Behind the Wheel
Focus is an important skill when driving
We take many of our driving cues from what is happening around us when we are in traffic. If we are paying attention and watching for the correct cues all goes...
Cycling 'crossrides' explained
The City of Victoria has rebuilt the intersection of Fernwood Road and Haultain Street to include centre islands, “crossrides,”...
Think about getting home, not just how to get to a party, when you will be drinking
I spoke to a woman this week who was upset at the way the police handled the clearing of an out-of-control party at a residence. Impaired driving was the...
B.C.'s Slow Down Move Over law
B.C.'s Slow Down Move Over law came into effect more than two decades ago. When an official vehicle is stopped at the side of the highway and displaying...
Hydrophobic windshield treatments can help you see better while driving at night
If you are like me, the worst time drive is at night in the pouring rain. It's like driving into a wet sack of coal. When another vehicle approaches, the...
Knowing when it's time to give up your driver's licence
Advanced driving directives are to seniors as parent-teen driving contracts are to youth. Both are aimed at keeping the driver out of trouble through an...
Military police have have power over civilians on military bases
What powers do the military police have to enforce traffic laws? Are they able to write traffic tickets to the public like the regular police do? Every once in...
How to choose the right driving school
Are you a new driver looking for formal training, an older driver facing an Enhanced Road Assessment or simply one of those rare people who wish to improve...
Way's to relieve your stress behind the wheel without road rage
Question: What do we do about driving stress and anger on the roads due to drivers who are endangering the lives of others? What do you recommend to help get...
Parked vehicles and snow removal
There's nothing like a bit of extreme weather to create problems for snow removal equipment. All that snow has to be pushed somewhere in order clear the...
Keeping roads clear and safe in winter is a challenge
I exchanged messages last week with a commercial truck driver who was less than impressed with the winter maintenance of B.C.'s highways. There is no doubt...
Where does a speed zone boundary change?
When approaching a speed limit change along the highway, as indicated by appropriate signage, where is the actual speed zone boundary? Am I expected to change...
Data privacy and your driver's licence
Data privacy is something we all need to be concerned about today. Did you ever think about what might be contained in that magnetic stripe on the back of your...
Dealing with vehicles that should not be on the road
As a police officer, sometimes you run across a vehicle on your patrols that has such serious defects it should never have left the driveway. A “Notice...
There are strict rules about replacing the lighting on your vehicle
Could you perhaps comment on poorly focused, high-intensity illegal conversions done to forward lighting on vehicles? This person said he has had many of his...
ICBC’s top 10 excuses for why drivers speed
I found this old article from 2009 where ICBC asked police from around the province to share the top excuses they heard from drivers who they stopped for...
Knowing where to stop at a traffic signal
How about an article about the detection loops in the pavement at many traffic lights? Most drivers don't know what they are for and quite often stop too...
Stiff fines for not brushing snow off your vehicle
Now that the snow has arrived (at higher elevations), I’ve noticed many drivers who don't clean off their vehicles. The wiper blade is the only...
Driver's bad manners at the stop sign
Mirror, signal left, brake and stop before the marked stop line. Look left, look right and the pickup that was following behind stops ahead of me on my right,...
When it comes time for skills of senior drivers to be re-examined
I am often asked to write on the topic of senior driver re-examinations when there is a crash where an older driver has mistaken the gas pedal for the brake...