well as comprehensive claims. ICBC collision coverage ICBC Collision coverage is an optional coverage that is available. If you purchased this, then most (or all) of your vehicle's repair costs are covered when you have a collision. If you're responsible for a crash and cause damage to someone else's vehicle, their ICBC Basic insurance will cover the repairs to their vehicle. You can also get collision and comprehensive insurance from alternative sources. How ICBC Claims Work - Steps in…
Scan Intersections - When the light goes green Scanning intersections basically means that a driver does an intentional scan of the entire intersection before driving through it, from left to right, whether you have a green light or a green arrow. They actively look as far as they can to the left, center, right, and then left again before continuing to drive. The most dangerous time at an intersection is often right when the lights are changing; to yellow, red, and then green. This is the most likely time that a driver will be doing something they shouldn't, such as speeding up instead of slowing down when the light goes yellow. Read more about yellow lights on our blog. This left-to-right scan is literally a life-saving skill that drivers can…
Tips for Co-pilots & Parents of Learner Drivers I'm not going to pretend that being a co-pilot for a teen, new driver, or any learner driver is not potentially stressful, because it certainly can be. In fact, some family members flat-out refuse to drive with a learner. And I get it. I'd be lying if I said I didn't see my life flash before my eyes a few times here and there (read: all day every day lol) while being a driving instructor. In this article, I'm going to discuss some tips, tricks, and ideas for parents and co-pilots to reduce stress and be able to practice driving with their learners more comfortably. Take your time learning how to drive Learning how to drive is a process that doesn't happen…
Welcome to Road Test Fail Tales Did you or someone you know fail a road test? I failed my first road test, too, so don't think you're the only one. Approximately 50% of people who go for the road test to get their "N," fail it. Of course, it's better if you can just pass. That's why I've collected these true stories from over the years in hopes that it can help others prepare for a road test. We're going to dive in deep here and get into the nitty-gritty details. Thanks to all the folks who sent in their story so that it may be able to help others. And if it's the inspiration you're craving more, check out this article of a road test experience from a driver…
Tips for all drivers going for their road test There's nothing like hearing from a real student driver's road test experience and tips. It just might help you prepare for your own road test. 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]. Student driver: Hello everyone! So I took my road test yesterday in Burnaby but unfortunately I didn't make it. The main reason was that I missed a playground and I went 46 km in a 30 km zone. Also, I didn't do a full 360 check when I did my straight reverse exercise. For anyone taking their road test for the first time this summer, especially in Burnaby, here are some…
BC and Alberta Driving Rules Check out some of the differences between BC and Alberta driving rules before you go Non-Alberta license for tourists and visitorsA person visiting Alberta who is authorized to drive a motor vehicle of a particular class or type under a valid licence or permit issued outside Alberta is not required to hold a current and valid operator’s licence if the person drives the same type or class of motor vehicle while visiting in Alberta. You can drive in Alberta with your BC license; just follow all of your restrictions BC and Alberta Driving Rules - Turning Right on Red Light BC and Alberta have the same rules regarding the right turn on the red light thing. As usual, these turns are optional, and permitted,…
What Does a Yield Sign Mean? Facing a yield sign simply means to "give the right of way," or let another road user go before you when there may be a potential conflict. Sometimes, you may have to stop to let the other road user(s) go first Other times, you may have to stop because you don't have any visibility and can't yet see if there's another road user to yield to And other times, you may not have to slow down because there is clear visibility and no one to yield to. In that case, you definitely don't need to stop before proceeding. Do You Have to Stop at the Yield Sign? No, you do not necessarily need to stop at a yield sign. Yield means to give the…
