Driving in Canada
May 24th 2006 | 6:25 am
#16
little snowy owl
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,921
Re: Driving in Canada
One of the biggest things to get used to is simply sitting on the wrong side of the car. When we holidayed here I found I was looking up and left to find my rear-view mirror!
I keep going to the wrong side of the car still, when I am thinking of s'thing else
The first time we came, I said to hubby I was not going to drive, so we went to find the hire car in the parking lot ..... and got in .... and looked at eachother, laughed, then solemly had to get out and swop sides!
For driving position in the road, if you are not sure how much space you have on your near-side, it sometimes works to line yourself up on the car in front (if THEY look as if they are in the right place!!!)
I keep going to the wrong side of the car still, when I am thinking of s'thing else
The first time we came, I said to hubby I was not going to drive, so we went to find the hire car in the parking lot ..... and got in .... and looked at eachother, laughed, then solemly had to get out and swop sides!
For driving position in the road, if you are not sure how much space you have on your near-side, it sometimes works to line yourself up on the car in front (if THEY look as if they are in the right place!!!)
May 24th 2006 | 8:37 am
#17
Account Closed
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 175
Re: Driving in Canada
Originally Posted by Phil43
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:
Does anyone have tips that I have to look out for as i have never been before? :scared:
Hi, its Darren, (the other half of Tara 74), we have been to Canada twice in recent years and on each ocassion we have haggled with the rental company upon our arrival and managed to get a free upgrade. The last time we went we were met by friends at the airport who said that this request is almost expected and normally accepted. When we did it we felt a little embarrassed however it always worked in our favour... Be mindful that if your flight is delayed, vehicle rental companies close after midnight until 6am the following morning. ( seats in the airport are not made for comfort, we found that out!!) Good Luck and have a wonderful trip.
Darren and Tara
May 24th 2006 | 8:56 am
#18
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,192
From: The Republic of Bacon
Re: Driving in Canada
Originally Posted by Morwenna
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
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
May 24th 2006 | 9:57 am
#19
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,309
From: M'cr-Red Deer-M'cr-??
Re: Driving in Canada
Also wanted to mention (cos I can't see anyone else advise it) but apart from the STOP signs, there are also lots of YIELD signs (upside down red triangle - basically the same as the UK Give Way) and that junction (or intersection) is usually divided by a small triangular island. When approaching to turn right, always slow down and check from your left to see that you are clear to pull into the lane. When I first arrived here, I didn't know what they were and thought I had the right of way to turn right without stopping and I still see many Canadian drivers fail to slow down and check from their left 
May 24th 2006 | 1:56 pm
#20
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 10,630
From: Red Deer, Alberta
Re: Driving in Canada
Had me first prang yesterday NOT MY FAULT! I was sat at the lights when a guy in his massive truck decided to to use my Explorer as a brake! He had dropped his cigarettes and was rumaging around the floor looking for them :scared:
Anyhow after I got home and told Hubby He said I should have waited for the police. I went to the cop shop today to find out the protocol.
If no one is hurt and the damage to both vehicles = less than $1000 then you just exchange details and away you go.
Call the police if someone is hurt. If the damage is greater than $1000 then get your vehicle appraised then report it to the police.
Luckily I fall into the 1st category
Safe driving all you guys and gals!
NOT MY FAULT! I was sat at the lights when a guy in his massive truck decided to to use my Explorer as a brake! He had dropped his cigarettes and was rumaging around the floor looking for them :scared: Anyhow after I got home and told Hubby
He said I should have waited for the police. I went to the cop shop today to find out the protocol.If no one is hurt and the damage to both vehicles = less than $1000 then you just exchange details and away you go.
Call the police if someone is hurt. If the damage is greater than $1000 then get your vehicle appraised then report it to the police.
Luckily I fall into the 1st category
Safe driving all you guys and gals!
May 24th 2006 | 2:01 pm
#21
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,309
From: M'cr-Red Deer-M'cr-??
Re: Driving in Canada
Originally Posted by Piff Poff
Had me first prang yesterday NOT MY FAULT! I was sat at the lights when a guy in his massive truck decided to to use my Explorer as a brake! He had dropped his cigarettes and was rumaging around the floor looking for them :scared:
Anyhow after I got home and told Hubby He said I should have waited for the police. I went to the cop shop today to find out the protocol.
If no one is hurt and the damage to both vehicles = less than $1000 then you just exchange details and away you go.
Call the police if someone is hurt. If the damage is greater than $1000 then get your vehicle appraised then report it to the police.
Luckily I fall into the 1st category
Safe driving all you guys and gals!
NOT MY FAULT! I was sat at the lights when a guy in his massive truck decided to to use my Explorer as a brake! He had dropped his cigarettes and was rumaging around the floor looking for them :scared: Anyhow after I got home and told Hubby
He said I should have waited for the police. I went to the cop shop today to find out the protocol.If no one is hurt and the damage to both vehicles = less than $1000 then you just exchange details and away you go.
