What You Need To Know About Stunt And Race Driving That Could Save Your Life, A Lot Of Money And Even Jail Time

One Crazy Stunt Driver...

I saw a crazy video last night on YouTube: it was shot from the inside of a BMW 325 as it was surging in and out of traffic on a busy European city street. The driver pulls the car out into oncoming traffic, and, at the last minute when you're sure he'll collide head-on, he veers the car back into the out-going lane, hammers the gas and repeats the cycle. 

On other parts of the video, he performs these amazing drifts both with and against traffic as if he were gliding across an iced-over pond. The camera from the backseat shows the pure dexterity of this man, his hands sliding over the steering wheel as if conducting an orchestra. There is something about dexterity that is cross-disciplinary: dentists, pianists, and drivers--this stunt-driver had it. Several times during the video, I winced, thinking for sure he'd lose control and slam into an on-coming car, or the vehicles past which he was drifting would freak out and lose control of their steering wheels--but it never happened; and it just went on and on, for about 10 minutes. 

This illegal stunt-driving video has over 5 million hits on YouTube. Your jaw will drop when you watch it: Very dangerous, life-threatening driving. As the video warns, do not try this! Incidentally, the driver, GIORGI TEVZADZE, was killed in a car accident last year, as a passenger of a BMW SUV that lost control and crashed into a tree--the driver was fine.

My wife thought I was crazy oohing and aahing like I had gone mad--incidentally, I offered to turn the screen in her direction, but was duly rebuffed. There's no doubt in my mind that this guy is some kind of European film stuntman; nevertheless, there was the lingering question I, and the thousands others who have watched this video, had almost the entire time: Why would he shoot part of the video with the camera directed at the front of his car where his license plate was exposed to the cop-world? If he were in Ontario, he'd be busted in a heart-beat...

Bill 203 Safer Roads for a Safer Ontario Act, 2007

Indeed, Bill 203 Safer Roads for a Safer Ontario Act of 2007 is not only out to bust these heart-stopping drivers who wield inconceivable steering-wheel acumen--and, it should be noted, risk their lives and those in vehicles around them--but also, as the Act defines "stunt," those who simply want to let off a bit of steam, or smoke, and squeal the tires at a green light, or make a left turn at a just-turned circular green before the vehicle facing the opposite direction is able to proceed straight through in response. It also of course includes those who drive under the influence of alcohol and aggressive drivers. 

Still wonder what "Stunt Driving" and "Race" and "Contest" refer to? 

Here are the definitions from the Highway Traffic Act, Ontario Regulation 455/07:

Definition of "race" and "contest"

"Race" and "contest" include any activity where one or more persons engage in any of the following driving behaviours:

1. Driving two or more vehicles at a rate of speed that is a marked departure from the lawful rate of speed an in a manner that indicates the driver of the motor vehicles are engaged in competition.
2. Driving a motor vehicle in a manner that indicates an intention to chase another motor vehicle.
3. Driving a motor vehicle without due care and attention, without reasonable consideration for other persons using the highway or in a manner that may endanger any person by,
1. driving a motor vehicle at a rate of speed that is a marked departure from the lawful rate of speed,
2. outdistancing or attempting to outdistance one or more other motor vehicles while driving at a rate of speed that  is a marked departure from the lawful rate of speed, or
3. repeatedly changing lanes in close proximity to other vehicles so as to advance through the ordinary flow of traffic while driving at a rate of speed that is a marked departure from the lawful rate  of speed.
4. By "marked departure from the lawful rate of speed" means a rate of speed that may limit the ability of a driver of a motor vehicle to wisely adjust to changing circumstances on the highway.

