In 3 days myself and my family will be in Canada and have booked a hire car.
Does anyone have tips that I have to look out for as i have never been before? :scared:

1) Turning right on a red stop light - allowed except in Quebec, must pull up to a full stop before proceeding if clear
2) STOP when you see a yellow school bus flashing it's red lights, even if it's on the other side of the road
3) All-way stop - crossings where the first to arrive has priority, cross in order of arrival at the crossing
4) Speed limits - 100kph on highways = ~65MPH, quite strict
5) Drive on the right! But be prepared to be overtaken on either side.
Good luck, enjoy Canada!

Thanks for that it sounds very different from the UK, I am sure after a couple of days of people sounding there horn at me I will get the idea. (typical tourist).

Hi

You'll find the grid system of cities really easy, I did. Even if you miss a turn, you can just take the next and zig zag. Also, I find the signposting excellent (but then I do live in ireland, which is famous for it's strange signposting )

Just be aware that on the highways (around Toronto anyway) everyone goes at quite a lick (when they're not in gridlock!) so you have to keep up with them! Just keep aware of what lane you need to be in (signposting is good as I said) and keep your nerve. People cut in etc a lot, but you'll soon find yourself going with the flow, if you'll excuse the pun.

Also, some highways have express and feeder options, so if you need to take an exit anytime soon, stay in the feeder.

Good luck
Snowqueen

If you are heading for the maritimes, remember that pedestrians have right of way. So expect them to throw themselves suicidally in front of you at any time - they will expect you to stop. Great if you are a pedestrian (although don't loiter at the side of the road, or you will cause a traffic jam as everyone grinds to a halt ).

Of course, if you are heading to Montreal, please ignore all of the above, and just put that pedal to the metal.

Have fun.

Thanks
We are heading for Ontario, waterloo. Thanks for your advice and i will make sure to print this off and keep it handy. Any more advice would be most welcome.
Very nervous Brit

I don't know if this is the same where you're going but around Calgary there are loads of "no-left" or no-right-turn" signs that only apply at certain times of the day.

A week or two ago I was trying to get to a college for a course, down a road I hadn't been before, and I suddenly realised I couldn't get to it from the road I was on. I was already late and anxious, and I though I'd just turn at the next left and double back.

Well I DID see the sign, but didn't have time to stop and read what the time restriction was, and followed another car around. There was a cop waiting! He pulled over a whole line of us, and everyone got a fine! $172 and two points on my licence!! He did say I could go to court and contest it, but I was so upset, I just thought why add humiliation to boot? I saw the sign. I didn't observe it!

Still sucks though

On smaller roads, be cautious if you haven't seen another vehicle for a while, when one comes along your inclination will be to go to the wrong side.

You'll very likely see horse drawn vehicles, they tend to drive on the verge but may be on the road, pass them wide and slow.

Avoid the 401 across the top of the city, from the 427 to the DVP, it's usually 16 lanes of stationary cars.

If you have driven on the motorways in England I think the highways in Canada will be a piece of cake! I thought the speed limit was about 90 miles an hour because that seemed to be the speed that everyone drove at.

401 can be a bit stop go, but not as bad as its cracked up to be, compared to say the M25.

In Ontario you can turn right at a red light, but watch for pedestrians, this is also a must when you have a green as pedestrians get the "walk" sign when you get the green!

Defacto speed limits are about 20km over the posted limit, you would be unlucky to get a ticket at that level, UNLESS in a 40km school zone which are pretty well enforced. No radar cams thankfully.

On the main 400 series roads overtaking on both sides is the norm. Canadians have an anoying habit of cruising in the middle lane, I suspect bought on by fear of deer jumping at them from the right. Who knows, anyway, people pass on both sides so watch out when changing lanes.

A flashing red light above the road is a stop light. It wont change to green no matter how long you wait, you go when its your turn, which depends if its a 2 way or a 4 way stop. A flashing yellow light above the road warns you that there is a "2 way" cross road, and that vehicles from the side are gonna stop for you (if they are sober), so appraoach with a bit of caution as they may not realise its a two way and might be expecting you to stop for them as if its a 4 way stop.

Someone else mentioned school busses...thats a biggy here. Same goes for emergency vehicles, everyone pulls over, slows donw / stops to the right to make room for emergency vehicles with their lights on, that goes for volunteer firefighters with the green flashing light on in their regular vehicle.

If you want to figure out road signs and stop lights etc etc the handbook can be found here:
http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dan...ook/index.html
You can pick and choose what you want there , but I would at least look at intersections, schoolbusses, emergency vehicles and a few other bits

Here are a couple of older threads too:
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=359992
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=256207

You get used to it pretty fast, and its easy in the city as you follow everyone else, or get beeped at. Just pay attention on your own say at night, remember if you are driving and you are closest to the kerb, YOU ARE ON THE WRONG SIDE!

Hi

To add to that be especially careful when you turn off a one-way street onto a two-way, you find you have the tendency to drive in the wrong lane.

I don't know the average speed on the M25 but I average 11mph on the 401 between the DVP and the 400 and I'm usually driving on weekends; it's worse in the week. I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

Well, ok, on a select list of people: Jack Layton, Bono, Steven Harper, Red Green, Celine Dion, Rush, only the truly odious.

Alternatively, always keep the line in the middle of the road next to you when you are driving (on your left), especially when turning corners, helps you to see where you should be on the road...Tip courtesy of my OH shouting when I was driving!!!

Often the lane markings are either non existent or hard to see, especially at night and or in the rain. They dont usually use the reflective type here, as they dont tend to do well in the winter in competition with the plows.

Good point, as I will point out to OH next time he criticises my driving skills!