Today we are answering another question. It's about changing lanes in an intersection. And why it's a bad idea. 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]. Question: Is changing lanes in an intersection illegal in beautiful British Columbia? There is no law that says you can't lane change inside an intersection This is a common question among drivers. There is no law that says you can't lane change inside an intersection. But, this doesn't mean it's a good idea. Changing lanes in - or near - an intersection is potentially dangerous. It should generally be avoided as a matter of good habit. And it's part of being a defensive driver. Check out…
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…
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…
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…
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 ICBC Road Test Tips - The Mini Version Get your vehicle ready - No red dashboard lights- No frayed seat belts, etc. Avoid automatic fails a. Anything unsafeb. Anything illegal Stop completely Stop completely at stop signs & for a right turn onred light Don't speed Do not speed (51 km/hr in a 50 km/hr zone isspeeding)Don’t keep up with speeding traffic flow onthe freeway or on any road Shoulder checks a. Before pulling in/out of traffic, before lanechange/merge, before turns at intersections,before opening your door Don't stop for no reason Use your parking brake Use your parking brake every time you “park”a. After hill parking, parallel & other parkingb. After backing up in a straight linec. When you’re doing your hazard perceptionwhile stopped Know how to park…
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,…
Question : This is a (possibly stupid) question about indicating, but I cannot find a definitive answer. It's about passing a left turning vehicle. To indicate or not to indicate? At a lot of intersections, a single lane become two or more lanes, so passing the left turning car on the right would require a lane change. I would recommend always indicating for this. However, on some less busy roads it remains a single lane. But, it's still wide enough to still have room to pass on the right. For example, when there is a stopped car waiting to make a left turn in front of you. I indicate to the right to let the driver behind know that I'm about to veer right to pass the left turner. Do…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
A Complaint About Marine Drive and Kerr Street Marine Drive and Kerr Street is an interesting intersection. It's not the safest intersection I've ever seen. When you turn left there, it can somehow seem to be extra dangerous. Perhaps it's the hill, blocking everyone's vision. Or it just has a bad vibe. Either way, it's good to be extra careful when turning left at this intersection. For my full guide to intersections, check it out: Intersections in British Columbia, Drivers Guide or jump to How to Turn Left at an Intersection Safely. Submitted by a reader South Bound on Kerr StreetTraffic light at SE Marine DriveTurning LEFT at Kerr and SE Marine, Only two cars get through at rush hour.This short span of time has occurred within the last month.Traffic…
What is the Graduated Licensing Program GLP? ICBC's Graduated Licensing Program (GLP) was introduced in British Columbia in 1998. It's a phased approach to learning. It allows learner drivers to adjust to driving in a safe, more gradual way, so they're better prepared for driving in the real world, and takes about three years from start to finish, including two road tests and one knowledge test. This program is for learners to work towards getting their full driver's license. It is a required program for any new/learner driver; it's not optional. Drivers who take an approved driver education GLP course with a driving school can receive benefits, such as high school credits and time off (shortening of the time in the GLP). The aim is for learners to ease into…
Is U-Turn Allowed in BC? U-turns are forbidden while driving in British Columbia if they interfere with other traffic, if they're on a curve or hill, if they're at an intersection controlled by a traffic control signal, and anywhere in a business district unless the turn is made at an intersection without traffic lights. Let's dive into the details a bit more. British Columbia Motor Vehicle Act In the British Columbia Motor Vehicle Act (the law in BC) section 168 discusses U-turns: 168 Except as provided by the bylaws of a municipality or the laws of a treaty first nation, the Nisg̱a'a Nation or a Nisg̱a'a Village, a driver must not turn a vehicle so as to proceed in the opposite direction (a) unless the driver can do so without interfering…