Definition of "stunt" driving

"Stunt" includes any activity where one or more persons engage in any of the following driving behaviours:

1. Driving a motor vehicle in a manner that indicates an intention to lift some or all of its tires from the surface of the highway, including driving a motorcycle with only one wheel in contact with the ground, but not including the use of lift axles on commercial motor vehicles

2. Driving a motor vehicle in a manner that indicates an intention to cause some or all of its tires to lose traction with the surface of the highway while turning

3. Driving a motor vehicle in a manner that indicates an intention to spin or cause it to circle, without maintaining control over it

4. Driving two or more vehicles side by side or in proximity with each other, where one of the motor vehicles occupies a lane of traffic or other portion of highway intended for use by oncoming traffic for a period f time that is longer than reasonable required to pass another motor vehicle. 

5. Driving a motor vehicle with someone in the trunk

6. Driving a motor vehicle while the driver is not sitting in the driver seat

7. Driving at a speed that is 50 kilometres per hour or more over the speed limit

8. Driving a motor vehicle without due care or attention, without reasonable consideration for other persons using the highway or in a manner that may endanger any person by,

• driving a motor vehicle in a manner that indicates an intention to prevent another vehicle from passing
• stopping or slowing down a motor vehicle in a manner that indicates the driver's sole intention in stopping or slowing down is to interfere with the movement of another vehicle by cutting off its passage on the highway or to cause another vehicle to stop or slow down in circumstances where the other vehicle would not ordinarily do so,
• driving a motor vehicle in a manner that indicates an intention to drive, without justification, as close as possible to another vehicle, pedestrian or fixed object on or near the highway, or
• make a left turn where,
• the driver is stopped at an intersection controlled by a traffic control signal system in response to a circular red indication;
• at least one vehicle facing the opposite direction is similarly stopped in response to a circular red indication; and
• the driver executes the left turn immediately before or after the system shows only a circular green indication in both directions and in a manner that indicates an intention to complete or attempt to complete the left turn before the vehicle facing the opposite direction is able to proceed straight through the intersection in response to the circular green indication facing that vehicle.

Did you read the National Post story, published July 31, 2013 about the 85 year old woman charged with "stunt driving"? She was going 50 kms/hr over the speed limit, lost control of her vehicle, ran across a few front lawns, accidentally running over and killing a pedestrian and her dog. 

What kind of penalties are you facing if you are charged with stunt driving or racing under the safer roads for a safer ontario act?

It can be no less than painful:

• Immediate seven day license suspension of the driver of the vehicle,
• Immediate seven day vehicle impoundment of the vehicle being driven at the time of the incident,
• Fine amounts ranging from $2,000 - $10,000
• Possible drivers license suspension of up to two years
• Six demerit points registered on your record. 
• A second conviction could have harsher penalties, such as license suspension of up to 10 years and possible jail time.

What are the insurance implications if charged under this act?

Insurance companies consider racing and stunt driving serious offences, with many raising their rates by as much as 100% for a first-time offence of stunt driving and/or racing. There have been some reports of insurance companies cancelling clients' policies completely for stunt driving and/or racing, even when they have no other convictions on their record. 

There's also, God-forbid, the loss of life your life and possible those around you. We are connected in a complex fabric of interweaving threads all of which have free will and act spontaneously to ever-emerging phenomena. While it may seem like a thrill--and there's no doubt it could be--there is more at stake than possible damage to your car. One way to respond to the desire to stunt or race is to picture yourself accidentally killing another human being; then white-knuckle the steering wheel, bare down hard, take a deep breath, and resist.

What Ontario City Are You Most Likely To Die In As A Pedestrian? (And Nope--It's Not Toronto!)

In November of 2013, the Social Planning and Research Council of Hamilton (SPRC) did a study on the number of pedestrian deaths per 100,000, and found that Hamilton was the second most dangerous city for pedestrians next to Windsor that ranks as the most number of pedestrians who die while walking, usually by impact from motor vehicles.

The Council's research reached some other startling conclusions for city planners: Hamilton pedestrians are 42 percent more likely to be injured compared to other Ontario cities, and the risk to the safety of cyclists was noted as high as 81 per cent higher than the provincial average.

