Souvenir

Truck-wise, the worst bit of the 401 is just east of Kingston, particularly late at night. I'm sure you know the area; solid rock at the side and nowhere to escape to if you're overtaking a convoy of five exhausted truck drivers.:scared:

The only time we were ever glad of a truck was about four Winters ago. A huge snowstorm kicked in on the 401 just east of TO. Visibility was almost zero. Souvette tucked in behind a 52-footer and followed its tail lights. It's probably best not to think about what would have happened if he'd hit the brakes hard.

dbd33

I do know that bit and yes, it's bad. However, the bit from Detroit to London or thereabouts has severe crosswinds and blowing snow and is exceptionally badly constructed (the "shoulder" is graded so that vehicles using it tend to roll), lots of people die there. It could be the worst.

The bit from the airport to Guelph is also hellish because of the volume of trucks, if you get in the middle lane it's quite possible not to be able to take your exit ramp because there are trucks nose to tail going at 65mph in the right lane.

Then again, at 6:30 each weekend morning I cross from the express lanes to take the 400, that's eight lanes right on very short ramps, there's not enough room to blend, so it's a matter of turning and hoping no one is coming.

If only the Canadians (or I suppose the Italians) would invent camber and drainage it'd be a lot safer.

daft batty

see, you have become canadian after all

dbd33

Shot!

iaink

Its in that spot because most people in north america seldom if ever use the parking/"emergency" brake, so why clutter up a usefull area that could hold yet another cup holder. Probably to do with the preference for Auto transmissions. The foot release ones are the ones that scare me....looks just like a clutch pedal sometimes!

In canada you either have to use it all the time or not at all, or else risk is seizing up on you in the winter.

Souvenir

Why is it that people drive much faster on the busy bits of the 401 than they do on the empty bits? Is it because they are desperate to get the hell out of there or because there is little chance of the OPP being able to pull them over?

dbd33

Do you think that's true? I stick the cruise on 80 whenever I'm on a highway and think I'm going about the average pace. The exception is the Gardiner from the Skydome to the Beach turn off, traffic there is either stopped or going much faster. I think it goes faster because of the buildings being close in. If you can get up to 100 it feels just like being in a video game; with the top down and the music blasting kids and dogs (and male menopausal men) love it.

iaink

God, no wonder it takes you so long to get around toronto!

dbd33

As you well know, 80mph is quite a lot of those French thingies.

Souvenir

I think it is. Being a passenger, I amuse myself by observing what is going on around me. On long trips that means trying to spot un-marked cruisers (yes, I'm that sad). I have noticed that my missus and, by extrapolation, the drivers around her, speed up when they are in or near towns/cities.

If you want video-gaming driving, you have to try the Decarie in Mtl.

iaink

Ah,sorry, stupid me, I forgot who was posting for a sec

Butch Cassidy

No most dont think further ahead than the timmies coffee in their right hand and the cellphone\donut in their left.

Snave

I think everyone has seen more aggresive driving in Canada than in the UK. I know I've bored you all about motorbikes before - but I'm more aware of being mortal here than I ever was in Wales. The one difference I will admit is that bikers seem to be more courtious to other bikers in Canada - but take a smiling, waving Canadian biker off his Harley and put him into a Ford Explorer and I'm sure he'll metamorph into an finger waving, horn beeping, headlight flashing monster. I am really scared about driving over here, the weather (especially today) does not help. As ON is so flat where I live and commute the sun can be so low it is aloways in my eyes or mirror or reflecting off mirrored buildings. Add that to idiots that drive on full beam all the time, day or night...
I've seen people refusing to allow someone to merge from the right, or refusing to allow someone in the (left) fast lane pull in front so that they can exit on the next off-ramp.
Mrs Snave had someone tailgating so close we could not see the bumper or license plate. They used this tactic to get her out of the way as the headlights are right in the cabin of our Focus.
I disagree with turning right on red. If you are at pole-position, at red - what do you look at? The traffic coming from your left, waiting for a gap? Or straight ahead at the red light which goes straight to green without a red-amber stage? If you hesitate for a second because you mmissed a gap or it had gone green you get beeped. We have a manual so the Focus doesn't leap forward the instant it's released - and this scenario is worse on the bike with less visibility in a helmet.
It seems that no-one has pride in driving in Canada.
I love Canada. but if there is one thing I'd gripe about it would be driving standards.

liquidsuite

Thanks for all the comments. Very interesting to read about all your thought on driving out there. I noticed someone saying about beeing able to make right turnings whilst lights are red?????? Sounds a bit funny, is it a joke or is it true.

dbd33

It's true. You have to stop but you don't have to wait for the light.