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Driving rules of the road in Canada vs. US



 
 
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  #1  
Old June 15th, 2008, 06:42 PM posted to rec.travel.usa-canada
[email protected]
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Posts: 9
Default Driving rules of the road in Canada vs. US

I am a US citizen driving to vancouver. Are there any differences in
the driving rules-of-the-road in Canada vs. the U.S? I want to avoid
any unexpected citations.
Thanks
  #2  
Old June 15th, 2008, 08:32 PM posted to rec.travel.usa-canada
Jim Davis[_1_]
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Posts: 709
Default Driving rules of the road in Canada vs. US


wrote in message
...
I am a US citizen driving to vancouver. Are there any differences in
the driving rules-of-the-road in Canada vs. the U.S? I want to avoid
any unexpected citations.
Thanks


No different. Watch your speed & basic traffic rules, and you'll be fine.


  #3  
Old June 15th, 2008, 09:23 PM posted to rec.travel.usa-canada
James Silverton[_2_]
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Posts: 531
Default Driving rules of the road in Canada vs. US

Jim wrote on Sun, 15 Jun 2008 14:32:59 -0500:


wrote in message
...
I am a US citizen driving to vancouver. Are there any
differences in the driving rules-of-the-road in Canada vs.
the U.S? I want to avoid any unexpected citations. Thanks


No different. Watch your speed & basic traffic rules, and
you'll be fine.


I haven't checked lately but do Canadians have "Right Turn on Red"? I've
had to remind myself quite a bit when driving in Europe where it is not
customary.

--

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

E-mail, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

  #4  
Old June 15th, 2008, 09:31 PM posted to rec.travel.usa-canada
Jim Davis[_1_]
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Posts: 709
Default Driving rules of the road in Canada vs. US


"James Silverton" wrote in message
news:GSe5k.21615$TL6.1747@trnddc01...
Jim wrote on Sun, 15 Jun 2008 14:32:59 -0500:


wrote in message
...
I am a US citizen driving to vancouver. Are there any
differences in the driving rules-of-the-road in Canada vs.
the U.S? I want to avoid any unexpected citations. Thanks


No different. Watch your speed & basic traffic rules, and
you'll be fine.


I haven't checked lately but do Canadians have "Right Turn on Red"? I've
had to remind myself quite a bit when driving in Europe where it is not
customary.


Yes, they do, and if I remember correctly, Canada started the Right on Red.
Before I was aware of it, I would just watch the other drivers.


  #5  
Old June 15th, 2008, 09:51 PM posted to rec.travel.usa-canada
The Grand Poobah
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Posts: 12
Default Driving rules of the road in Canada vs. US

Well, allegedly, in article , Jim Davis wrote:

wrote in message
...
I am a US citizen driving to vancouver. Are there any differences in
the driving rules-of-the-road in Canada vs. the U.S? I want to avoid
any unexpected citations.
Thanks


No different. Watch your speed & basic traffic rules, and you'll be fine.


Indeed generally true. I don't know how it's different in Vancouver or
British Columbia, but in Ontario, a few minor 'gotchas' for an
unsuspecting American driver in Canada includes:

- If you see a flashing green light for your left-turning lane,
that's equivalent to a protected green arrow -- go ahead and make
the left turn.

I think flashing green at pedestrian crossings means you can
proceed through the crossing, but if a ped pushes a button,
light turns red and you must stop, naturally.

- In Toronto, there are street cars (similar to a bus on trolley
lines); you may not pass on the right lane if passengers are
embarking or disembarking.

- If you see a flashing (often lighted) yellow 'X' sign, stop
and wait for the pedestrian to cross the street safely.

- You're required to carry auto insurance that Canada legally
recognizes. You must have the Canadian Inter-Provincial Motor
Vehicle Liability Insurance Card. You can get this free
simply by contacting your auto insurance company or agent.

If time is short, drop by your agent's office. I regularly
cross the border and can get them to hand-write a card for me
on the spot if I need it quickly. This card is good for one year.

You can also call the local agent or the national number for your
insurance company and request they mail you this card if it's
more convenient for you.

- In BC, you're legally required to keep your headlights on,
both during the daytime and at night.

- In BC, seatbelt use is mandatory for the driver AND ALL
passengers.

- In BC, for visitors, an infant car seat is required for
children weighting less than 9 kg (20 lb).

- Wildlife has right of way!

One other tip: unless you're used to the mile vs kilometer conversions,
a quick way to judge speed is to look at the km scale on your dashboard.
Simple, but you'd be surprised how some people can forget this tip.

You might want to memorize a few common mile/kilometer(kilometre)
per hour conversions:

- 100 kph = 60 mph
- 80 kph = 50 mph
- 50 kph = 30 mph
- 30 kph = 20 mph

If you see a speed limit in other than one of these 4, you can usually
quickly guesstimate the ballpark mph equivalent if you've got these 4
committed to memory.