As pressure heats up for sustainable design in every facet of civilization, city planning and amendment that facilitates those who walk, ride, or take public transit is critical for 21st Century urban sustainability. We do not want cities to become dead-zones or ghost towns, as in many U.S. and some Canadian cities, but rather thriving ecosystems of social-cultural activity; and we do that by providing safe places for people to walk, and safe lanes for cyclists to bike, and very clear signage for motorists to navigate the thruways, arteries, and intersections of the urban landscape.

Indeed, in the wake of urban advocates and visionaries such as Jane Jacobs, the term 'walkability' has become an important way for cities to be measured according to how friendly they are to pedestrians. Factors that help planners and analysts to understand the walkability of a city are:

• Presence and absence of quality footpaths
• Sidewalks or other pedestrian rights of way
• Traffic and road conditions that surround pedestrians
• Land use patterns, that is, what portion of the city land is given up to parking lots and roads versus footpaths, streets for people, and mixed-use pedestrian/commercial areas
• Building accessibility
• Safety

According to Wikipedia, 'Walkability' is defined by "The extent to which the built environment is friendly to the presence of people living, shopping, visiting, enjoying or spending time in an area.

In light of such findings, and other findings related to sustainable urban design, pedestrian death and safety, and meeting the needs of rapidly expanding cities, the Ministry of Transportation has posted a "Proposed legislative and supporting regulatory amendment to the Highway Traffic Act," the motions of which include,

• Assigning three demerit points upon conviction of a distracted driving offence
• Requiring drivers to yield the whole roadway to pedestrians at school crossings and pedestrian crossovers (changed from the current 'half-road' requirement)
• Allowing for new pedestrian crossing devices on low-speed and low-volume roads
• Allowing cyclists to use paved shoulders on unrestricted highways
• Requiring all drivers to maintain a distance of one metre when passing cyclists.

These are not just ways to amend pedestrian and cyclist safety, nor simply a warning sign for all of us motorists, but also, and most importantly, such amendments to our current highway traffic act are movements toward more sustainable, vibrant, healthy Ontario cities, and a radical reduction of pedestrian deaths and injury as a result of collisions with motorists.

When an accident takes place, it is not only the fault of the motorist, for we drive in structures designed by city planners that are constantly in flux and ought to morph to new information and the rise of conditions that give pause and force a change of thinking requisite for sustainable, and safe, urban design.

Find Out What Ontario City is Ranked Fifth In North America For Speed Traps!

You've been nabbed: You came off the highway, and up a ramp and around a corner, and there was a police officer waving you to the side of the road--you didn't realize the speed you were going while coming off the highway, nor that the limit had dropped significantly along that stretch of road. This is called a "speed trap." It is such a growing issue in Ontario that it is drawing attention from the likes of the National Motorists Association, with one of its members, John Bowman, claiming in a recent Globe and Mail article that it is by definition, "predatory and abusive." Similarly, an article in the Toronto Star calls speed limits, and the traps that catch motorists in the act of breaching them, "cash grabs," noting Mississauga as one of the top cities in North America for speed traps, coming in 5th. 

The counter move to the claims by the NMA is that Ontario, in turn, has some of the safest roads in Ontario. And the Ministry of Transportation holds that increases in the speed limits indeed cause more crashes and more fatalities than distracted driving.

With enough said about the realities and legalities of speed traps, here are some tips for avoiding them on the highways today.

• Don't Speed: easy enough, but harder than it actually sounds, especially when you're late for a meeting, or the limit just doesn't feel right to you. If you are speeding, which is not condoned or justified on this blog, then be aware of possible traps at the bottom of hills or rounding curves.

• Get apps that flag you to radar, or check out sites like speed exchange that helps you find the speed traps along your route.

• Buy a Radar Detector: This is a real cat-and-mouse game, but they are becoming more sophisticated. You can buy a good middle of the road one that works fine, or one that is more expensive.

• Know the road Your On: The best tool is simply common knowledge of the roads you drive on, the various routes it takes and where speed traps may be placed. It's important to know the road and keep inside the speed limit to avoid speed traps. 

