Road and Driving Information

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Driving

Canadians drive on the right side of the road (same as the U.S.) and use the metric system for distances and speeds, kilometers per hour rather than miles. Traffic in both directions MUST stop when school buses have their red lights flashing (this means children are getting off and on the bus). At a 4-Way-Stop intersection the first vehicle at the intersection has right-of-way.

Behind the Wheel, is a weekly column, published on the web, for those who are interested in traffic safety in British Columbia. Written by Tim Schewe, former RCMP traffic enforcement officer, it keeps readers familiar with traffic law and up to date with the changes. Whether you ride a motorcycle, drive a car or cruise in an RV this site has advice for you!

Fuels

All common fuels, unleaded gasoline, diesel and propane, are widely available at service stations in British Columbia and sold in litres. 4.5 litres = 1 Canadian gallon; 3.78 litres = 1 American gallon.

Licence Requirements

You must have a valid driving license and auto insurance to drive a vehicle in Canada. A driving license from any country is valid for the first three months, while an International Driving Permit (available in your home country) can be used for one year.

Maps

Current road maps of British Columbia are available from Travel InfoCentres throughout the province or can be purchased at gas stations and convenience stores.

Road Conditions

For information on road conditions 24hours a day contact the Ministry of Transportation at their web site. The information on the road reports pages provides the reported condition of a particular provincial road at the time the route was last checked. Online information is available for most major provincial highways. From fall through the spring, users can also see camera shots of conditions at two important locations: one located on Highway 5 at Zopkios near the Coquihalla Summit and the other on Highway 99 near Whistler between Vancouver and Pemberton.

Updated information about provincial highway conditions is provided based on the conditions that maintenance contractor staff note when performing maintenance duties. This and any other new information is added to the site as soon as it is received. Shots of the two camera sites are updated on an hourly basis.

Severe weather, sudden temperature changes and snow or rainfall can cause road conditions to change rapidly. For this reason, the information provided by the Ministry of Highways may not reflect changes that have taken place since the last scheduled update.

Drivers are reminded to adjust their speed and driving actions to the conditions. Drive smart! Drive safe!

The Ministry of Highways site also includes links to other sites of interest to the driving public such as ICBC Travel Advisory and other adjacent provincial and state authorities.

Safety Requirements

The use of safety belts (seat belts), vehicle child restraints, bicycle helmets, and motorcycle helmets is mandatory in British Columbia.

Impaired driving is a criminal offence; the limit for driving under the influence of alcohol is 0.08. Breath samples may be requested by a police officer.

Toll Road

The Coquihalla Hwy. (Hwy 5, Hope to Kamloops) is a tolled highway. The toll plaza is located mid-way between Hope and Merritt. The cost is $10.00 per passenger vehicle (car or RV). Visa, MasterCard and American Express are accepted. The Coquihalla is a fast and smooth highway but by no means the only route to Kamloops from the Lower Fraser Valley. If you wish to avoid paying the toll there are several other highways that go into the interior. None are as direct and fast as the Coquihalla highway, but all are scenic and worthwhile drives.

Vehicle Accidents

If you are involved in an automobile accident contact the local police or Royal Canadian Mounted Police then contact your insurance company.

Winter Weather Driving in British Columbia

From late October to March the weather can serve up winter driving conditions in all parts of British Columbia. This varies from wet roads to snow and ice. Colder temperatures always challenge a vehicle while winter driving demands the vehicle’s best possible performance.

It is advisable to winterize your vehicle by having a qualified service centre check items such as anti-freeze, the battery, wiper blades, tread on tires and tune up the motor.

Always check the weather forecast and the road report before traveling. For information on current road conditions visit the Ministry of Transportation web site.

ICBC, the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia, provides great information on their web site on further actions to winterize your vehicle. In addition ICBC has driving tips for all road conditions you may encounter. For instance how to drive on icy or snowy roads:

• Slow down.
• Accelerate gently and steer smoothly.
• Carefully test your braking and steering at a very slow speed.
• Allow extra space margins.
• Slow down before curves and corners.
• Go down icy hills in a low gear.
• Avoid passing.
• If your wheels lock, ease off the brakes then re-apply them to maintain steering control.
• Or the hidden dangers at zero degrees Celsius or 32 degrees Fahrenheit
• Black ice. Normally, you can't see black ice. However, if the pavement looks shiny and black instead of grey-white, be suspicious.
• Shaded areas.
• Bridges and overpasses. Ice tends to form on them before it does elsewhere.
• Intersections. Car exhaust and packed snow cause intersections to ice up quickly.