Stop the cliche!
Seriously. This is getting under my skin now. Almost every writer that's writing about Right Hand Drives thinks they're clever and inevitably come up with the same title.
Times Colonist following the Cliche - via TimesColonist.com
"Right hand drive right for Canada?" or some variation of that theme. It's been done. It's like making your facebook status say "So-And-So is". It's been done a million times before..... be more creative.
Do you need proof of this? Google it. Here's a Google tip: put quotes around your phrase to match exactly that phrase.
Cliche Proof!
There we go. 143000 items. Papers like The Sun are syndicated, and run lots of the same articles, so there is some redundancy, but... yeah.... 143 THOUSAND.
Dear Journalists: Be more creative.
At least Journalists are "glass half full" people and say "right for Canada" as opposed to CADA's "Right Hand Drive - Wrong for Canada". But they do have an agenda after all - keeping their wallets overstuffed selling overpriced new vehicles. Check out this old post for more on that if you're interested.
rob
Update on CADA’s lobbying and IVOAC’s rebuttal to ICBC stats
The Big News!
ICBC's stats on RHD safety has been the topic of discussion for RHD drivers since it's release.
Here's a quick lesson in statistics. What is proof vs. a trend? It has to do with the variability of what you're studying. Proof implies that something is Statistically Significantly different than the control (the base case... the common case... in this case Left Hand Drives). A trend is to show that on average it's more likely. ICBC saw a trend. Not proof.
IVOAC.ca and UBC have published a report discrediting the report released by ICBC.
Not only that, the report from IVOAC/UBC has torn apart the data and discredited the report finding by finding.... scientifically.
CADA updates
So, this has been on the news a lot lately. So here are a few more links.
http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2010/10/20/con-right-hand-drive.html
http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/News/Canada/1221258968/ID=1622396300
http://podcast.cbc.ca/w6/worldatsix.mp3
http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/News/Consumer_Life/1244504495/ID=1624085613
http://www.globallethbridge.com/Questioning+safety+with+right+hand+drive+vehicles/3706409/story.html
http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2010/10/20/15766591.html
http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/22/canadian-dealer-association-looks-to-ban-right-hand-drive-cars
Most of them say the same thing, some with journalistic flair. Most of them _do_ put RHDs in negative light though. 'Right hand drive wrong for Canada' is the theme.... Unfortunately RHD is synonymous with 'drift cars' and 'high end sports cars'. Say that to me with my minitruck.
Really too bad. RHDer have done lots of rebuttals... but we need to do something bigger. But what? Got an idea... email me and I'll help however I can.
rob
Radio Interview Complete!
Well. I don't sound like a _complete_ jackass. We'll call it a win.
We didn't get to CADA, I only got to mention JIS... but there's some good stuff here. So much more to talk about!
And, without further delay...
Again, this is chopped to the segment that I'm in, but in it's complete state, with ads. Head over to CJOB.com for more if you like it! The show is The Road Trip and I had a lot of fun doing this.
Part 2 of the CJOB talk, featuring me?!
rob
RightHandDrive.ca on the Radio!
So. I heard about a segment on CJOB in Winnipeg discussing RHDs on Canadian roads, because of CADA's lobbying.
So. I listened to it (go go gadget internet!) and found it interesting. It was pretty well balanced, but the people who called in were.... useless.
Sigh.
I heard that they would rehash the discussion about RHDs on Saturday on the radio show The Road Trip. Interesting.... so I sent the hosts an email saying who I am, and what I do.... and they added me to the panel. Wicked! So. Listen in to CJOB at about 11:3o this Saturday (listen online if you're out of Manitoba) and hear my thoughts!
Here is the first segment I heard. It is off the CJOB website, shortened down the the core data, and in it's complete state. You can find the full interview here: http://www.cjob.com/other/audiovault.html.
rob
Victom’s family calling for ban
Well. I was unfortunately right about this. I suspected the victom's family would be calling for a ban on RHDs, and they are.
I have details about the unfortunate crash in my last post. I want to reiterate that this crash is a tragedy and that it was completely avoidable. But it was just that, completely avoidable - and entirely the driver's fault. Not the fault of the car.
This is VERY bad press for our kind since it happen in the same town that national laws are crafted.
rob
Fairlady Z in Accident in Ottawa
This story has been in the news a lot lately, and I thought I should say something about it.
The first news article I saw was this one on Yahoo News via the Ottawa Citizen. Long and the short of it is that that a driver of a Fairlady Z (JDM version of a 300ZX) was racing, lost control hitting and killing a man, and critically injuring his wife. The man and wife were at a bus stop minding their own business when it happened.
It's horrible, and I'm not trying to downplay that. But the fact the car was an RHD was a big part of the article. This didn't bother me much, but the follow-up mentioned it too.
