Driving in Canada

[Ch00]

Any top tips for driving in Canada mainly Vancouver to whistler area?

Going in May quite excited!!

[Red ones]

I am reliably informed...
Don't filter. (Hard to in a car)
Don't speed
Don't use a mobile when driving.

The Police don't take lightly to motoring offences and locals are pretty good at sticking to the law. There is, apparently, a local initiative that encourages car passengers to photo/video driving offences by others and then shop them.

I'd be excited going there too.

[Luckypants]

Don't speed is a good one, although it is worth taking your time to look at the amazing scenery. I've driven there twice, two weeks driving a mini-bus loaded with kayaks and two weeks driving a 27 foot RV, both times it was quite easy and no issues. Just the usual thing to remember to drive on the right!

[dizzyblonde]

Wait for Berlin to comment, he lives there

[shiftin_gear98]

I've driven there, it's nice. Way quieter than here.


Try to look at the road and not out the window too much!
Not sure what the weather will be like then I went in Nov, snow everywhere. Was epic.


Drove from Vancouver - Kamloops - Banff - Jasper - Whistler and back.


Banff to Jasper couldn't see the actual road, just the verges all covered in ice. No snow chains allowed - hire car. Loved it.


If you drive at night, say into a smaller town (Jasper) watch out for the Elk.
They like to stand in the road!!
Ok if they are facing you, you can see the eyes, but scary side on.


Have fun it's an amazing place. Very jealous.

[johnnyrod]

I've only driven in Ontario, the state laws there may be slightly different. Yes if the cops ctach you at 50kph over the limit they can take your car and leave you at the side of the road. Also if the fuzz have someone stopped on the hard should you need to move over to lane 2 (so a clear lane between you and them) as you pass them or they really get the hump. Finally the drivers are terrible, overtaking on the right isn't allowed but they do anyway, mainly because they're too busy juggling their Tim Horton's, phone and joint all at once to be bothered about lanes etc. As you live in the south maybe you won't even notice.

PS very envious, have been told that if you go to BC you have to be prepared to never want to leave.

We last visited 5yrs ago, no real driving problems just be prepared for the unexpected if the roads are a little "quiet", double check with Berlin on which Debit/Credit cards are best to use. Most main petrol stations use pre-pay machines, I could'nt get used to the "pump talking" to me!!!!
If you can afford the time and cost a ferry ride across to Vancouver Island is well worthwhile.
Stanley park in Vancouver well worth visiting as is Chinatown if you have the time.
If you know anyone with an older NAVMAN satnav I have the Canada/North America maps sd card if it's of any use.

You will enjoy, even more if you take some fishing equipment.

Can't add much but certainly if driving at night look out for moose, they're huge and if you hit one you both lose. Also, all the trucks seem to come out at night and they don't hang about which won't help if you're trying to stick to the limits. Otherwise it tends to be a lot queiter than over here.

[johnnyrod]

Are there any toll roads? There are in ON, but you don't have to stop, ANPR gets you and a few weeks later the car hire company sends you the invoice. I would check the lie of the land if I were you when you pick itup, I ended up by accident on the toll road!

[Ch00]

Cheers for the info

There are some toll roads but they seem to be towards the west of BC.

We had got a 12 night tour on a coach/boat and train. We are going to Victoria Island.

Only need the car for a day to get to Whistler when we stay extra night at Vancouver.