Whether you are a seasoned driver or someone who has recently learned driving, it is always a good idea to stay up-to-date about the various rules and regulations practiced within the state. In this blog page, you will learn about road safety, driving tips, and a lot more. Call us today if you have any queries to discuss with our team!
16/01/2021
Understanding The Rules And Regulations Of School And Playground Zones.
Playground and school zones are similar, but different.
School Zones
School zones are a florescent-yellow green sign in the shape of a house with two people crossing the street with school books under their arms. This sign advises drivers that there’s a school nearby and students may be in the area. If there is no rectangle shaped 30 km/h regulatory white speed zone tab underneath the sign, you are not required to reduce your speed unless students are present. The speed limit is 50km/h unless otherwise posted and you can keep at this speed unless there’s students present on the road
School zones may also display a rectangle shaped 30 km/h tab underneath the school zone sign. This speed limit is in effect between 8am and 5pm on school days. They are not in effect when schools are not in session. For example, winter break, summer break, spring break, stat holidays, etc. On approach to this sign with 30km/h posted speed, you must reduce your speed to 30 km/h before entering the school zone, control and maintain your speed through the zone and identify where the zone ends. If you're unsure where the zone ends, look for the back of the sign on the opposite side of the road (traffic facing you).
This sign is in effect between 8am and 5pm on school days when children are on the roadway or shoulder. They are usually posted on highways where the regulatory speed limit is 60km/h or higher.
Playground Zones
Playground zones are yellow and in the shape of diamond with a child chasing after a ball. This sign advises drivers of a playground nearby and there could be children at play. If there is no rectangle shaped 30 km/h regulatory white speed zone tab underneath the sign, you are not required to reduce your speed unless children are present. The speed limit is 50km/h unless otherwise posted and you can keep at this speed unless there’s children present on the road.
Playground zones may also display a rectangle shaped 30 km/h tab underneath the school zone sign. This speed limit is in effect dawn till dusk, every day, 365 days of the year. On approach to the sign with 30km/h posted speed, you must reduce your speed to 30 km/h before entering the school zone, control and maintain your speed through the zone and identify where the zone ends. If you're unsure where the zone ends, look for the back of the sign on the opposite side of the road (traffic facing you).
** For road test purposes, make sure you're 30km/h before the posted speed and don’t get to 31 in this zone. ICBC has zero tolerance for speeding in playground and school zones, 1 km over the speed limit and you will fail your road test. 28 YOUR GREAT AND 31 YOUR DONE.
16/01/2021
Tips On How To Merge And Identifying Similar Signs.
Let’s address these signs first before we get into merging.
This sign means the right lane ends ahead. If you’re in the right lane and see this sign ahead, you want to start preparing for a safe lane change. You do not want to wait until you're at the tip where the right lane ends and becomes one lane unless there’s heavy traffic. Adjust your speed if needed, keeping within the speed limit.
This sign means two roads converge and merging or yielding is not required for this sign. Drivers joining this road from the right will have their own lane and merging or yielding movements are not required. You have your own lane of travel when you’re on the right.
These signs warn drivers there is a merge lane ahead.
Merging When There’s Low To Medium Traffic On The Roadway
Note: If you’re driving in a lane on the roadway with a merge ahead, it is advisable to adjust your speed to allow merging traffic to merge and/or to help them find a safe gap. This does not mean you need to slow down or speed up, just take your foot off your accelerator to accommodate for the merging traffic. If it's safe you can make a lane change to the left to make it easier for the traffic to merge over.
Merge Like A Zipper
Zipper merging helps to keep the flow of traffic flowing. By encouraging traffic to ride it out in both lanes, there is less of an unsafe speed difference between the lanes. If both lanes are going the same speed, then there are less people trying to pull quickly in and out of moving lanes.
Consider the merging lanes as a zipper, reducing two lanes to one in an orderly fashion: like the teeth of a zipper coming together.
When two lanes merge, as you will see in the picture above, the continuous traffic makes way for the merging traffic and vice versa until they are both in a single lane. The merging lane will end and will display a sign when this merge ending occurs.
How This Works
Steps For Merging Like A Zipper
Why It's Important
16/01/2021
How To Properly Exit A Highway/Freeway
This lane allows you to move off the freeway and reduce your speed.
When leaving the freeway, you want to maintain your speed on the freeway and wait for your car to be completely off the freeway before you slow down.