One other thing also startles some folks not used to it: distance
markers are usually expressed in kilometers. "120" doesn't mean a two
hour drive on the highway. :-) That's about 75 miles (120 km). Sounds
simple and basic, but sometimes easy to forget.

Another tip: you might want to check out the BC driver's licence manual:

http://www.icbc.com/licensing/lic_ut...an_drivers.asp

Final tip: gasoline prices are expressed in Canadian dollars/cents per
litre. To convert between US $/gallon and Canadian $/lit

Let's say fuel is advertised as 140.8. That's Canadian $1.408
per litre.

1 Litre = 0.264 gallon, and 1 gallon = 3.787 litres.

Exchange rate today: 1 Canadian dollar = $0.97 US dollar.

So, a 16 gallon gas tank (~60 litres) would be equivalent of:

60 * $1.408 = Cdn $84.48
Cdn $84.48 * 0.97 = US $81.95.

But to quick-guesstimate the rough price, just take the Canadian
per-litre price and multiply by 4 to estimate the US gallon cost
equivalency. (Actual figure will be a bit lower by about 5%.)

Based on this, guesstimating the US $/gallon would be slightly
less than $5.60/gal at Vancouver prices! Budget appropriately.


Have fun, and hope you enjoy your trip - I'm sure it'll be great.
  #6  
Old June 15th, 2008, 10:09 PM posted to rec.travel.usa-canada
Mark Brader
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 346
Default Driving rules of the road in Canada vs. US

I am a US citizen driving to vancouver. Are there any differences in
the driving rules-of-the-road in Canada vs. the U.S? I want to avoid
any unexpected citations.


- If you see a flashing green light for your left-turning lane,
that's equivalent to a protected green arrow -- go ahead and make
the left turn.


Dangerously wrong advice!

Flashing green indicating priority (you have right-of-way whether
turning left or not) is used in most Canadian provinces, but *not
in British Columbia*, which is where the original poster is going.

I think flashing green at pedestrian crossings means you can
proceed through the crossing, but if a ped pushes a button,
light turns red and you must stop, naturally.


*This* is the use of flashing green in B.C. The rate of flashing is
slower than the flashing green in other provinces, but that will only
help you remember the totally different meaning if you're used to the
other one.

Anyway, at a mid-block pedestrian crossing there's no reason to treat
a flashing green any differently than a normal green. If it changes
you'll get the usual yellow light before a red appears. But what is
important is that flashing green may also be used at *intersections*
where the cross street has only a stop sign. So if you're on a main
street approaching on a flashing green, you have to beware of cross
traffic just as much as you would if the intersection had no light
at all: cars on the side street ought to wait, but it's always possible
that someone in a hurry might cut in front of you.
--
Mark Brader, Toronto "...one man's feature is another man's bug."
--Chris Torek

My text in this article is in the public domain.
  #7  
Old June 15th, 2008, 10:24 PM posted to rec.travel.usa-canada
The Grand Poobah
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 12
Default Driving rules of the road in Canada vs. US

Well, allegedly, in article , Mark Brader wrote:
I am a US citizen driving to vancouver. Are there any differences in
the driving rules-of-the-road in Canada vs. the U.S? I want to avoid
any unexpected citations.


- If you see a flashing green light for your left-turning lane,
that's equivalent to a protected green arrow -- go ahead and make
the left turn.


Dangerously wrong advice!


Ah! I see. Thanks for the correction (and clarification).

I find that I'm still learning about Canada with every visit, apparently. :-)
  #8  
Old June 15th, 2008, 10:35 PM posted to rec.travel.usa-canada
PeterL
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Posts: 1,471
Default Driving rules of the road in Canada vs. US

On Jun 15, 10:42*am, wrote:
I am a US citizen driving to vancouver. Are there any differences in
the driving rules-of-the-road in Canada vs. the U.S? I want to avoid
any unexpected citations.
Thanks


Metric system.

When speed limit says 100 it's not 100 mph.
  #10  
Old June 15th, 2008, 11:39 PM posted to rec.travel.usa-canada
MI
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 106
Default Driving rules of the road in Canada vs. US




On 6/15/08 1:23 PM, in article GSe5k.21615$TL6.1747@trnddc01, "James
Silverton" wrote:

Jim wrote on Sun, 15 Jun 2008 14:32:59 -0500:


wrote in message
...
I am a US citizen driving to vancouver. Are there any
differences in the driving rules-of-the-road in Canada vs.
the U.S? I want to avoid any unexpected citations. Thanks


No different. Watch your speed & basic traffic rules, and
you'll be fine.


I haven't checked lately but do Canadians have "Right Turn on Red"? I've
had to remind myself quite a bit when driving in Europe where it is not
customary.


Depends which province just as depends which state in the US. Also even
where it is legal you will sometimes see signs which say, "No right turn on
red."

--
Martha Canada


 




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