Call the police if someone is hurt. If the damage is greater than $1000 then get your vehicle appraised then report it to the police.
Luckily I fall into the 1st category
Safe driving all you guys and gals!
BTW, working tomorrow for the day, sorry haven't phoned you yet - flamin' hopeless! Had lots on here, phone calls to make, stuff to sort out. I will give you a call on Friday ok so we can sort something out for next week
JC x
May 24th 2006 | 2:07 pm
#22
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,192
From: The Republic of Bacon
Re: Driving in Canada
Originally Posted by Piff Poff
Had me first prang yesterday NOT MY FAULT! I was sat at the lights when a guy in his massive truck decided to to use my Explorer as a brake! He had dropped his cigarettes and was rumaging around the floor looking for them :scared:
Anyhow after I got home and told Hubby He said I should have waited for the police. I went to the cop shop today to find out the protocol.
If no one is hurt and the damage to both vehicles = less than $1000 then you just exchange details and away you go.
Call the police if someone is hurt. If the damage is greater than $1000 then get your vehicle appraised then report it to the police.
Luckily I fall into the 1st category
Safe driving all you guys and gals!
NOT MY FAULT! I was sat at the lights when a guy in his massive truck decided to to use my Explorer as a brake! He had dropped his cigarettes and was rumaging around the floor looking for them :scared: Anyhow after I got home and told Hubby
He said I should have waited for the police. I went to the cop shop today to find out the protocol.If no one is hurt and the damage to both vehicles = less than $1000 then you just exchange details and away you go.
Call the police if someone is hurt. If the damage is greater than $1000 then get your vehicle appraised then report it to the police.
Luckily I fall into the 1st category
Safe driving all you guys and gals!
) Are you sure it was under $1000 though? It doesn't take much to beat that! My insurance paid out $45,000, and the other vehicle was an old rust bucket. Damage to mine was only $4,500, so I can only imagine the rest was injury related claims. You might want to get yourself checked out at the Docs for whiplash, it may not show up right away.
May 24th 2006 | 3:04 pm
#23
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 39
From: Huron County, Ont
Re: Driving in Canada
Originally Posted by Phil43
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
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
May 24th 2006 | 3:04 pm
#24
sticky beaking
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,156
From: Sherwood Park,Alberta
Re: Driving in Canada
Originally Posted by Morwenna
I keep going to the wrong side of the car still, when I am thinking of s'thing else
May 24th 2006 | 3:18 pm
#25
little snowy owl
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,921
Re: Driving in Canada
Originally Posted by R2D2
Glad i'm not the only one.......................been here 12 months and still do that.
Are you blonde too?
May 24th 2006 | 4:16 pm
#26
Account Closed
Joined: Dec 1969
Posts: 0
Re: Driving in Canada
Originally Posted by Phil43
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:
Does anyone have tips that I have to look out for as i have never been before? :scared:
If it's any help, here's the link to the Ontario Ministry of Transportation Online Drivers Handbook
http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dan.../section2a.htm
May 24th 2006 | 5:04 pm
#27
Banned
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 15,706
From: In Limbo
Re: Driving in Canada
Originally Posted by Calgal
You're right - you were rear ended so it's automatically his fault. (I know, I've been there and I was at fault ) .
) .
May 25th 2006 | 12:03 am
#28
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,379
From: GTeh?
Re: Driving in Canada
Originally Posted by alberta_jaycee
Also wanted to mention (cos I can't see anyone else advise it) but apart from the STOP signs, there are also lots of YIELD signs (upside down red triangle - basically the same as the UK Give Way) and that junction (or intersection) is usually divided by a small triangular island. When approaching to turn right, always slow down and check from your left to see that you are clear to pull into the lane. When I first arrived here, I didn't know what they were and thought I had the right of way to turn right without stopping and I still see many Canadian drivers fail to slow down and check from their left
) but just remember to have a quick check to the right before you finally go for it and launch into traffic.
May 25th 2006 | 12:31 am
#29
Thread Starter
Just Joined
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 11
Re: Driving in Canada
Originally Posted by Tuppence
Also at these types of junctions, when it is really busy and you are concentrating on finding a gap in the traffic coming from the left, you may not notice a pedestrian approaching from your right and crossing in front of you. I haven't hit one ( ) but just remember to have a quick check to the right before you finally go for it and launch into traffic.
) but just remember to have a quick check to the right before you finally go for it and launch into traffic. Here's to safe and happy driving
May 25th 2006 | 1:59 am
#30
sticky beaking
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,156
From: Sherwood Park,Alberta
Re: Driving in Canada
Originally Posted by Morwenna
Are you blonde too?
