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Some time in the late 1990s, car pooling became increasingly prevalent on major British Columbia highways. Sharing one’s vehicle with one or more passengers is a partial solution to saving on fuel and reducing traffic volume.

After Canada Day on July 1, the next statutory holiday in British Columbia is Labour Day weekend. It always seems a long way off because it’s one of the best times to visit friends or family or finally take that road trip with the kids in tow.

According to NASA, the Rockies can be seen from space. Breathtaking landscapes across British Columbia draw visitors from all over the world. On a fateful day this month, a tourist visiting the province was barely 30 km from renowned Lake Louise.

When an irresistible force meets an immovable object, it doesn’t matter what time of night or day it might be. Pedestrians could be circulating on sidewalks, along city streets at any time, especially those who work night or graveyard shifts or have simply chosen to take a stroll in the fresh night air.

Motorcycles became common sights on roadways some time after World War I. Robustly built and noisy, they fired up the imagination and recreational motorcycle clubs mushroomed across the country.

Driving defensively is one of the primary rules of the road in British Columbia as elsewhere. It sounds like it means that drivers must have eyes in the back of their heads when all it really calls for is being keenly aware of other drivers as well as of the road ahead.

For some people in British Columbia, being behind the wheel of a car seems to bring out the worst in them. Perhaps some drivers feel empowered when driving, exhilarated by controlling a lustrous and impressive machine.

Some highways are treacherous and the scene of road fatalities more often than others. Excessive speed, or sometimes human error, can also be the cause of critical injury or loss of life. When several negatives converge, however, an entire family can perish.

A character in the classic movie, American Graffiti, says it all: Driving is a serious business. Deadly serious, one might add without exaggeration, for the very good reason that loss of life may result. Driving has become such a commonplace activity that drivers can sometimes neglect to remain fully alert.

British Columbia cyclists negotiating big city streets need to be alert and knowledgeable about road regulations. Experienced cyclists can develop a sixth sense as to whether the drivers around them are aware of their presence, which can significantly reduce their odds of being involved in bicycle accidents.