This post may contain affiliate links. How to Avoid Crashes & What Is Defensive Driving - A Definition What is defensive driving? And how to avoid crashes? Defensive driving is using actionable driving strategies to eliminate or minimize risk - and help avoid crashes - by actively anticipating hazards on the road. How to Avoid Crashes & What Is Defensive Driving - A DefinitionWhat Is Defensive Driving - Active Vs Passive DriversDrivers are somewhat predictable. For example: Keep Your DistanceTiming Eyes & Eye Contact for Defensive Driving Look At Drivers, Not Just CarsWhat Is Defensive Driving - Look For Eye ContactLet Other Road Users Know You ExistAvoid Driving In a 'Pack' Keep Track Of Surroundings At All TimesKeeping An Escape RouteAlways Assume That Drivers Want to Lane Change It's what…
I was kind of hoping that work wouldn’t call me in this morning, but at 6:45 am, they called and gave me the gift of a 10-hour long shift, and the first five hours actually went okay. (I was working casually at the time, which means you can still work full-time hours, but each day they will call on short notice and offer you a shift, and you never know where you'll be going or who you'll be meeting. Every day is guaranteed to be 100% different.) I had picked up a lady - let’s call her Rosemary - from a church. She was on her way home. I had to stop and pick up another gentleman called Rain. He was going to a senior's center to play cards. When…
Q: I'm a New Driver, and getting my license in November. I got a speeding ticket in November and got put on probation. Now I just got another ticket in July, so did I automatically just get my license suspended or terminated? And if I dispute the ticket, does that pause anything? It's not good, that is for sure. According to these government guidelines, since this is a second infraction within 2 years, it looks like you're in for a 2-6 month prohibition. New Driver Intervention chart What is more to the point is whether the scheduled road test is more than thirty days after the date of the offense (the illegal turn), because it is my understanding that if a ticket is not disputed, then after thirty days the…
There may come a time in your life when you realize that simply driving to work or around town is no longer thrilling. Or perhaps you're somebody that actively enjoys nature (fishing, hiking, hunting, or natural hot springs), and really values being able to "get away from it all" on another level. This is when you might encounter a logging road in beautiful British Columbia. These logging roads are also known as: Resource RoadsForest Service Roads Mineral Exploration Roads What Are These Roads, Exactly? These types of roads in beautiful British Columbia provide access to remote areas. They are not built to the same standards as highways. These types of roads were created for industrial purposes, such as for logging, oil & gas, agriculture, mining. However, they are often used…
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…
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…
Traffic Signal Anticipation - Fresh Green Light When we talk about traffic signal anticipation, we are talking about the traffic lights changing. More specifically when they may be changing from green to yellow. Are you driving towards a fresh green light, or is it stale? Is it going to go yellow? Then what? When you're driving towards an intersection, this is one of the things you need to think about. It's good to never be surprised by a light changing to yellow. It's better to get ready, or to anticipate it. This is so that you won't get into trouble. Types of trouble could include being rear-ended if you suddenly slam on the brakes for a yellow light, or having a problem with an opposing left-turning vehicle. What Is a…
what to do after a car accident Sometimes, despite all of your defensive driving techniques, a crash still happens. First thing, don't panic. Follow these tips for what to do after a car accident. And know that you aren't the only one. 1. What To Do After A Car Accident - Stop and Do not leave the scene Firstly, this may sound obvious but be sure to stop and stay there. Never leave the scene of an accident. In most places this is an offence. If the other car(s) or drivers leave, try to record the license plate number so authorities can locate them. 2. What To Do After A Car Accident - Check Your Surroundings And Stay Calm Check to make sure no one is injured or hurt. Turn…
Traffic Light Visibility Issues Trucks, buses, and other large vehicles present us with reduced visibility If you've been driving for a while, or if you are just beginning, you may have noticed this perceived 'phenomenon.' Traffic light visibility seems sometimes nonexistent. You know there's an intersection, but where is the traffic light? What color is it? This can be a little unnerving when driving at speed. I've heard about this before from many drivers over my years of teaching. Unfortunately I've also heard of people driving straight though red lights following a truck / bus for this very reason. The bus went through the intersection, so the light must be green, right? Not necessarily. Plus, this is not the way to drive, actions based on assumptions. Traffic Light Visibility: I…
