Driving through Canada? Here’s what you should know
A contributed post as written for The Safe Driver.
Have you decided to crisscross the countryside, seeing what sights this beautiful country has to offer? If so, congratulations – you are certainly in for a treat. Now, while this will be an adventure that you won’t forget, it is also important to keep in mind that driving across the country can be an entirely different experience.
From laws to language barriers, there may be a lot more to consider than you may have anticipated. Well, there’s no need to worry about any of that, though, as you will find all of those important details right here…
The Intoxication Laws
Now, as a whole, a blood alcohol level that of 0.08 BAC or higher is considered a criminal offense throughout the country. What does change, though, are the punishments that are handed out for levels that are lower than this. Here, the laws change depending on the province that you are charged in.
If you aren’t a lawyer or legal professional, all of these details can be rather difficult to wrap your head around. This is why, if you are pulled over for such an offense, you should speak with a DUI lawyer immediately. It is the best chance that you have of resolving the issue as quickly and as peacefully as possible.
Speed Limits
Another tricky thing to figure out is the speed limits. After all, they can change rather quickly from one section to a next. So, if you aren’t familiar with a particular stretch, it is quite easy for you to be driving over the legal limit. Unfortunately, there aren’t always signs available to show you that you are making a mistake.
To prevent this mistake, your best option is to rely on a GPS map when you are in doubt. You will find that most modern options will give you some information on the various speed limits. Thus, regardless of where you go, you will always know which speed limit to drive at.
Translations
As you pass through cities like Quebec, you will begin to realize that the road signs aren’t as familiar as you remember them. This, of course, is because some of them will be in French. To cut down on any confusion, it is best to brush up on your French road signs ahead of time. At the very least, carry some sort of translation device that can translate any words that you aren’t sure of.
If you plan on staying in any cities for an extended period of time, you may want to brush up on the local laws there. For instance, while everyone may know what is domestic assault and the punishments associated with it, traffic violations aren’t as well known. To make sure that you don’t land in any hot water, it is best to do some research ahead of time.
Sure, finding out all of this information may be a little time consuming or frustrating. However, it certainly does beat the alternative. So, always prepare properly when planning on driving through Canada. With a little bit of preparation, you will be setting yourself up for a wonderful experience.
My family has only driven in Canada during the summer. How do you know what sort of shape the roads are in in the winter?
Prior to making the trip and before heading to other parts of Canada, go to the weather network and check the location of road conditions. It can let you know if the roads are bare, dry, partly covered, etc.