Road Rules

Of the 15 categories of sports events contested in the 2010 Winter Olympics, 11 are speed measured.  This metric as the essence of sport is rooted both in our ancient origins where mastery of speed was often a matter of survival and in our modernity, acceleration, speed and the cult of the machine comprising the values that continue to define our times.

 Chapter Three of ICBC’s Road Sense for Drivers provides a “handy reference” to the most common “Signs, Signals, and Road Markings.”  The “Signs” section notes “there are three ways to read signs: by their shape, colour and the messages printed on them.”  The accompanying illustration shows the eight basic shapes and their colouring without the printed messages.  Below each coloured-shape-sign, the category of additional messaging is described. For example:

 Most definitions of traffic calming focus on engineered measures to change driver behavior. These measures may compel drivers to slow down or take other routes or do both. Broader definitions may also include education and enforcement measures like community speed watch programs. All are based on the premise that traffic calming aims to make our streets safer and to enhance livability in our increasingly traffic congested world.

 As if the usual challenges of the winter season aren’t enough, lower mainland drivers are facing many new driving rules and a number of unusual heightened risks.  While the ban on driving and using hand-held electronic communication devices (ECD) has been in effect for one month, during this month, to allow drivers time to change their habitual chatting and driving behaviour and acquire hands-free devices, enforcement has involved only warnings.