Originally Posted by NessieOggy

Here's some Canadian trivia for ya


Despite the developments in the US, some parts of Canada continued to drive on the left until shortly after the Second World War. The territory controlled by the French (from Quebec to Louisiana) drove on the right, Oggy

Originally Posted by Canada Jane

When we can over I was quite concerned about driving here. We had been to Canada and the US lots of times, but my husband had always driven. I was concerned about driving on the wrong side of the road, the size of truck we had (Ford Sport Trac), automatic trans and of course the different rules.

However, I took to it like a duck to water. I can only remember reaching for the clutch once and have never been concerned about driving on the right. In fact I feel it is more natural to drive on the right. Also turning right on a red light is a brilliant idea. But like others say, we could do with a few roundabouts here. Some of the junctions get very congested and this could easily be solved by a roundabout.

We live in a rural area, but even driving in Belleville it never gets too bad. Mind you, we both hate driving round Toronto as that really does resemble the UK on a bad day.

Speed limits seem to be kept to more than they would in the UK. It seems pretty acceptable on the 401 where the limit is 100 kph to go 120, but any faster and you are frowned upon.

Bad driving stands out far more here. You still get the odd boy racer in their Honda Civic, but even they don't seem as bad as they were in the UK.

My husband used to speed everywhere in the UK and tailgate etc. I used to hate being a passenger and my seat had hand impressions permanently imprinted from where I used to grip the seat in panic. But all that has stopped in Canada. He drives at reasonable speeds, keeps reasonable distances back and I have no fear of being a passenger anymore. He says he doesn't feel he has to drive aggressively as no one else does!

So, I personally am all for Canadian driving!

Our truck has the gear stick in the center, but annoyingly as the break release under the steering wheel area. Why is cannot be somewhere more convenient I don't know.

Also, a lot of American cars have steering wheels that do not seem to be attached in any way to the driving wheels. This means that you can turn 45 degrees on the steering wheel and not change direction! Our truck is not like that, thank God, but many we have hired in the past have been. It is why you see films with people driving in the US and they are moving the wheel all over the place even though they are driving in a straight line - you can, it doesn't make one iota difference to the direction you are going!


Jane

Originally Posted by batty-x-ray

LOL, no they dont drive agressively, they drive dopeyly. I have to disagree with you, good driving stands out here, bad driving is the norm. Its rare for anyone to let you out in traffic, or to do anything to help traffic flow. They drive too too close, have a cellphone in one hand and a Timmies welded to
the other. Mirrors? what are they for? oh i could rant all night about the driving.

Originally Posted by iaink

Of course But I think its allowed in some places in quebec, just to add to the general confusion I expect. They probably only signpost that in French just to spite the Anglos

Originally Posted by dakota44

good lord what cars have you driven? Maybe a decade or so ago they were still producing cars with recirculating ball steering, but now just about everything is rack and pinion. Very responsive steering.

Originally Posted by dbd33

I don't think you can have driven in Europe recently. The quality of the steering and the suspension on the bottom level Fiat Punto we recently rented was way better than any of the vehicles I've driven in North America recently (some were Honda Element, Ford Mustang, Ford Escape, Toyota Highlander). The steering on most recent Chrysler products is vague to the point that reversing is difficult; fortunately someone of an age and disposition to drive a Chrysler isn't likely to live in a place where parallel parking is required. A neighbour has a new Cadillac, one of the ugly ones, and a steering knob like on a tractor.

I don't think Canadians have a culture of driving or interest in vehicles so the manufacturers offer them vehicles that emulate living rooms more closely than racing cars. I can see why, most of Canada's isn't very interesting to drive in; 400 miles in a straight line doesn't need much in the way of steering.

Originally Posted by Souvenir

We haven't used the 401 in more than 2 years, which is a good thing. The 417 is wonderful.

Originally Posted by dbd33

No 401, no QEW, no DVP. Bliss!

Originally Posted by Souvenir

Even as a confirmed passenger, I can see the bliss factor there.

I've only very recently realised why the 417 is so pleasant. We use it a lot to visit the MIL on the South Shore. Even crossing through both Ottawa and Montreal, our average speed for the trip is usually over 100.

Can you guess why?

<PS: the same rule applies for the 417 as for the 401. Don't speed near places beginning with C>

Originally Posted by dbd33

Because you don't have to keep stopping?

Originally Posted by doodlebum

As a Canadian living in the UK, I can say the same about driving here as you do about Canada. They're just as bad here for being up your arse, driving while on the phone and who knows what the hell else. How about those smokers out there?? Do you think they're paying attention while they're digging out and lighting up the 50th fag in a mile?? How about cutting up on an island?? As for letting you in traffic, or out as the case may be, it doesn't happen here that often in my experience.

Long and the short of it is, not ALL drivers are bad or discourteous. People just like to pick up on and complain about the ones that tick them off.

Originally Posted by Souvenir

Close.

The real answer is that there are very, very few trucks. When we came back from St Hubert over Xmas (about 225km) we did not pass one single truck. Not one.

Originally Posted by batty-x-ray

I agree about smokers, thats shoudl be banned along with drinking, eating and using the phone at the wheel.