Equipment

Is this vehicle legal to drive with no drivers side mirror? The passenger side mirror is there, but the window is missing and replaced with plastic.

Last week's column on overdriving low beam headlights resulted in some interesting comments. Chief among them was the thought that this wasn't a problem because the driver had installed high wattage bulbs and now had more light to see with. Do you suppose that these drivers don't know this is a bad practice or just don't care about themselves and others who use the highway?

The province of British Columbia has not yet mandated that only true winter tread tires be used during the winter months on our highways. If you pass a sign requiring the use of winter tires between October 1 and April 30 each year, your vehicle must be properly equipped.

Is it legal to install a television set in a vehicle? There are two answers to this question, one simple and the other complicated. Driver distraction and the possibility of a collision resulting from it is a very real concern.

I began driving my own car in the mid-fifties and I always used winter tires on the rear only during the winter months. Based on about thirty years of experience, I feel that I am quite capable of managing winter driving with the traction arrangement I had for rear drive in the past. However, I am not interested in contravening any legislated law or regulation.

The Rubber Association of Canada has published a brochure titled "Winter Tires Matter." The brochure explains why winter tires are important and suggests that if you can see your breath when you are outside, it is time to put them on your vehicle. It also includes a tire buyers checklist to help you decide which tire is best for you.

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Thinking back over my years of doing mechanical inspections at the roadside, one of the most common deficiencies in older vehicles was a parking brake that was either seriously out of adjustment or didn't function at all. Also known as an emergency brake, this mechanical alternative to your hydraulic braking system really has two jobs: providing emergency braking in the event of brake failure and holding your vehicle stationary when it is parked. Will your parking brake be up to the job?

Did you know that in Québec, 360 accidents involving a vehicle tire occurred over a period of 10 years, including some ten fatal accidents directly attributable to heavy vehicle tire blowout or explosion? This fact sheet presents the phenomenon of mechanical blowout of heavy vehicle tires mounted on wheels, and the process and events that lead to tire blowout or explosion as a result of heat buildup.

We could soon see white strobe lights mounted on the roof of school buses in B.C. Standards allow for a white strobe to be mounted on the center of the roof on the rear third of the vehicle. It is meant to provide increased visibility and may be operated in fog or when the bus is stationary.

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Commercial Vehicle Safety & Enforcement receives many inquiries regarding the application and compliance of aftermarket window tinting products. This vehicle safety and standards bulletin is intended to clarify existing Motor Vehicle Act Regulations and insure proper vehicle compliance with these requirements while operating a vehicle on the highway.