What bugs you on our roads, Part II
By Steve Wallace
Times Colonist, November 10th 2017
A reader suggests local drivers need a refresher course on how to enter and exit a roundabout.
Here are some of the replies that didn’t make the cut in last week’s “What bugs you?” column.
Delores is bugged by tailgaters.
She drives the highway on a regular basis. Drivers guilty of this offence usually have no idea how far it takes to stop in an emergency.
The square proportion rule applies.
Double the speed means four times the stopping distance, triple means nine times.
Most drivers do not appreciate this fact.
Changing lanes, activating the four-way flashers and reducing speed marginally can have a positive effect in modifying the offending follower’s behaviour.
Debbie is bothered by drivers slowing unreasonably early before arriving at an intersection, and in so doing, closing off the entrance to the left-turn-lane access.
Many longhaul truckers will slow down to time the traffic lights. The fuel saving is significant.
They are usually in the right lanes as opposed to the left one.
There is no good reason to block the left-turn lane created by cutting into the space provided by a boulevard indent.
Mark is bugged by the improper use of fog and highbeam lights of many oncoming vehicles.
These lights are not meant to be used simultaneously.
Fog lights are to be used in the fog.
They are not to be used to look cool or for other reasons of identification.
Many drivers turn them on by mistake and it only takes a flash of the high beams to alert
them to this situation. Highbeam lights must be dimmed for oncoming traffic.
There are bright diode-type headlights, which are much brighter than the normal factory-installed headlights.
Many European vehicle manufacturers are now using them. Surprisingly, they meet federal import regulation guidelines.
Richard wants to know why there are so many vehicles that operate without front running lights.
The law requiring the daytime running lights was passed in Canada in 1990.
Vehicles manufactured before that year are exempt. All vehicles imported to Canada must light up upon ignition.
Many visitors from the U.S. drive vehicles that do not light up automatically.
Our neighbours to the south, until very recently, have not been required to follow our lead.
Richard is right to be bothered by this situation, since those drivers who do not manually turn on their headlights, in older vehicles not covered by the requirement, are known to have a higher crash rate.
When all other vehicles approaching are illuminated, other drivers do not pay as much attention to the odd vehicle that is not lit up.
It is advisable for all drivers of older vehicles to manually light up.
Gail is bugged by drivers who use the merge lane to pass others while she is in the act of merging.
This is a dangerous action, and would result in police charging the lane jumper if a crash occurred.
Ken is fed up with being cut off when he is attempting to leave a roundabout.
He is often challenged by those entering the roundabout, at the location where he is supposed to exit. He has a suggestion.
There should be rumble strips at the entrance of the roundabout, which would be a physical presence reminding those entering to yield to those already in the roundabout.
Drivers need only signal to leave a roundabout, not to enter one.
Veronica is bugged by drivers not signalling an intention of any kind in a roundabout.