Welcome to How to Lane Change If you're wondering how to lane change, you're not alone. Lane changing can be quite a difficult thing for a beginner driver to get good at. A lot of beginners tend to slow down to think about things when they're planning a lane change. Of course, this doesn't work. Let's get into some helpful pointers on how to safely lane change for new and experienced drivers alike. 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]. Why do drivers need to learn how to lane change? Mostly because we are not supposed to turn right from the left lane, or turn left from the right lane How To…
Yellow Light - There seems to be a lot of confusion about this Ah the yellow light. Traffic light, that is. Everyone knows about the green light and the red light, I think. But it seems, over time, people forget about the true meaning of the beautiful amber traffic light. Especially when you simply observe many drivers, who seem to think this means 'speed up and race through the intersection, never to be seen again.' Um, no. Let's talk about this because it's kinda important. Legally, yellow means, "Stop, unless you can not safely stop in time." What Does The Yellow Mean? If you are just driving along and your light goes yellow, it means Stop; unless you can not safely stop in time. You can read about it here,…
Welcome to Intersections in British Columbia Welcome to our Intersections in British Columbia guide. This guide is intended for drivers and other road users to help better understand different types of intersections and how to navigate them safely. What are intersections in British Columbia? Intersections in British Columbia are the most common places where collisions occur; places where a road meets with another road. These are places where a number of different road users often cross paths, and they can get very busy. There is often a lot going on at intersections, so it’s important to always pay attention. Other drivers, cyclists, pedestrians, and other types of road users might be in a hurry and might want to move into the same space at the same time as you (which…
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,…
Welcome to How ICBC Points Work In short, how ICBC points work by adding extra fees onto a driver's record after driving offenses or crashes. These can add up to terribly large amounts of money on your driving record if you are found not to be behaving. For a related article, check out British Columbia Driver's License & Vehicle Guide. Four points will cost $252 50 points will cost $34,560... (not even kidding) ICBC points are not cheap What Are ICBC Points? At first, "points" may almost sound like a good thing. But they're definitely not. ICBC points are given to drivers who basically get into some kind of trouble with ICBC. ICBC points = extra ICBC bills. In other words, paying ICBC even more money than you already are.…
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…
Uncommon Intersections Vancouver is a beautiful city. But it leaves us with a slight predicament when intersections are much larger than normal due to being divided by a boulevard. For example, King Edward and MacDonald. Many drivers get confused here and with good reason, and it just happens to be situated beside one of the ICBC road testing locations. [ICBC Road Test Class 5 vs 7: Prepare & Conquer]. First of all, review some basic principles of turning left. Entering The Intersection at King Edward And MacDonald When turning left, it's important to enter the intersection and line up your vehicle with where you are about to turn. This sets you up to have a short, easy, and efficient turn. And therefore, a safer one. For complete details on how…
Are you looking for an ICBC Claim Centre? Find a location and contact information right here. ICBC Claim Centre Burnaby 4399 Wayburne Drive, V5G3X7, (604) 438-1431, Map ICBC Claim Centre Coquitlam 100 Blue Mountain Street, V3K1A2, (604) 525-0511 Map575 Hartley Avenue, V3K6Z7, (604) 777-4500 Map ICBC Claim Centre New Westminster 1320 Third Avenue, V3M5T4, (604) 522-3552 Map ICBC Claim Centre Surrey 10262 - 152A Street (Guildford) V3R6T8, (604) 584-3211 Map13665 68 Avenue (Newton) V3W0Y6, (604) 597-7600 Map ICBC Claim Centre Vancouver 999 Kingsway, V5V4Z7, (604) 872-3622 Map456 West 5th Avenue, V5Y3Z3, (604) 871-2300 Map ICBC Claim Centre North Vancouver 255 Lloyd Avenue, V7P3G5, (604) 986-6141 Map Richmond 7200 Elmbridge Way, V6X2Y1,(604) 273-9242 Map Maple Ridge 22811 Dewdney Trunk Road, V2X9J7, (604) 463-3999 Map Langley 6000 Production Way, V3A6L5, (604) 530-7111…
Roundabouts and traffic circles are designed to keep traffic moving and improve safety at intersections Technically, a roundabout is a traffic circle with more than one lane, but these terms seem to be used interchangeably On approach, reduce your speed to about 20 km/hr in case you need to yield to other vehicles and for good controlLook for signs and pedestrians and be prepared.You must yield to any traffic already in the roundabout. This means you will yield to your immediate left. All vehicles must enter to the right and use the roundabout in a counter-clockwise direction. You can enter the roundabout when there is a safe gap in the traffic and you feel it is safe. Once you are inside the roundabout, vehicles approaching are supposed to yield to…
