Starting February 1st, however, police will issue $167 fines and three penalty points to drivers caught “holding, operating, communicating or watching the screen of a handheld electronic communication device” while driving.  The devices are broadly defined to include hand-held cell phones, personal digital assistants, other hand held electronic devices that process or compute data, hand-held audio players including iPods and MP3 players, GPS Navigation Systems, hand microphones, and television screens.

 

A website developed by the government of British Columbia and ICBC, www.drivecellsafe.com provides a list of the banned and permitted devices, the special rules for new drivers in the Graduated Licensing Program—no use of any type of ECD, and a list of common-sense tips on how to “focus on the road and drive smart.” Drivers should note that 911 calls are exempted.

 

The other recent rule changes include various road closures, designated Olympics lanes, no stopping and parking restrictions that are now coming into effect. Although this information has been publicly available since August 2009, nothing commands attention quite like barricades and “Road Closed” signage. Road closures for security purposes or for pedestrian strolls include: the Georgia viaduct, Waterfront Road, and parts of Expo Boulevard, Pacific Boulevard, Granville, Robson, Mainland and Hamilton Streets. Designated Olympic Lanes for TransLink buses and Olympic accredited vehicles will be in place from February 4 to March 1, 2010 for 24 hours, 7 days a week. Olympic Lanes in Vancouver will be in the curb or right-hand lane along parts of Burrard, Seymour, Howe, Pender, Cambie, Broadway, Georgia, and Hastings.

 

Most other streets in the downtown core will become no-stopping zones including Nelson, Cordova, Main, Pender, Thurlow and Water, and parking restrictions will be in effect on parts of Cambie, Pender, Quebec, Abbott and Cordova streets. In short, lower mainlanders who work, shop or attend entertainment venues in the downtown core will need to learn about these changes and plan accordingly. For the most current information go to: www.travelsmart2010.ca and http://olympichostcity.vancouver.ca/gettingaround. The fine for breaching these new rules is $100. Cars stopped or parked in restricted areas will also be subject to automatic towing.

 

Other ‘unusual heightened risks’ are more difficult to understand, but no less problematic.  The January 2010 statistics on pedestrian fatalities in both Toronto and Vancouver have been so shockingly ‘bad’ that a reasonable response for the safety-conscious driver is to feel extra-spooked.  Of course it follows that pedestrians—and we are all pedestrians too—also need to redouble their efforts to take care.

 

And another worry comes from the massive vehicle recalls from the highly respected brands, Toyota and Honda.