This accident had NOTHING to do with the fact the vehicle was a right hand drive. 300ZXs were released in Canada with the same motor and the same amount of power. In fact, being an RHD the driver would have had better view of the sidewalk, since he was on that side of the car. The driver lost control due to the way he was driving the car, not where he was sitting in the car.
This accident was due to the driver, not the car. And it really bothers me that the handedness of the car even made it in to this article. I feel that RHDs are viewed negatively in media and that it is unearned negativity.
rob
Manitoba cracking down on RHD Compliance
A friend of mine got a registered mail from MPI (Manitoba Public Insurance) that he was to make an appointment to get his vehicle checked out for 'unsafe parts'. He had 10 days to make an appointment. Chances are (though this is still up in the air) is that he will have 30 days to make the necessary changes or they will pull his plates.
He called in to see what they were looking for. Headlights, seatbelts and compliance issues.
He has a post here, on minitrucktalk.com.
He's got a Daihatsu like me... so clearly I have vested interest.
I'll try to keep things updated.
rob
Fight for the Right!
A new challenger appears!
Since Quebec has banned right hand drive cars, there has been a lot of stir. The latest movement is on the part of Dominique Poirier, a fellow right hand driver. He has recently founded the Vehicle Choice Freedom Foundation to fight the change that Quebec has made. Dom has been part of the fight for a long time, but this is a solid rallying point for Quebec RHDers.
He's organizing a rally on September 6th (Labour Day) and all Quebec RHD drivers and supporters should head out to support the cause.
Dom: Thanks for creating a rallying point for our common cause. We're all behind you.
Somewhat related
I thought this was odd.... someone posted a link to my site on the CNet forums. It looks 1/2 like spam, 1/2 like a cudos. I'm flattered either way. I just REALLY like the title: Speakeasy: Quebec, so left wing they won't even allow Right Hand Drive. I don't even think it makes sense... but it's awesome.
Site news
Other news: Site is back up. The cable internet connection at my new place was totally fubar'd. There'll be spotty service until my servers settle into their permanent spots in the house. Bear with me during these changes.
Delica Meetup in BC
I can only approve of this. I'm glad to see people getting together and enjoying their Right Hand Drives. AMAZING photos on the site helps too! Cudos to Delica.ca's members for organizing this and sharing!
rob
Big Right Hand Drive meetup – Winnipeg!
Hey all.
If you're in Winnipeg, near Winnipeg or really motivated to get to Winnipeg.... there's a big Right Hand Drive meetup I'm arranging.
Who: Right hand drivers and their cars (and the usuals who usually go)
What: A big RHD meetup in Winnipeg!
Where: Pony Corral on Grant
When: 8:00 pm, August 1st
Why: There's a ton of RHDs in Winnipeg, get to know the other people who have the same interests
I talked to the owner, and he said two interesting things.
- Special Interest Cars only - Well. If a RHD ain't 'special interest' I don't know what is. All our cars are in good shape, so... bring em out!
- Headlining! - So, there's always some REALLLY nice cars close to the entrance of the Pony. We CAN get those spots. Your car has to be super shiny and interesting. My minitruck is out. If someone wants to headline, get in touch with me and I'm willing to help you get your car there on time.
The Pony Corral is a 'Come and Go' event. Let's aim to all be there between 8:00 and 8:30. Some people might want to aim to be there at 7 or 7:30 and leave at 8:30, some people might only want to be there at 8 and stay till 10. It's up to you, but it'd be a great photo-op if we all were there between 8 and 8:30.
Tell all your friends. Let's have a HUGE turn-out.
You don't _have_ to RSVP, but toss a comment below if you're coming so we know a rough number.
Addendum:
I've posted this all over the internet... with replies all over the place, check 'em out if you want to!
- http://www.canadagtir.com/
- http://www.minitrucktalk.com/
- http://forum.ivoac.ca/
- http://forums.skylineforums.com/
- http://forums.gtrcanada.com/
- http://www.delica.ca/
- http://forum.ih8mud.com/
- http://www.rx7club.com/
- http://www.toyotalexusforum.com/
- http://forums.jdmvip.com
- http://forums.skylineforums.com
- http://supraforums.com/forum
- http://www.4x4wire.com
PEI – Reading the News Brief
I've been re-reading the News Brief and it seems that RHDs are not outright banned.
Once legislation is passed, right-hand-drive vehicles will have to meet Canadian Motor Vehicles Safety Standards in order to be registered. Vehicles that have already been registered in the province can continue to be used.
By the sounds of this, the legislation has not passed (but likely will) and existing RHDs are ok. By the sounds if it there will not be an all-out ban.
I know that my 1990 Daihatsu Hijet does not have a catalytic converter, so might not pass emissions test. My friend's 92 Hijet does, and likely would pass.
I don't know how private insurance works, since I live in a province with public insurance. I'll keep doing some research to find out more about the proposed legislation.
rob