If you insist on "do it yourself" when your teen needs a driving instructor, be prepared to do the job right. After all, safe driving is a life skill well worth learning properly from the beginning. Your teen trusts you, but are you really prepared to do a comprehensive job as a teacher?
I liked your article on left hand turns and taking the time to make sure you do it safely.
My mother is a rather large woman who has gotten larger due to medical causes...she also has a phobia of being confined as a result of a seatbelt not releasing and being trapped for quite a bit of time...as a result it is very difficult to get her to agree to put on a seatbelt when we take her to various doctors appointments...
How much time do you have to look, decide and then execute a left turn in heavy traffic? Do you feel pushed by the drivers behind you into making that decision quickly? If you cannot "check your six" quickly and confidently, it's time to wait for certainty.
Your recent bicycle column stirred me to ask a question. I was in Kelowna, traveling north on Harvey Ave, and wanting to turn right into the strip mall where Jysk and the new Big and Tall are located (among many others). I was in the HOV lane, and had to wait while 3 pedestrians on the sidewalk slowly crossed in front of my path. When they were clear, I made my turn, then to be hurled a number of expletives from a cyclist that was intending to pass me on the right but had to stop quickly.
Worldwide, about 1.3 million people die each year because of road crashes. B.C.'s average of about 350 seems small by comparison and we probably think that we are one of the better examples of traffic safety. Well, think again.
Cyclists are entitled to their share of the highway, just as motor vehicle drivers are. When they are overtaken by a motor vehicle, it is the driver's responsibility to pass the cyclist safely. It is not the cyclists responsibility to get out of the way of the driver if the cyclist is legally occupying the lane.
For as long as I've known people that were nearly old enough to acquire a license I've been hearing the same things over and over again. It doesn't seem to matter how young or old someone is, almost all of them will offer up the fact that they are "really good drivers".
I had the pleasure of visiting British Columbia in late January to visit my son who was on a school exchange in Northern BC.
As I have been a Road safety consultant and designer of road safety campaigns I was wondering if there are any statistics available on Tourist Accidents in the BC area and are there resources available to address this at all as I would be interested in gathering this information.
Colliding with the rear or side of a commercial vehicle can be more than a headache. Currently North American standards have required a stronger rear underride protection, but there is no requirement at all for side underride protection. This video illustrates the hazard and demonstrates the added protection for side underride protection currently mandated in Europe.