Campaign Launched to Change Bad Driving Behaviour
Prince George, B.C. – The nice weather is here and so is a safe driving campaign.
The Province, ICBC and the RCMP are putting out the word that they’ve launched a major campaign to crack down on bad driving behaviours;
- a driver who didn’t allow enough time and space to make a left-hand turn safely
- a driver who didn’t yield to a pedestrian or cyclist in a driveway.
While some may think these driving behaviours are harmless, failing to yield is one of the top high-risk behaviours that lead to crashes every day on B.C. roads.
High-risk driving, which includes failing to yield, speeding, following too closely and ignoring a traffic control device, contributes to almost half (44 per cent) of all police-reported crashes that result in injuries or fatalities each year in this province. An average of 550 casualty crashes occur in North Central B.C. each year as a result of high-risk driving.
Police will be stepping up enforcement during the month of May targeting all high-risk driving behaviours including failing to yield, speeding, following too closely and ignoring a traffic control device.
“High-risk driving behaviours such as tailgating, failing to yield or speeding have no place on our roadways,” said Chief Officer Neil Dubord, Chair of the B.C. Association of Chiefs of Police Traffic Safety Committee. “Drivers have to be responsible for their actions, pay attention and focus on driving. As police officers, we see the heartbreaking effects that result from bad driving behaviours – we will be out in full-force across the province to let you know that we are serious about reducing these senseless crashes that are so easily prevented.”
For those who need a refresher course, ICBC offers the following yield and intersection safety tips:
- When making a left-hand turn at an intersection controlled by traffic lights, don’t rush, yield to oncoming traffic, including cyclists and motorcyclists, as well as pedestrians. Don’t panic if the light turns yellow while you’re waiting to make a left-hand turn. You’re legally allowed to complete your turn if you’re already in the intersection, but watch for approaching vehicles, especially for drivers trying to beat the red light.
- To determine whether the gap in traffic is enough to allow for a safe left-hand turn, consider the speed of oncoming vehicles, the time it will take to complete the turn and accelerate to the speed of traffic.
- If there is any doubt about who has the right-of-way or if there is any chance of a crash, it’s always better to yield to the other person.
- Always yield to pedestrians and follow directions from crossing guards and traffic control people.
- When crossing a bike lane to turn right or to pull to the side of the road, be sure to signal well ahead and yield to cyclists.
- Always yield to emergency vehicles displaying flashing lights and sirens. All traffic moving in both directions must stop. (Exception: if you’re on a divided highway and the emergency vehicle is on the other side of the median, you may not need to stop.)
For more tips and information on this year’s campaign, visit icbc.com.
Comments
Maybe some police drivers need a bit of a refresher on intersection practises. I saw one at Ferry and Westwood the other day, not stop at the red light to make a right hand turn onto Westwood. All these little bad habits lead a lot of other drivers to do the same.
Demonstrating correct driving goes a long way in teaching proper driving technique.
Good luck with this. Given that the average PG driver can’t even comprehend the “Keep Right Except To Pass” concept I can’t see this campaign being of any use. Except maybe to generate some more revenue.
If your talking about “keep right except to pass” in town it doesn’t apply. When was the last time you seen that sign other than a passing lane on the highway?
Saw a Robins egg blue pick up truck sitting high on the frame, big tires, going like a bat out of hell East on 5th, yesterday morning around 930am.
This guy was passing every vehicle on the road from the Bypass heading East. Saw him again a few block down the street, with a Police Officer reaming him out.
No doubt he got a big fine (which he certainly deserved), however one wonders what drives these idiots?? Is it ego?? Or is it a lack of common sense and comprehension. Are they actually as stupid as their actions indicate, or do they just have momentary moments where they completely lack judgment.??
“If your talking about “keep right except to pass” in town it doesn’t apply. When was the last time you seen that sign other than a passing lane on the highway?”
Theres four of them for each direction of travel up and down the Hart, from the top of the hill by the scales to the Hart shopping center – but dont worry, it appears most other people havent noticed them either
If the cops want to pay for their new building in under a week just have radar on Cameron street bridge ticketing the people on the bridge heading north through the traffic circle. The posted speed for the entering the circle is 30KPH, not 300.
Will need a lot of tow trucks though to drag away everyones vehicle doing more than 70.
Seems speeding is a way of life on all the major Highways into and out of the City.
The Hart Highway, and 97 South to the BC Rail Industrial Park, would be easy pickings for the Police, however rarely do we see anyone getting a ticket.
