Whats Driving Like over there
#61
Re: Whats Driving Like over there
I personally cannot stand driving in Canada and avoid it as much as possible, especially as we are downtown Toronto. Everyone seems to speed through the green lights, and it terrifies me that pedestrians are allowed to cross at the same time as cars turning. Even walking downtown to work, I have had my feet virtually touched by aggressive drivers wanting to mow me down!
I cannot stand the huge highways with lots of lane swapping too, and the idiots that brake for no apparent reason right in front of you at 80mph. Another thing, virtually nobody signals the 'thank you sign' by simply putting a hand up when you give way - pure ignorance.... !
Give me teeny country lanes, roundabouts and british courtesy anytime over this!
I cannot stand the huge highways with lots of lane swapping too, and the idiots that brake for no apparent reason right in front of you at 80mph. Another thing, virtually nobody signals the 'thank you sign' by simply putting a hand up when you give way - pure ignorance.... !
Give me teeny country lanes, roundabouts and british courtesy anytime over this!
Out here in the boonies none of thats a problem... politeness is the order of the day, but I dont care for dtiving in Toronto particulary either.
The brakeing at 80mph thing is probably folks turning the cruise control off. I always try to use the "cancel" switch, but lots of people use the brake to overide it.
TBH it sounds like you lack a bit of confidence...have you considered something like a refresher course here?
As a pedestrian though "right turn on red" makes me very wary too.
#62
Re: Whats Driving Like over there
It's all got much worse since they banned windshield washing; now all the beggar has is intimidation.
#63
Re: Whats Driving Like over there
I personally cannot stand driving in Canada and avoid it as much as possible, especially as we are downtown Toronto. Everyone seems to speed through the green lights, and it terrifies me that pedestrians are allowed to cross at the same time as cars turning. Even walking downtown to work, I have had my feet virtually touched by aggressive drivers wanting to mow me down!
I cannot stand the huge highways with lots of lane swapping too, and the idiots that brake for no apparent reason right in front of you at 80mph. Another thing, virtually nobody signals the 'thank you sign' by simply putting a hand up when you give way - pure ignorance.... !
Give me teeny country lanes, roundabouts and british courtesy anytime over this!
I cannot stand the huge highways with lots of lane swapping too, and the idiots that brake for no apparent reason right in front of you at 80mph. Another thing, virtually nobody signals the 'thank you sign' by simply putting a hand up when you give way - pure ignorance.... !
Give me teeny country lanes, roundabouts and british courtesy anytime over this!
Louisa, I share your pain. It's the pure ignorance that gets me. I mean, simply putting your hand up to say thank you is surely international, if not galactic!!!!!
Give me teeny cerebral cortexes, obfuscation and british courtesy anytime over that!
#64
Just Joined
Joined: Jun 2005
Location: Ontario Canada
Posts: 27
Re: Whats Driving Like over there
- Vehicles in BC were driven on the left until about 1922, unlike the rest of the country. (No road connection with Alberta at that time).
- There was no road connecting Ontario with Manitoba north of Lake Superior until the 60's - you had to go through the States.
- Until about that time, also, the majority of roads were gravelled (excepting main highways), so dust was everywhere.
- It is now possible to drive to the shores of the Arctic Ocean, in the Yukon.
- Before the 401 was built the major E-W route in S Ont was Highway 2. And you think that traffic jams on the M25 are bad ? No comparison.
#67
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2004
Location: British Columbia
Posts: 801
Re: Whats Driving Like over there
I've always been entertained by the 4x4 / SUV drivers around Calgary who view the highway merely as a rough approximation of where they should be going when it comes to intersections and turn-offs.
If there's a queue past the turn-off, straight up onto the verge.
Never really had any issues in BC, even downtown Vancouver at rush hour is tame compared to the Calgarian school of lane-changing. Stopping distance? What stopping distance?
If there's a queue past the turn-off, straight up onto the verge.
Never really had any issues in BC, even downtown Vancouver at rush hour is tame compared to the Calgarian school of lane-changing. Stopping distance? What stopping distance?
#69
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 131
Re: Whats Driving Like over there
If i have a british licence can i drive in vancouver?
thanks
paul
thanks
paul
#71
Re: Whats Driving Like over there
Just come back from 2 weeks in B.C. and i can honestly say that whilst most of the drivers seem curteous and the roads were on the whole quiet by UK standards they do drive like bloody lunatics when there's snow and ice on the ground. I could feel the wheels slipping at times and was driving carefully but not rediculously slow and lost count of how many people overtook me like i was standing still.
It's one thing having good traction with a 4 x 4 but stopping from speed in those conditions is not so easy but they still managed to avarage 100 kmh and as for the trucks they sit so close behind you it's like a scene from that film Duel.
It's one thing having good traction with a 4 x 4 but stopping from speed in those conditions is not so easy but they still managed to avarage 100 kmh and as for the trucks they sit so close behind you it's like a scene from that film Duel.
#72
Re: Whats Driving Like over there
Treacherous this morning - a layer of snow over a layer of even thicker ice - which is why I've wimped out and stayed at home instead of taking hubby to work so I can have the car!
#73
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Dec 2004
Location: Ottawa
Posts: 1,664
Re: Whats Driving Like over there
Best to go through the US if going to Manitoba from Southern Ontario during winter months.
#74
samx
Joined: Aug 2006
Location: cornwall, england
Posts: 6
Re: Whats Driving Like over there
Hi, I have held a uk drivers licence for 10years and lived in Cornwall prior to moving to Vancouver in October, so I am not use to large volumes of traffic or an automatic. I have just passed my bc drivers licence, it was fine. There are a few strange things here but you get use to them fairly quickly. You have 90 days to drive on your uk licence when arriving before you have to take your test otherwise your licence becomes invalid. You also need to sit your theory exam again however that was just common sense. The traffic here is in high volumes but people generally are fairly good at letting you in and giving you space. Getting use a automatic and driving on the other side of the road are fine and after driving a couple of times you will not remember what it was like to drive on the side you are use to. Hope that helps anything else just ask sam