Barry wants me to answer the question of who actually deserves to be referred to as a professional driver.
Those who possess a class 1,2, 3, or 4 driving classification in B.C. are commonly referred to as professional drivers.
They have successfully completed a theory and practical driving test and for that reason are called professionals.
Barry takes issue with what he calls a loose classification. He has a point.
“Just because someone makes a living driving, does not make that person a professional. By deduction, does that make the rest of us amateurs?”
He goes on to say that there are several so-called professionals who, by virtue of their poor performance behind the wheel, are undeserving of the designation.
Barry’s definition of a professional driver is as follows.
“True professionals answer to a higher authority, independent of their employers, which is designated to protect the public.”
He refers to true professional drivers as those who not only answer to a governing body in the performance of their duty, but adds that more is expected of them by virtue of such a membership.
This is a point to ponder.
Kurt asked a very interesting question. Is he required to move over, from an HOV lane, to accommodate a vehicle coming from behind at a high rate of speed?
The HOV lanes are reserved for those vehicles with multiple occupants travelling at a highway speed.
Those who wish to travel at a higher rate of speed than those travelling at an acceptable speed, in an HOV lane, should find another lane to do so.
A reader asked why the speed limit on a road in front of a school in her neighbourhood was 40 kilometres per hour.
Municipalities, as of the past decade, were given the authority to set speed limits, zone distances and times of the day for school sites.
Don asked if foreigners have to pass a driving test when they emigrate to B.C.
The B.C. driving authority has a very good reciprocity agreement with many other countries.
Drivers from several countries, such as the U.S., Australia, Germany and Britain (and many others) are issued driver’s licences here without tests, given that the testing procedures far exceed the criteria demanded by our B.C. jurisdiction.
Immigrants originating from countries that have less-stringent testing procedures must take a theory and a practical driving test.
The B.C. government agencies are very good at identifying foreign fraudulent procedures for driving privilege attainment, and have a sliding scale for qualification of the two above-mentioned circumstances and all those in between.
Melvin had a close call at an intersection, when the traffic light turned amber.
He wanted me to remind everyone of the meaning of a solid amber traffic light.
It means stop, unless one is in the intersection, or so close to the intersection as to be unable to stop safely.
Terry made a point that is not well known. He reminded me that bike riders must ride in single file on the road, when unable to keep up with motorized traffic.
But they are not required to do so in a bike lane, given there is enough room for both side-by-side bike riders.
Cathy wanted to know the proper behaviour for moving from one lane to another, when a solid or broken white line is evident.
Solid white lane lines mean no lane change is permitted. This includes shoulder markings as well.
Dashed white lines permit a lane change or a move right or left as need be to set up a proper turn.
Seatbelts are not required when a driver is backing up. Many readers have posed this question.
Passengers are not exempt in this backing situation.
