Upon arriving in Canada, a nation on wheels, obtaining a driver's license naturally becomes one of the top priorities for many Canadian immigrants during their initial period of settlement. Before doing so, it is recommended that all new immigrants familiarize themselves with local traffic regulations as early as possible, especially regarding certain "minefields" that require extra caution, to avoid unnecessary trouble.
Always Wear Your Seatbelt
Generally speaking, every province requires drivers and front-seat passengers to wear seatbelts. However, many provinces are now even stricter, requiring all passengers in a standard passenger vehicle to wear seatbelts; failure to do so will result in penalties if discovered.
Keep Your Children in the Back Seat
If you are a Canadian immigrant with children, you should be aware that Canadian law mandates that all children aged 12 and under must sit in the back seat, and infants and toddlers under the age of 4 must use specialized safety seats. This is because children's bones are relatively soft and are more susceptible to greater impact during emergency braking.
Pay Attention to Stop Signs
Stop signs usually appear at smaller intersections and serve the function of traffic lights. Because these intersections are smaller and have less traffic, there is no need for traffic lights; however, for safety reasons, when a vehicle reaches the intersection, it must come to a complete stop, check for pedestrians and other vehicles at the crossroad, and then proceed. If there are pedestrians, you must yield to them; for other vehicles, the principle of first-come, first-served applies.
Never Drive Under the Influence
In Canada, accidents caused by driving under the influence are more frequent than those caused by other factors. Penalties for impaired driving in each province are very severe; in addition to fines and demerit points, you may face imprisonment depending on the circumstances. You may also hear about the DUI Law, which stands for Driving Under the Influence of drugs or alcohol. This regulation prohibits driving while under the influence of substances that impair mental clarity, and once caught, the penalties are extremely harsh.
Pedestrians Have the Right of Way at Crosswalks
At most intersections in Canada, there are pedestrian traffic signals, and pedestrians are expected to follow these signals. Sometimes, due to low pedestrian volume, these lights do not turn green every cycle. Therefore, when you want to cross the street, you will find a button on the pole by the roadside; press it, and the control center will know that someone intends to cross, and the green light will turn on after a short while.
If you are driving through an intersection and a pedestrian is crossing the street, the pedestrian has the right of way under any circumstances. This is basic common knowledge in Canada.