Two point turns: one of the many ways of turning around if you find yourself going in the wrong direction Eliminate Unnecessary Backing Whenever reversing, try to eliminate any extra backing up. Reversing is generally not as safe as going forwards due to the reduced visibility & large blind zone behind a vehicle that could hide small objects, children, pets, etc. Additionally, you may only legally reverse when it is safe, so in the case of any collision you would likely be found at fault. Using a Driveway or Lane If using a driveway/lane on your left, pull forward into it and then reverse out so that you will just be reversing into half of the road (only one lane of traffic and not both), make sure you stay to…
Wondering how to reverse a car? Reversing or backing up a car can be so confusing, especially for new drivers. Don't worry if it's your first time driving backwards - or forwards - and you are feeling lost wondering how to back up a car. It just takes a little bit of practice. And we have lots of info to help you make sense of this whole thing, including: How to properly start the reversing process Reversing safety protocol and tips Where to look when reversing How to do the 360 checks and when Reversing exercises to improve the skill Where it's illegal to reverse a car How to Reverse a Car Shift Into Reverse First Of course, when you're about to reverse park, you would normally check your mirrors and…
Bare Feet & Flip Flops In Summertime Is it illegal to drive in flip flops? What about bare feet? It turns out that driving in flip flops or bare feet is not illegal in most places. However, driving is serious business and driving in flip flops has great potential for disaster. Driving in bare feet or flip flops may lead you needing to read about what to do after a car crash. They can slip off in an instant - and in that instant someone could be killed. Sorry for being dramatic, but it's true. In addition, it's good to know that you could still be charged with careless driving if your footwear decision causes you to drive erratically. It's recommended to drive in proper driving shoes, or keep some…
Life in the fast lane Fast lane, what?! It's a real thing. I couldn't help but notice in the news recently, Vancouver Police welcome crackdown on left-lane bandits. Bandits? ban·ditnounplural noun: banditsa robber or outlaw belonging to a gang and typically stealing left lanes from other people and operating in an isolated or lawless area. Maybe this is a good time to review some recommended and regulatory lane usage practices. The interesting thing to me is that people seem to be able to go through the process of obtaining their drivers' license in BC, pass a knowledge test and an on-road driving test, and still be unaware of this basic driving principle; much to the dismay of their fellow motorists. I am not convinced that drivers do this on purpose, waking up in the morning with…
Roundabout Signals: Intro Are you wondering about roundabout signals when driving? Roundabouts are designed to keep traffic moving and improve safety at intersections. How does it improve safety? Well, first of all, drivers are forced to slow down before the circle. This alone improves safety because the slower you crash, the less it hurts. Secondly, it's rather impossible to have a 'T-bone' collision in a roundabout. This is one of the worst types of collisions. Technically a roundabout is a traffic circle with more than one lane. Although I hear a lot of people referring them to 'circle things' :lol: roundabout signals: On Approach to the roundabout On approach, reduce your speed to about 20 km/hr in case you need to yield to other vehicles and for good control. Look…
Questions about 4-Way- Stops If 2 vehicles are facing each other and have stopped at the same time, can they go together as they are not bothering anybody? Here's what the ICBC manual says about 4-way stops: four-way stops — when there are stop signs at all corners: • The first vehicle to arrive at the intersection and come to a complete stop should go first. • If two vehicles arrive at the same time, the one on the right should go first. • If two vehicles are facing each other and have arrived at the intersection at about the same time, the one making a left turn should yield to the one going straight through. Ok this doesn't help answer our question at all, but there it is anyway. (Hence, this website?) In my…
