Hi all,

I'm coming to Canada (toronto) for another recce trip soon, and I have an interview in Waterloo (Approx 100 Km away) whilst I'm there, I was getting tired of paying $70 for airport transfers anyway but the cost of a taxi to waterloo will likely cost me $200+ each way and is just ridiculous. So I'm thinking of renting a car whilst I'm there this time to keep me mobile.

Question is how difficult is it to adjust to driving in Canada and is it worth the hassle? Given that I will be staying right downtown on King and Spadina whilst there and know just enough about canadian driving to know that it is very different (Not passing school buses, turning right through red lights, driving on the right etc.), I am a competent and confident UK driver but don't won't my trip ruined by traffic fines, crashes etc.

Thanks in advance for any advice offered.

Driving in Canada is easy enough. Top tip for driving in the GTA (or any other busy city) would be to rent a satnav with the car. That way you can concentrate on driving (right hand side of the road, etc etc) without also stressing over navigating as well.

Adjusting is easy enough, the main hassle downtown I find is the trams as Im not used to them. Read the ontario drivers guide in advance and you will be OK. its available online, easy to google. Sat nav is an excellent bit of advice... no need to think about directions means you can concentrate on the basics.

Failing that there is public transport to Waterloo, and it will cost less than a taxi, but it depends what time you have to be there. You could also go the day before if necessary as you are paying for hotels anyway.

As in U.K. keep to the speed limit. allow time and space for changing lanes. watch out for the Stop signs of which there are plenty. If you get pulled over be polite,... and you will do just fine. The right side of the road is easy to get used to.

It took me about a week before I felt fully adjusted. My main concern was when I was turning left - I really had to look ahead and concentrate on where I was meant to aim for, and which lane I was meant to drive in I have never actually found myself on the wrong side of the road!

Hi


Just one addenda to turning, be specially vigilant when turning left on a one-way street into a two-way street.

I have lived in four countries (two of them twice) and have rented cars in LHD country while living in RHD, so I know what you are going through.

The BEST advice I can give is---Snap your brain in gear when turning corners!

Think about it. When driving in the city, or on the highway, you are unlikely to be tempted to cross over the median. But, when in town and you turn left, in Britain you hug the curb; whereas in Canada when you turn left, you cross the median. (And the reverse when turning right) You usually do this WITHOUT thinking about it. It's like a conditioned reflex. So for the first couple of days I used to announce (out loud) to my wife "Turning left!" etc. After a couple of days it becomes second nature--then you have to unlearn it when you get home.

Spent a month driving in Canada in 2009, and it was pretty easy to adjust. Agree with the idea of getting a SatNav though, it was a god-send for me.

Do learn how the traffic lights work in advance if you can though, that threw me. Where I was they don't follow the same pattern as the UK ones, IIRC you don't yet red+amber before green, it just switches one to the other. Also flashing green vs. solid green on some turns indicates whether you have priority or whether you can procede only if it's clear. Again read the appropriate provincial driving rules before you go - you can find them on the web.

Simon

Traffic signals take a bit of getting used to. The things I noticed most are (this all applies to Ontario, other provinces vary):
- the traffic lights are almost always on the far side of the junction, so the stop line is the whole width of the junction sooner than you think it will be. I spent my first couple of days having to stop much more suddenly than I meant to.
- right turn on red is permitted except where signs prohibit it. There are a couple of junctions with a no-turn-on-red restriction near me that are favourite haunts of coppers on a ticket-quota hunt.
- in this province, flashing green means you have priority over oncoming traffic (it usually indicates yours is the only traffic stream with a green light). I believe a flashing green means something completely different in BC...
- flashing red does the same as a stop sign. This can either be the fail-safe mode for traffic lights, or (especially on rural junctions) there's just one light which flashes red all the time
- flashing amber means you have right of way but you should be aware of approaching traffic from another direction - again, I've seen this mostly on rural and semi-rural roads where there's a minor road crossing a main one.
- If there's an emergency service vehicle stopped by the side of the highway and it's safe to do so, you MUST move over from the nearside lane. Not doing so is now a ticketable offence in Ontario.

Can't comment on the SatNav thing - I hate them with a passion, and bought a map instead.

For Ontario:
http://www.compass.gov.on.ca/english...iver/handbook/



Also a green light does not mean you can turn right without checking for pedestrians etc first, they have right of way even if you have a green.

The passing of emergency vehicles thing in the wrong lane / without slowing is now a very big deal, the fines and penalties are very severe, worse even than school bus misdemeanours

If this is of such concern to you why not take the bus to Waterloo and while there take a cab to and from the interview site.
From King and Spadina take a streetcar ($3) to Queen and Bay then walk up Bay (5 minutes) to Dundas Street bus terminal. No hassle, easypeasy.

Thanks everyone for all the advice, I can safely say that each and every post actually provided something useful, as opposed to one good post and lots of me too responses!

I think given the only long journey I'll be taking will be to Waterloo and back I will talk old yins advice and take the bus.

However when I return on a more long term basis I'll certainly put your advice to work. Don't worry though I'll give you all plenty of notice when that happens so you can all clear the roads first

People here don't usually flash lights if they are giving way to you (eg at a 4 way Stop). They use the smallest digit they can find on their hand and will curl it ever so slowly to let you know you can go.....so make sure you have better than 20-20 vision.

And another thing - give a wide berth to Chinese drivers.

You're gonna get flamed for that one

Hi


Flashing Green in BC is a pedestrian operated cross walk.