Sooner or later, the topic of traffic was going to come up.
Thousands of motorists, passengers, and pedestrians move about the city every day. Numerous bylaws, provincial, and federal statutes govern this movement.
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You can consider all this for two reasons: safety and traffic flow. Pedestrians are included as they can be charged for various offenses regarding roads and vehicle traffic.
A pedestrian does not have the right of way at all times; however, when a pedestrian does have the right of way, due diligence to their own safety should still be a priority. As a pedestrian, walk defensively to avoid any collisions with vehicles.
If a pedestrian is crossing a roadway committing an offence and is hit by a vehicle, they would most likely be at fault. This could be jaywalking or crossing at a controlled intersection against the control device indication. For both drivers and pedestrians, safety should be the number one goal and not an attitude of ‘I am in the right’.
Bicycle riders must also be aware of their requirements when on or near roadways.
There is not enough space here to go over all situations or offences so if you ride a bike, please research the requirements in riding to remain safe and legally compliant.
Driving offences are made by either unknowing drivers or those who knowingly disregard the laws.
Every fully licenced driver in Canada is required to pass a written and road test requiring most basic driving laws to be demonstrated during the driving exam. Requirements such as seatbelts, distracted driving, turn signal use, speed, intersections, lane use, etc. are basic and not one Canadian driver can say they aren’t aware of them.
The mere fact that a person possesses a valid driver’s licence compels them to know all the laws that govern driving in the province in which they are driving.
Do all drivers know all the laws? No, offenses like driving a golf cart on a road without a drivers license and the requirement for your vehicle hood to have a primary and secondary latch may not be widely known, but that does not absolve a driver.
By operating a motor vehicle on a roadway, or in the case of a pedestrian walking, all drivers and pedestrians are accepting the responsibility of the laws.
If a driver has questions about a particular area of a roadway, such as a multi-entrance-exit intersection, it is best to find out how to navigate it legally.
Also, every driver is responsible for any vehicle they are driving, whether or not they own it, in meeting all legal requirements.
Should you disagree with a driving law, don’t argue with an officer about it as we don’t create the laws. Fines are a way to address offences and an arguing abusive driver will most often negate discretion being exercised by an officer. There is a process to contest a violation ticket and it is best to follow that.
– Staff Sgt. Jerry Nutbown, is the NCO in charge of the Lloydminster RCMP detachment’s General Investigation Section. Stay tuned for future articles from the Lloydminster RCMP.
This column was originally published in the Dec. 12, 2024, edition of the Meridian Source.
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