Information relating to the government and traffic laws.
I've been watching a number of conversations in the newspaper and social media lately, mostly with regard to B.C.'s slow down, move over law, but including changes to other traffic laws as well. The general theme has been that the government has been doing a poor job of telling the public what the new laws are and how we are supposed to follow them.
The more that I learn about how to construct one of BC's highways, the more I see how complicated that job really is. One would think that you decide where to go, level off a pathway, build a few bridges, throw down some pavement, put up a few signs and we're good to go. I don't know if a person could find a better way to understate the task than my last sentence!
Are there regulations in BC’s motor vehicle laws that say how far apart speed limit signs have to be in order to properly inform the public as to what the speed limit is?
I have found a reference to this in Ontario by searching the internet, but not for BC so far.
Have you ever wondered how our penalty point system came to be? This document from the European community examines the penalty point system in European countries and recommends best practices to implement an effective system.
The Office of the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles explains improvements to the Immediate Roadside Prohibition (IRP) program for impaired drivers (effective June 15, 2012) and what can happen if you're caught driving impaired in British Columbia.
Is this a municipal or provincial responsibility? I see countless examples each year where there are many ways (or in cases, no reasonable way) to take the markings on the road, especially at <50 kph. If a person has these problems in understanding the intent and the expected behaviour, who should queries be directed to? Please advise? Thanks!
The Minister of Justice announced changes to the Motor Vehicle Act affecting motorcycle helmets and motorcycle passengers. Effective June 1, 2012 all motorcycle riders who are not exempt will have to wear an approved motorcycle helmet that bears approval markings showing that they comply with established standards.
Yesterday's edition of the Victoria Times Colonist newspaper contained an article about Justice Minister Shirley Bond considering making the driving record of B.C. drivers public knowledge. The idea is that if conventional methods of convincing drivers to follow the driving rules are not successful, then it is time to find other solutions. This one would be aimed at embarrassing a non-compliant driver publicly.
How busy are our highways? Quoting from their web site, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure's Traffic Data Program monitors traffic volumes at several locations throughout the province. This information is used by ministry staff to help support planning, design, construction, and operation of the Ministry road network.
I'm no stranger to death by automobile. It was never a pleasure to investigate fatalities and for me there was no satisfaction in the successful prosecution of the impaired driver that caused them. Many more people than the direct victims were hurt and I knew that the only way I could really contribute was to hunt down the impaired driver and stop them.