Considering that you can go practically anywhere in this City in less that 20 minutes, one wonders what the big hurry is.
“The Hart Highway, and 97 South to the BC Rail Industrial Park, would be easy pickings for the Police, however rarely do we see anyone getting a ticket.”
Sitting at the Search and Rescue site, sitting just past the bridge before 5th, sitting at the rolladome, sitting just after the bridge heading south – I would argue that the places you mentioned are where I see them working traffic more than anywhere else in town Palupo :)
I have noticed that many of the people who complain about drivers ignoring the slower traffic keep right signs on the Hart are themselves ignoring the maximum speed limit signs. (:
You know everyone who comments and the vehicles they drive Hartly 2 ?
Add morons that think they are so important that they need to be on their phones to the mix and you have lethal weapons!
Over and over again buddy zooms by me on the bypass and I catch up and pass them at the next light. They blast past me again and I pass them again at the next light. It seems they have the hurry up and wait mentality. In the end what do speeders actually gain? A minute or less!
This is probably the single biggest bunch of bullshit that has come from I.C.B.C. to date.
I can think of a few things that are very very dangerous that I.C.B.C. nor the RCMP will enforce. The new fad in aftermarket headlights and bulbs is probably the most dangerous one I can come up with.
Speeding, sure, but so is going too slow. A small car driving beside a semi while traffic stacks up behind, yup dangerous.
Stopping in a merge is another big one as well, lots of accidents in the merge lanes here, or another fave of mine double left hand turn lanes, they should be converted back to single because no one seems to be able to grasp the concept of picking a lane relevant to where you are going after the turn.
If they want safety they should institute a mandatory road test upon license renewal.
The RCMP are going to enforce the rules???? Had one almost run over a pedestrian in a crosswalk yesterday on Victoria St. by the credit union. I was stopped good thing the pedestrian did too.
â¢a driver who didnât yield to a pedestrian or cyclist in a driveway.
first time I ever heard i had to yield to someone in a driveway…crosswalk yes, but a driveway?
Maybe if the fines were raised significantly drivers might then get the hint… the fines that are now in place seem to be a joke.
yes last nite 7:30pm we saw a cop drive right thru the stop sign at the Wendy’s on Central – didn’t even slow down just kept going and his lights weren’t on…
So, where are all the extra police coming from? Are they saying they aren’t going to concentrate on drug offenses in May but on traffic instead. Because any member I talk to, even the general duty guys, say they spend so much time with drug related crime traffic is pretty much a low priority. One cop said it took him 4 hours to process an addict who decided to shoplift.
Sorry, this is just an advertising campaign, not much is going to change.
Might be nice to get some lines down on the local roads so we don’t have to do the Mexican guess what lane we are in shuffle. .Also would like to see turning arrows at all meridians on say Ospika as the keep to the right method doesn’t seem to work anymore .What about turning right from Ospika onto 15th going north .I don’t see any turning arrows in the bicycle lane yet a lot of morons will jump the curb to get around that corner when the light is red . I generally stay to the left not only to be some what courtious but to save trading paint with the idiot that has to squeeze beside you.
Happy Hump Day
If you need lines to know which lane you are supposed to be in and arrows to tell you when to turn how do you ever manage to drive in the winter? Lines are nice yes, but you don’t need them to figure out which lane you need to be in. For example the seam in the pavement is usually a pretty good clue!
I’m not talking about me Noway . I know exactly where I am at all times and know exactly where to turn and how to turn . Just ask my wife
Considering that you can go practically anywhere in this City in less that 20 minutes, one wonders what the big hurry is.
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You hit that on the head Pal.
cheers
Yeah traffic in PG is getting out of control. The city should look into a sky train from The top of the Hart to downtown to relieve the congestion. One day it took me 12 minutes to get from McDonalds on the Hart to the movie theater. I almost missed One Directions new movie.
When making a left-hand turn at an intersection controlled by traffic lights, yield to oncoming traffic, including cars that make a RIGHT turn.
I do agree we need lines painted on the roads.. we have more and more traffic from visitors and its pathetic the amount of main roads with no lines.. We may all know where we are going..but they dont.
Driving is a priviledge not a right.. but then again you only have to drive well once ( when getting your licence )
sergiomomesso – that made me chuckle. Is the movie any good? I was going to borrow my friends kids and go.
Lots of peaple have no idea what that stick like thingy is sticking out of the steering column.
P Val:You know everyone who comments and the vehicles they drive Hartly 2 ? Yes P Val I do. (NSA)
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