Conlin signals IN response to much correspondence, today we rehash on-ramp/off- ‘ ramp do’s and don'ts. Ramps taking you on or off a highway are more accu- rately referred to as “accelera- tion lanes” and “deceleration Janes” and when driving upon them a driver should be cither accelerating to highway speeds * or decelerating to city speeds. In British Columbia, high- way speeds are lawfully set at "80 kmh (50 m.p.h.) unless therwise posted and city speeds are lawfully set at 50 km-h (31 mp.h.) unless oth- erwise posted. :.Many readers have fe EXIT clarification as to mi found on is sign is m.p.h.) and 60 km-h (38 m.p.h.). Asa driver is only “being, warned to slow down »(any toad sign printed on yel- ‘low is a warning only), he or she can still legally zip by thar sign at full highway speeds, It is only upon reaching a city or rural street that you are required to travel at the legal speed limit of 59 (untess a black on white sign —- regula- tory colors — state other- ise). However, warning signs are not posted in a whimsical fashion — they are posted as very sound advice. It’s stupid, -for example, to barrel into a city area at highway speeds and then slam on the brakes just before reaching the actual “city street; the warning sign ie has warned us that a smooth deceleration is in order. ~ : Furthermore, off-ramps_ ‘are sometimes treacherous in “contour, curving or dropping off suddenly, and slowing is the only way to drive the off ramp safely. But again, we are conly warned about this fact. It is, however, illegal to drive f like an idiot, always and under 4 MANAGER any circumstance, signs or no signs. Then we have the on- ramp. Boy oh boy, is this 2 can of worms. Legal require- ments for both drivers merg- ing and drivers already on a highway are not addressed specifically in the mighty Motor Vehicle Act. We extrapolate from various laws (car-on-right, means-of-signal- ing, lane-change and due-con- sideration-fer-others) our assigned roles when a merge occurs and are left with a lap full of contradictions. Some will argue that the MERGE sign merging drivers face legally requires them to yield to vehicles already on the highway. This is bunk for several reasons. The merge sign is printed on yellow and is a warning only, a regulatory YIELD sign which tells merg- ing drivers to lawfully yield is only placed when the merge complicates things for drivers on the highway. And even if the merge sign was regulatory then so would be the MERG- ING TRAFFIC AHEAD sign posted for highway traffic and oN sa the nvo would cancel each other out. Fortunately, these argu- ments are not the thrust af ers and professional drivers agree that the best way to merge onto a highway is to accelerate to highway speeds and then move into an open space in traffic. [ve received many letters from readers who brag about the fact that they slow down on an acceleration lane (a contradictory use) and wait for traffic to clear, some- times waiting several minutes. This method is fine and dandy except that most peo- ple don’t slow when entering 80 km-h traffic — they accel- crate to 80 km-h unless some timid or incognizant driver has slowed and caused a log jam. Further, there are highway drivers who will make an effort ro let a merger ease into traffic. Their efforts are rebutted by the slow poke and they may cause a log jam of their own while simply trying to be considerate. It may be helpful to liken merging with a good old fash- ioned western movie. Let's say the highway is railroad and traffic is a train. Now fet’s pre- tend that the merger is the hero of the story and must get aboard the train and save the damsel in distress. How does he do it? Obviously he does not stand beside the train track See Merging page 40 armen BRAKE SPECIALISTS ¥ SERVICE LTO. B.C.A.A. - A.R.A. - APPROVED BRAKES - LIFETIME WARRANTY | (on shoes or pads} TALKING OUR 38TH YEAR TIRED OF T ALL THE STRINGS? HIDDEN | COSTS? | SURPRISES? | LEASING MADE SIMPLE + No confusion - Locally owned + No secrets No hassles . All Mt makes CONTACT hey a | ‘$7 ESTEEM i r/80,000:km_warr sete n « Flexibility ° Bank rate 980 80-241 1 — & CONSULTATION 4.176 PEMBERTON AVE.N.VAN. 985-7455 299-9000 UZi4isis. ” KIDS FOLLOW THE WATER SAFETY RULES DO YOU? - The Canadian Red Cross Society f *Based cet a prime rate of 3% Friday, February 28, 1997 — North Shore News — 39 We'll Squash your interest. Why pay your Autoplan by credit card? Enjoy a low interest rate of around 8%", with Autoplan 12 at BCAA. iso featuring: * Twelve easy-to-budget payments ° No renewal fee Nobody has you covered like BCAA (O08 Park Royal North isi 1 Visit us today! (exterior location betwoen Canada Trust & The Bay) Phone 268-2650 We are a government licensed inspection facility. Must present coupon, expires Feb 28/97 CANADIAN TIRE (Pacific Associate Stores Limited) 1345 Marine Drive (near Lions Gate) 981-6000 1341 Main St. 981-6618