National

B.C. sets distance for drivers to steer clear of cyclists, scooter users, walkers

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 03 Jun, 2024 01:51 PM

Drivers in British Columbia now have to meet minimum distances between their vehicle and people walking or riding on provincial roads.

The new rules start Monday and require drivers to stay at least a metre away from vulnerable road users if the speed limit is up to 50 kilometres an hour, and a metre-and-a-half at speeds over that.

A statement from the Ministry of Transportation says vulnerable road users include pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, people on horses or in vehicles pulled by animals and those who use electric wheelchairs and scooters.

The statement says the measurements start from the furthest part of the vehicle, likely the mirror, to the furthest part of the road user or their equipment, such as a handlebar.

The ministry says police can issue tickets for violations under the new Motor Vehicle Act regulations.

Fines range from $109 and three penalty points, up to $2,000 and six months in jail for those who fail to maintain the minimum passing distances.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Burnaby business targeted twice in 24 hrs

Police in Burnaby say they have recovered about half-a-million-dollars in stolen surveying equipment after a business was targeted by thieves twice in 24 hours. Burnaby R-C-M-P say the first break-in happened at 6 a-m on November 13th at the business, located near Still Creek Avenue and Douglas Road.

Burnaby business targeted twice in 24 hrs

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim moves to axe elected Park Board

Mayor Ken Sim says he's moving to abolish Vancouver's elected Park Board, which is the only such body in any British Columbia city. Sim says at a news conference in City Hall that he'll be moving a motion to ask the province to amend the Vancouver Charter to bring control of parks under the city council.

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim moves to axe elected Park Board

Bank of Canada holds its key interest rate steady at 5% in final decision of 2023

The Bank of Canada is not ruling out future rate hikes just yet. The Bank of Canada projected that in October that inflation will fall back to the two per cent target in 2025.

Bank of Canada holds its key interest rate steady at 5% in final decision of 2023

Most Canadians want more federal spending on health care, housing: poll

A majority of Canadians think the federal government should spend more on health care, a housing strategy and initiatives to ease inflation and cost-of-living issues, a new poll suggests — but they also want it to freeze or reduce other spending. Nearly three-quarters of respondents to the new Leger poll, or 71 per cent, said the federal government should spend more on health care and health transfers to the provinces.

Most Canadians want more federal spending on health care, housing: poll

B.C. says 578 foreign-educated nurses registered in 2023, doubling intake

The first yearly update on B.C.'s health human resources strategy says 578 internationally educated nurses became fully registered in the province in 2023 compared with 288 in 2022. Staffing shortfalls have been blamed for a series of health-care woes across the province, including emergency room closures, overcrowding and hundreds of thousands of people going without a family doctor.

B.C. says 578 foreign-educated nurses registered in 2023, doubling intake

Coast Guard investigates oily sheen covering Vancouver's False Creek

The Canadian Coast Guard says it's trying to identify the source of a diesel smell and sheen covering Vancouver's False Creek. It says it received a report of the apparent pollution around 6:20 p.m. Monday, but couldn't determine the source due to heavy rain and poor visibility.