Do your best to keep watch at all times of radar, and stay within the speed limit. Knowing the roads will sure help. If you happen to be pulled over, be cordial, accept the ticket, and, if need be, fight it in court, rather than get nasty with the officer. 

Tracey Morgan's Limo Bus Crash Gives Us Pause: Here Are Some Important Tips If You're Planning To Party

According to CBC News, New Jersey State Police claim that actor and comedian Tracy Morgan is in intensive care today after the limousine bus in which he was riding with several friends was involved in a multi-vehicle accident on the New Jersey Turnpike. The CBC Report continues

Sgt. First Class Greg Williams tells The Associated Press that the vehicle carrying the 45-year-old former Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock cast member and six others was involved in a six-vehicle accident on the turnpike near Cranbury Township around 1 a.m. ET Saturday. A spokesman at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Center in New Brunswick, New Jersey, says a patient named Tracy Morgan is in critical condition there.

One person riding in the Limo bus with Morgan was killed in the accident that involved two tractor-trailers, a sport utility vehicle and two cars, in addition to Morgan's limo bus. Police believe a truck rear-ended the limousine-style bus that Morgan was riding in.

This is limousine-bus season, as the weather heats up and fuels party mania everywhere, from secondary and post-secondary grads to capricious bashes. 

Avoiding any unwarranted beliefs or assumptions or claims about the Morgan accident, if you or a loved one or friend is planning to rent a limo-bus, here are some important safety tips to keep in mind:

• Choose Wisely: Shop around for the limo-bus service that offers the safest experience. There are stories around the web of limo-bus drivers texting while driving, allowing drunk and drugged up passengers on the bus, and even removing passengers from the bus if illegal activities are going on. You want a service that can guarantee that their drivers follow a strict set of rules that respect the vehicle, its passengers, and other vehicles on the road as well as traffic laws.

• Get A Chaperone For Those Under 21: The limo driver is focused on getting the passengers to and from their destination safely, but is not in the position to monitor all activity on the bus, such as underage drinking and excessive drinking that can cause serious injury and even death. The chaperone and the driver can collaborate on the safety of the passengers, ensuring that all are safe. 

• Familiarize Yourself With the Emergency Exit: As with an airplane, it's important that you know where the safety exist is in the event of an accident. This will empower you to get out, if you can, and lead others who may be too disorientated to timely find their way out. If you are planning to party, and know you'll throw caution to the wind, appoint the most responsible person to be in charge of knowing where the exit is and leading everyone out.

• Try to Avoid Standing While the Limo Is In Motion: While you don't want to dampen the party, you are riding in a moving vehicle surrounded by a myriad of other vehicles of varying degrees of responsibility and driver acumen. It's not just the driver of the vehicle you need to think about--it's the other drivers around you. The vehicle that struck Morgan's limo was, allegedly, a transport truck. It's best to stay seated and enjoy the ride safely in case you God-forbit get struck and are thrown around the limo.

• Act Responsibly: You are ultimately responsible for your actions. Many find it fun to party, but you also want to make it back home safe and alive. If you see those around you getting out of control, consider drinking less to be a voice and eye of reason to heighten safety and responsibility among your friends. If you're a chaperone, you will need to be fully engaged and present during the entire trip, which means staying off your mobile phone and social media apps. 

Apparently, Tracy Morgan has been planning a baby shower with his girlfriend and partner for his fourth child. As we're making plans and thinking about the parties and proms, we remember Tracy Morgan and his family, and hope that he will recover well and quickly.

11 Ways You Can Stay Out Of The Ditch During This Summer's Downpours

Driving in a downpour can be brutal--and very unpredictable. How many times have you hit a patch of water and felt the wheels slide out from under you in a split second? Suddenly your heart's in your mouth and you start wondering when you last checked the treads on your tires. Or, your wipers are no match for the sheets of rain that are blanketing your windshield, and you kick yourself for leaving behind those new wiper blades at the checkout of the hardware store. Sitting in a ditch is not the time to ponder morosely the irresponsible speed you were going, nor when the hood of your car is jacked up into the trunk of the car that suddenly slammed on its breaks ahead of you. Worse yet, you're that guy on the nightly news who's been swept down a river because you just had to plough through that harmless puddle that turned out to be a rushing stream on its way to Lake Ontario.

To save yourself the kicks delivered to your backside after the fact, here are some tips for safe driving in the rain that are simple and practical--some are pretty obvious, but others, like numbers 2, 8, and 9 are perhaps not as well known.

1. Slow Down.  It's easier to control the car when you're driving under the speed limit.

2. Stay toward middle of the lane. Roads are built in an arch (called a crown) that allows water to flow off them to the sides. Therefore, avoid the sides of the roads and stay more toward the middle.

3. Don't follow vehicles too closely. Keep the three-second rule: If you can't count to three from the time the vehicle in front of you passes a lamp post to the time you pass it, you're driving too close. 

4. Avoid Using Your Brakes. Simply take your foot off the gas and decelerate to slow down. Hitting your brakes not only may cause you to skid, but can set off a chain reaction that could cause others to hit their brakes in alarm.

5. Turn Your Headlights On. Even in light rain, foggy, or overcast conditions, it's good to have your headlights, and rear lights, on to enhance your visibility and others who are driving past, behind, and around your vehicle.

6. Keep Your Tires Inflated Correctly. Maintain a good tread, and don't put off replacing old tires. Stay away from puddles.

7. Pull Over. If the rain has caused zero-visibility, don't be a hero and continue through it--no one will be impressed if you've launched your vehicle into a ditch or something worse. Pull over, chill out, and hit the road again when the rain has subsided.

8. Avoid Water Flowing Across the Road. You know that stream scenario presented above? You can totally avoid it: if you're driving and see a stream-looking flow of water rushing across the road, stay away from it, or just pull the car over and find an alternate route if possible. Such streams of water often hide bottomless potholes or nails, broken glass, and other kinds of debris  that could harm your vehicle or its tires.

9. Keep Cruise Control Off: The last thing you want is to panic in the downpour and are fumbling with the cruise control lever or hit your break out of habit only to start into an uncontrollable slide.

10. Stay Home. That bag of chips will be no less than a regrettable decision when you've broken the bag open waiting for the tow-truck to haul your car to the garage, because you just couldn't wait till the rain subsided to go out to the store. When it's pouring outside, it's best to just stay in and watch it from the safety of your home.

11. Stay Informed. Before heading home from work or out for a little road trip, check the city weather cables for warnings of extreme weather.

9 Ways You Can Stop Drugged Driving--Before It Happens

Drugged driving, according to the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse, is the act of operating a motor vehicle while impaired by any type of drug or medication or combination of drugs, medication, and alcohol--and it's on the rise. 

According to the Traffic Injury Research Foundation, results of alcohol and drug tests performed on drivers who had died in motor vehicle crashes in 2008 in Canada show that 37% were positive for drugs compared to a slightly marginal 41% who tested positive for alcohol.

Drugged driving is becoming a greater trend among young drivers: A Canadian survey in 2011 of high school students showed that 21% had driven at least once within an hour of using drugs. When asked if the students had been a passenger in a vehicle where the driver had used drugs, 50% said yes. Indeed, data in some reports show (e.g. Stop Drugged Driving) an increase in driving under the influence of drugs--across the spectrum of age-groups--in contrast to a, albeit slow, decline of alcohol-impaired driving.

The most common drugs found in fatalities, as reported by the Canadian Safety Council, are "central nervous system depressants (i.e., sedatives and tranquilizers, such as Valium, Xanax and other benzodiazepines, non-benzodiazepines--e.g. zolpidem, and zalepon--, as well as barbituates) used to treat anxiety or sleep disorders, cannabis (marijuana), stimulants and narcotics. That same report states that "females are almost equally as likely as males to test positive for drugs. And it's not just the young: among fatally injured drivers ages 55 and older, drug use is more prevalent than alcohol. 

As the Canadian Safety Council further elucidates, Canada is becoming more intentional in cracking down on drugged driving, with, e.g., a growing body of 491 drug recognition experts (DRE) who exclusively work to enforce penalties for driving under the influence of drugs. In cases of alleged drug use, a DRE can be called in to further assess the condition of the suspect by collecting a urine or blood sample, or a swab. If determined positive for drug use, charges can be laid under the Criminal Code of Canada.

Below are some recommendations to stop drugged driving before it happens:

• Don't drink while impaired
• Do not combine drugs with alcohol
• Don't use illegal drugs
• Don't use varieties of drugs to get high
• Really understand the side effects of your medications. Talk to your pharmacist about the impact the prescription drug may have on your driving abilities
• Be aware that drugs react to one another when taken simultaneously or in tandem
• As a host, monitor those guests who enter your home for drug use. If you suspect someone is impaired, speak up, and make alternate arrangements. Do not let them drive away.
• Refuse to be a passenger in a car whose driver is impaired. Make every safe effort to prevent the impaired driver from operating the vehicle.
• Quite simply, report impaired driving to the police.

Five Things You Need To Know To Avoid Becoming A Victim Of Road Rage

It’s a split second impulse: You whip your car into the next lane to avoid a possible collision as cars in front of you come to a screeching halt, cutting off the person next to you. This seemingly innocent act got you out of one troubling situation, but into another much more precarious: The cutt-off driver charges toward your back bumper honking his horn, flashing his lights, and lurching at you against his front wind-shield like he wants to put his middle finger through your teeth and out the other side. You are alarmed, but don’t think much of it until the guy jerks into the lane next to you, and charges up alongside your window, screaming, and trying to edge you either off the road or into another car.

You stop your vehicle and pull over toward the side of the road, and the guy races ahead about 200 feet—before hurtling the half-ton up onto the curb, pulling a u-turn, and screaming back at you with the all the fury of hell. This time you don’t know what to do: You’re heart is pounding and shots of cortisol are erupting into your brain causing you to lose focus, attention, and rationality. You are under attack; the aggressor is blind with rage; you feel like you might die.  

What do you do now?

Road rage is a serious and troubling occurrence, and often marked by the victim being chased, cut off, and the vehicle being hit by the aggressor’s vehicle. The most tragic side of road rage is what follows when the victim decides unwittingly to get out of the vehicle to ‘settle matters’ with the aggressor, which often results in physical harm, and, in extreme cases, even death.

So what do you do to avoid becoming (or worse yet are) a victim of road rage? The following are some simple tips to help you:

·  1. Take road rage seriously: When it happens, do not underestimate the rage of the aggressor, or what he/she is capable of. Don’t mess with them or provoke them or somehow try to assert some foggy sense of self-appointed justice. Treat every incident as potentially highly dangerous and explosive.

·  2. Disengage: Do whatever you can reasonably to avoid this conflict: smile, wave, mouth the statement “I’m sorry,” etc. Acting in such a way can diffuse the situation by showing the other person that you are only human, and that you made a mistake without any intent to offend.

·  3. Steer Clear: If you are being pursued, put as much distance as possible between you and the aggressor, and get out of the way as quickly as possible. Do not try to pull over on the side of the road to settle things “man to man.”

·  4. Avoid Eye Contact: Looking and staring another driver can be perceived as an act of aggression, and thus will only add gasoline to the flames. Look away, focus on the road, and get your breathing slowed down, which will help you calm down.

·  5. Get Help—Fast!:  If you believe the other driver is following you, or is literally pounding fists of fury against your window and spattering saliva-threats against the glass, do not get out of the vehicle.  If you have a mobile phone, call the police immediately. Otherwise, drive to a place where there are people around, such as a mall parking lot, police station, or even a hospital. When you arrive, honk your horn relentlessly—this will possibly deter the aggressor from continuing his onslaught, as well as put you in a more protected situation.

Road rage is serious. Our world is a place full of speed and stress. The slightest thing can trigger an explosive situation. Slow your pace down, signal when turning lanes, check blind spots, and have a mannerly posture, letting others into lanes and even have a parking spot if you and another vehicle roll up to it at the same time. Most importantly, have patience. 

We are all humans, and for the most part do not willingly want to do harm to another. Remembering that is important for both aggressor and victim.

How Aggressive Of A Driver Are You? Why You Might Just Be This Guy In Bond's Rearview Mirror But Don't Even Know It

According to a 2012 Leger Marketing poll, nearly 80% of Canadian drivers admit to aggressive behaviour that could be considered road rage, such as use of profanity, yelling, or following other vehicles too closely, with speeding as the most common.

Here's How Some of the Stats Break Down:

• 8 in 10 Canadian drivers are guilty of aggressive behaviour
• 83% are men, while 76% are women
• 2 in 5 admit to using profanity during traffic
• Young drivers aged 18-34 are most guilty of cutting people off
• 1 in 5 are guilty of tailgating
• Seeing other people distracted by mobile phones or other ways is the most common trigger for most road-ragers
• Men are more likely than women to experience road rage when cut off
• Women express road rage more than men when they are running late
• Drivers under the age of 45 are more likely to blame their road rage on a bad day than those age 45 and older

Behaviours Of And Conditions That Trigger Road Rage:

• Speeding
• Swearing during traffic
• Tailgating
• Yelling/swearing directly at someone
• Rude hand gestures
• Cutting people off
• Weaving in and out of traffic

Take the Self-Test By Answering Yes or No To the Following Statements:

• I regularly exceed the speed limit in order to get to a given destination.
• I tailgate other drivers, especially those who sit in the left lane.
• I flash my lights and honk my horn to let drivers know when they annoy me.
• I verbally abuse other drivers whether they can hear me or not.
• I frequently weave in and out of traffic to 'get ahead'.
• I feel that I am the only person on the road who 'knows how to drive'.
• I have a compulsion to set drivers straight when they violate my own set of road rules.

If after reading this you realize that you fall into the aggressive driver camp, you're not alone. More importantly, however, you can change your behaviour. By being aware of your tendencies while driving, you can make a different decision each time you get in your vehicle and get triggered. By stepping back, taking a deep breath, and resisting the urge to retaliate, you are making yourself and others safer.

It's important to realize that traffic is part of a larger system: poorly designed roads, complexities and rapid pace of modern life, work/life stressors, faster vehicles, and the list goes on. As drivers we are part of that larger system, and therefore it is not any one person's fault on the road. We are the result of innumerable complex factors colliding to create the reality called 'traffic'. The guy that flipped you off is part of a larger system beyond merely driving that is causing him to react in such a way. It's not just the traffic. Remembering this, and remembering to be patient, is another way to stay cool when the roads heat up.

The Future Of Driving In Canada? Really?

Many of us believe that the future will for the most part resemble the past; however, a striking spike in technology forces us to pause.

The Ontario Government announced early this year that it is "looking into testing self-driving automobiles," according to Ontario Car & Auto Insurance News. The article continues that it will be a five-year auto pilot project which the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario "sees in its proposal to test the safety of autonomous vehicles not only a first for Canada, but also an opportunity to thrust Ontario into the limelight as a starring performer in technology development leadership."

But an abstract concept such as leadership is not the main reason for this pilot, rather it is the ability to attract new business and jobs to Ontario that is of greater importance and tangibility. According to a statement by veteran auto insurance consultant Willie Handler, also quoted in the article, "This is a billion dollar industry and it could save the auto sector in Ontario."

In the fall of 2010, Google made headlines by claiming that it had developed a fleet of "self-piloting" Toyota Prius Hybrids, which had already logged over 140,000 miles (combined) mostly on Highway 1 between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Powered by artificial intelligence software and outfitted with a sophisticated GPS system, mapping software, and optical reader and laser sensors, the car could stay on track, know where it was going and see what was happening around it. The car, in spite of its marvels, caused an uproar: not over that people were sharing the car with driverless cars, but that Google wan't sharing the cars with them. According to a recent Fast Company article, "Google's autonomous vehicle has gone on to log 300,000 accident-free miles, mostly on the highways of California and Nevada." And this striking invention has compelled a host of early adopter car companies to follow suit, announcing that their version of the driverless cars will be ready by 2020: Audi, BMW, GM, Nissan, Toyota, and Volvo.

One significant barrier, however, to this technology becoming ubiquitous is not the technology itself, but rather, according to the same Fast Company article, us, for "the winner of the race to roll out a mass-produced AV is the one who can finally convince us to take our hands off the wheel." And this is why car manufacturers are beginning now to persuade customers to give up more control of their cars, such as with GM's connected systems that is touted as a link in a chain that will one day lead to autonomous driving and an accident-free, congestion-free future.

Our reluctance to give up full-control of a vehicle is actually based on very real legal and ethical issues, such as in the event of an accident is the driver, car company, or software company liable? If the human isn't driving, is it his/her fault if a collisions occurs? There is also the issue of the kind of innovative road and highway infrastructure that would accommodate both normal and driverless cars.

And these issues are just a few facing Ontario as it looks ahead to this five-year pilot. Indeed, under our current laws, one needs to be in control of one's car at all times; however, what is considered "under control" must be expanded over time. Indeed, as mentioned above, the concept of 'fault' in the Insurance Act will need to be expanded to facilitate driverless cars from an insurance perspective. Hence, the insurance issues alone throw up a bees nest of complexity for this seemingly simple pilot.

In spite of these issues, however, technology has a history of moving faster than conventionally foreseen. A story in the Wall Street Journal, for example, states that such driverless cars are closer to mass-market development than conventionally believed.

Why You're At Risk For Vehicle Impoundment

Have you, or someone you know or love, driven with a suspended license? Know what the consequences are? Once you know these facts, you will think twice before doing it--even if you're driving to the corner store. You will also be in a position to inform a friend or loved one if the temptation arises. Here's how it all breaks down, according to Ontario's Ministry of Transportation.

If you drive while your license is suspended, you can face one of two kinds of impoundment:

1. At the minimum 45 days, if your license has been suspended under a Criminal Code conviction. In this instance, the driver will be given an impoundment notice by a police officer, and the vehicle will be immediately towed to an impoundment yard for the 45 day minimum. The vehicle owner or plate holder must pay the towing charge and storage costs before the vehicle is released at the end of the impoundment period, which can be up to $1,800. Additionally, suspended drivers may face fines from $5,000 to $50,000 if convicted, or

2. 7 days, if driving with a license under a specific Highway Traffic Act suspension. Similar to the above process (albeit almost 7-times shorter), the police officer will issue a notice of impoundment, and the vehicle will be immediately towed to the impoundment yard. To retrieve the vehicle at the end of the 7-days, the owner/license plate holder of the vehicle must pay both towing and storage charges.

Did you notice a very important detail in the above: it is not the driver who pays the towing/impoundment charges, but the vehicle owner/license plate holder! That means that if you lend out your vehicle to someone you know who's license is suspended, you are at risk of not only having your car impounded but also paying the full expenses out of pocket. 

Other behaviour that, if caught, will result in vehicle impoundment:

1. Those driving without a vehicle ignition interlock device when required to do so will also face impoundment, as well as those with a Blood Alcohol Concentration over 0.08 or who fail to comply with the demand to take a breath sample. 

2. If you want to become the star of the next Fast and Furious sequel by showing your stuff on Ontario roads through races, contests, or stunts, your vehicle will face the 7-day impoundment penalty as well.

To get your vehicle out of impoundment, you will have to contact either the police officer who or police service that impounded the vehicle in the first place, from which you will be given instructions on retaining your vehicle. The instructions can vary, depending on the police service, community, region, etc.