Why?
What About The Exit 40 km/h Sign? Don’t I Need To Be 40 km/h Before The Sign?
Steps On How To Exit The Freeway
16/01/2021
Knowing the difference between Yellow Road Lines and White Road Lines in British Columbia
Yellow Road Lines - Divide traffic moving in opposite directions. If there is a yellow line to your left, there will be traffic coming towards you on the other side of that yellow line.
Single Broken Yellow Line
This line means passing is allowed by drivers in lanes travelling in either direction, when safe.
Broken Line And Solid Yellow Line
This line means that if the broken line is on your side of the road you may pass, when it's safe. The drivers on the opposite side of the road with the solid yellow line are not allowed to pass.
Single Solid Yellow Line
This line means that passing is allowed in both directions with extra caution. You may need to cross over this line to make a left turn.
Double Solid Yellow Line
This line means no passing is allowed in either direction. It’s illegal to pass on a double solid yellow line.
Two-Way Left Turn Lane
These lanes are used by drivers travelling in opposite directions. These lanes are generally in heavy traffic areas where it's not suited to slow traffic on the roadway. These lanes are shared by drivers travelling in opposite directions. These lanes are not intended to drive in, drivers should move-in to these lanes as close to where they plan on turning. * Make sure you don’t use these lanes when you’re turning onto the road from a side street.
Painted Island
You always want to keep to the right of these yellow islands, and never drive on or over the island.
White Lines - are used to separate lanes of traffic moving in the same direction. White lines also mark crosswalks, stopping positions and the right shoulders of highways.
Solid White Line
This line means lane changes are not allowed by drivers. It’s illegal to lane change over a solid white line. You can cross over these lines when entering or exiting a roadway. For example, leaving or entering a business, driveway, or gas station.
Single Broken White Line
This line means lane changing is allowed by drivers when it's safe.
White Stop Line
This solid thick white line is often seen just before a pedestrian crosswalk and before a stop sign for drivers to stop before this line.
Pedestrian Crosswalk
You must stop before the crosswalk if pedestrians are in the crosswalk.
Pedestrian Crosswalk
You must stop before the crosswalk if pedestrians are in the crosswalk.
Pedestrian-Activated Crosswalk With Illuminating Lights
The lights on this crosswalk warn that the crosswalk has been activated by the pedestrians. You must stop before the crosswalk for pedestrians in the crosswalk when the lights on the crosswalk are activated.
Reserved Lane
These are reserved lanes that are used by buses, motorcycles, High Occupancy Vehicles (HOVs), electric vehicles and bicycles. These lanes are marked with a thick solid white line and a white diamond shape. Signs and markings will let drivers know which type of vehicles can use these lanes. Other traffic is not allowed to use these lanes.
Bicycle Lane
These are bicycle lanes and are for cyclists only. These lanes are marked with a thick solid white line and an outline of a bicycle. Cyclists must travel in the same direction as the traffic beside them.
16/01/2021
ICBC Road Test Tips For Drivers
How to automatically fail your ICBC road test
Worrying about being perfect on your ICBC road test or perfect with the maneuvers required by ICBC on your road test? Don’t sweat the small stuff and don’t overthink it!
As a driver on the road, you should be more worried about being safe on the road than being perfect. This goes for your ICBC road test as well.
Know how to drive at all intersections properly to pass your ICBC road test
Common mistakes people make on the ICBC road test and some tips
Speeding on your ICBC road test. You must watch your speed when you’re on your ICBC road test.
Missing shoulders checks on your ICBC road test
Unnecessary stops on your ICBC road test
Using your parking brake for your ICBC road test
Being too cautious for your ICBC road test
Drive for the conditions on your ICBC road test
Steering and hand positions for your ICBC road test
Observation issues on your ICBC road test
Turning problems on your ICBC road test. Turning wide, cutting the corner, and going over solid white lines, etc.
Lacking knowledge for who has the right of way on your ICBC road test
Scanning intersections and scanning side streets on your ICBC road test
Lane changing on your ICBC road test. Is it legal or illegal?
Merging and exiting the freeway for your ICBC road test
** If you're going for your N test you won't be required to merge onto the highway/freeway. However, when you go for your Class 5 you may have to.
Emergency vehicles on your ICBC road test
360-degree checks for your ICBC road test
Maneuvers and things, you will be asked to demonstrate on your ICBC road test
PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE