Right hand drive in a parking garage
Doing the drive through
There's a big post coming up next week... I'll leave this here to tide you over!
Hope you all had a good week!
rob
What would you do?
What would you do?
We know that police officers tend to target right hand drives. Sometimes though, they don't know they just pulled over a right hand drive.... and go to the wrong side of the car.
One day I was thinking about what I would do if I was the cop on the wrong side of the car. I then realized that I have no pride. I'd make a joke saying, "Oh, it's one of those."
Turns out that most police officers have more pride than me though. I've heard from some people that some officers will not only go to the wrong window the first time, but if they go to their car and come back they'll STILL go to the wrong window. My message to these officers: Two wrongs do not make a right.
The police, unfortunately, do have a good case to pull over RHDs. Occasionally officers will pull over RHDs just to check out the car (had the same problem in my '74 Baja Bug), sometimes because the driver is being a moron (if your car has 300+ HP, it's hard not to... it's cool). Those points aside, compliance is a big thing. Even though your car is 15+ years old, it has to meet certain standards to be on the road. Safety checks (or your province's equivalent) will not always catch everything.
I don't want to launch into a big talk about compliance right now. Headlights, tail lights, side markers and seatbelts seem to be the hot-button topics. The Imported Vehicle Owners Association of Canada has a FANTASTIC forum that discusses issues such as this. If you're in doubt about it, and don't want to ask a cop about it... ask there. There is lots and lots of people that really know their stuff there.
Cheers!
rob
Image via http://www.wheels24.co.za/News/General_News/Carrera-GT-killing-M600-ready-20090623
How do people buy RHDs? Part 1
Although this question seems funny at first glance, it's not as simple as some people think.
There are two obvious ways to get buy a right hand drive vehicle if you're in Canada: Buy local, or import.
Buying an already imported RHD
So, say you're looking at buying a right hand drive and the car is already in Canada. This could be either privately, or through a forward-thinking dealer. Interestingly enough, as long as the car is safetied (or your province's equivalent).... it's just like buying a used car. If the car has a safety certificate..... you're done!
You might want to be proactive and make sure the car is 15 years old, and not skirting the law in any way (yes, there are ways this is done). Also, make sure you know if you're buying a RHD conversion, or a car that's always been a RHD (JDM spec).
The truck I bought had been registered in Manitoba before I bought it, so it was 'in the system'. I'm not sure what magic is all needed for the first time it is registered... but given it was imported properly and you have the documentation it shouldn't be a hassle (or, more of a hassle than usual). The 'first time insurance' will also vary province to province.
So... if it's here and has been registered in the past, it's just buying another used car. Best place to look? Kijiji.ca. Ebay is more miss than hit. Autotrader is also a good option, but kijiji is making it irrelevant.
Hang on for next week for more!
rob
After one year of Right hand driving
My Kei
I've had my truck for about a year now. Here's my experiences driving a Daihatsu Hijet in Winnipeg for a year as a daily driver.
I've been lucky, and have had no issues with 'the fuzz'. I often get looks, but my truck isn't exceedingly fast or sporty-looking so they usually just keep on going.
I've gone through one Manitoba winter with my Hijet now. The truck came with 12" rims and tires the truck came with did manage to get me through, but I wanted to upgrade. First issue - 1990-199something Hijets have a 4x110 bolt pattern. A guy who sells tires and rims for a living told me that there is no such thing as 4x110 bolt patterns. Solution - I managed to find 4x110 13" rims from a 86ish Mazda RX-7. Looks pretty cool now. Second issue - except there is a hub on the front axle that the rim wouldn't fit over, so I had to bore out the hub on the rim to get it to fit over. Not especially fun.
Having 4x4 on such a light vehicle was a boon on ice-covered roads. My acceleration was outstanding. I but on 175/80R13s so I have a lot more meat on the tires than before, which has given the truck absurdly good handling.
What about on the highway? Heh. I have the 4 speed model. It can go 100km/h, but it's revving pretty high. If you want to do a lot of highway, you should aim for the 5 speed. I've probably put on about 10-12 hours on the highway.... and it's ok.... but it's not 'good'.
How powerful is the 660cc motor? Surprisingly not bad. The truck weighs nothing, which helps. I put a pallet of sod on the back and it... uh... moved. Which was good. I think the truck doubled in weight and it still was pretty ok. I was quite impressed. The Hijet is truly an truck and can really hold it's own. I saw a F150 pick up approximately the same load with only a little less troubles.
Would I buy another one? Yes. I actually want a Hilux Surf now... but I love my little truck.
Any other issues so far? No? The parking brake light is staying on right now... I just need to tighten a spring and that'll go away. I need to change the oil filter, but just got the part number for that (Mastercraft 17-1747).
Overall, I'm super impressed. I wish they would sell something like this here in Canada new so we're not limited to 'old' vehicles.
rob
What’s it like driving a right hand drive?
This is a common question. Usually followed up by, "Is it safe to drive a right hand drive?"
Clearly these questions can be translated to, "Is is safe to drive a right hand drive in a left hand drive country?"
The answer really lies with the person behind the wheel. That being said, driving an RHD in a LHD country does have it's gotchas, but they're not as bad as you might expect.
In a straight line, it's the same. It feels strangely not unusual to be 'driving from the passenger seat'. If you think about it, you've sat in the passenger seat of a car quite a few times in your life... now there just happens to be a steering wheel there. But, you know where the car should be sitting on the road and it doesn't feel awkward. Shifting with the left hand (given you have a manual transmission) is also surprisingly natural. And, consider this. The majority of the population is right-handed. Should your dominant hand be doing what's keeping your alive (steering) or not (shifting). So, it actually makes some sense!
In a straight line, it's the exact same dangerousness (let's make up some words!) as driving in the far left lane in a multi-lane one-way. Really, not that hard.
Where you will get a little hung up is turning. Left turns across large intersections can be a little tricky. Usually, in a LHD, you can nose in and try to look past the vehicle across the intersection that's also trying to make a left turn.... even this is often hard in a LHD. In a RHD you're further right in the car and have to nose even further in to see past obstructions. It's not often that it's an issue, but it can be.
The blind spots in RHD are similar to LHDs, but the mirror image. One thing that keeps catching me is this: when doing a right-on-red I nose into the intersection and turn a little to the right. This shifts my passenger up a bit and no they're in my line of sight. Easy to fix. Either lean forward, ask them if there is traffic, or don't have a passenger. After a bit you don't do that any more. There are the same problems when you're driving a LHD, but you don't think about them anymore. The same thing happens in an RHD. You just adjust and forget about it.
There are some publications saying how dangerous RHDs are in LHD traffic. SAAQ (Quebec's public insurance) has published a document detailing their statistics in attempts to show that RHDs are a menace on the roads. I feel that this document is flawed, but won't get into that right now. They make some good point, and is overall a good read. I don't think that it's sufficient evidence to stop insuring RHDs.
ICBC (BC's public insurance) has published a document in the same vein as SAAQ. ICBC has acknowledged that the findings are difficult to interpret since there are no sure-shot ways of discovering whether or not a car that is insured is right hand drive or not.
Both of these documents have their valid points. There is major points for skew though. They, again, are worth the read.
Overall, it's the same, just different. It's no more dangerous than any other vehicle if you're paying attention and not driving like a moron. Some (maybe even most) of these cars that are brought in are high power cars that are difficult to not drive like a moron. This might be the problem, but it's a problem with the drivers, not the cars.
rob
Why are are all Right hand drives in Canada 15 years old or more?
"Is it legal to import Right hand drives into Canada?" "Is it legal to import Japanese cars into Canada?" "Why are all right hand drives in Canada old?"
This is a common question, and has a pretty simple answer. This is, of course, Canada specific. Provinces vary in the way they handle RHD vehicles (*cough cough* Quebec) but at a national level there is a single answer.
When vehicles get imported into Canada, you must go through the Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV), whose website is http://www.riv.ca/. The have certain criteria that must be met for a vehicle to be officially imported into Canada. This information can be viewed at their Vehicle Admissibility page. There you can see a list of vehicles that can be imported into Canada. If your car is on that list, you should have minimal problems. If it's not... you're trying to import a 'grey market vehicle'. (Hot tip: all RHDs are grey market vehicles).
Moving down that page, you'll see
Grey market vehicles (excluding buses) less than 15 years old from the date of manufacture and buses (including school buses) manufactured on or after January 1, 1971 are inadmissible for entry into Canada.
Alright. 15 years. That's our first indicator that we can import our RHD.... where did they pull this magical 15 years from?
Let's go to where our loophole resides. The Exemptions page.
Vehicles are exempt from the Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV) registration if they are imported under one of the following conditions:
- Vehicles older than 15 years
The vehicles (excluding buses) are 15 years old or more based on the date of manufacture, or are buses (including school buses) manufactured before January 1, 1971. The importer must be able to prove the age of the vehicle.
Yay! This paragraph is why we are allowed to import our RHD cars after they are 15 years old. They don't have to meet any standards, and are rubber-stamped into the country.
There is a drawback to this. This also means that your car may or may not meet safety standards for Canada (Kei trucks would never ever ever pass Canadian safety standards....). They're not designed for this environment, so you have to really watch what you're buying. I believe that all provinces require a 'safety' before the vehicle can be registered, so that's something, but buyer beware.
So, yes. It is legal to import Japanese cars into Canada.... you just have to be patient.
rob
Quebec perminently bans Right Hand Drives
It's happened.
It's official.
The moratorium on right hand drives in Quebec has become permanent.
The post is here, or if you speak French.
This is clearly a blow to the Canadian right hand drive society. Current owners are grandfathered yet again, but no new cars will be allowed to be registered.
All we can do now is petition the Quebec government to overturn it, or Canadian government to overrule it.
rob
edit: updated links
Hilarious Hijet Ad and Thoughts
I found this ad, and have to share. For those of us that have 'highly functional vehicles' this is very very funny.
This is also funny since this ad is apparently from 1996. If anyone from the UK sees this they'll think it's old hat. For those of us that are just discovering this market, it's new, fresh and different.
I've been thinking about that for the entire site. All (well, most) RHDs in Canada are at least 15 years old. People from RHD countries must think we're crazy for getting excited about these old cars. But again, these cars are new to our country and have lots of personality.
Funny story. I ran into a Japanese acquaintance and showed them photos of my truck, thinking that they'd be excited and think it's funny. To my surprise they thought it was stupid, and asked me why "I'd by a dumb old truck like that." After my feelings were less hurt I thought about it, and they're right. It is old and dumb... to them. In Japan, my truck would not likely be someone's daily driver, but a work truck. Here it's a novelty and fun.
At any rate, if you've got a right hand drive here in Canada, be proud! Even though it's 15 years old. Call it a fine wine; better with age.
rob
Quebec Parliament RHD Petition – Sign now!
The Parliament of Quebec has released a petition to allow RHD cars back on the road in Quebec. There is currently a moratorium on insuring new RHD cars on the road in Quebec. They have also put scooter-like regulations on Kei cars, like limiting speeds and limiting which roads Kei cars can drive on.
The signing does not seem to be a limited to people who live in Quebec. There are both state/province and country fields... so sign!
My worry is that if Quebec bans RHD cars, the rest of Canada will follow.
Petition to lift the moratorium on Right Hand Drive Cars: http://www.assnat.qc.ca/petition/SignerEn.aspx?idPetition=118
Petition to lift the restrictions on Kei Cars: http://www.assnat.qc.ca/petition/SignerEn.aspx?idPetition=119
The fine print is in French, I've used babel fish to translate it for your convenience.
Text of RHD Petition
Text off the petition:
CONSIDERING THAT the access to the public ways in Quebec prohibited east, since April 29, 2009, with the majority of the vehicles provided with a wheel on the right, except for the 2.500 vehicles registered before this date;
CONSIDERING THAT this measurement does not form part of the recommendations of the Québécois Table of the road safety;
CONSIDERING THAT the European countries, Japan, the United States and the Canadian provinces never saw the need for prohibiting the traffic provided with a driver's cab on the side opposed to their national standards;
CONSIDERING THAT many new models, having the wheel on the left, are sold in Japan and the United Kingdom and that, in spite of the cohabitation of the two positions of control, that does not affect their assessments of road safety;
CONSIDERING THAT the recent study of the SAAQ does not take account of all the facts and, consequently, that its conclusion must be questioned;
CONSIDERING THAT the two decrees of the government, come into effect without notice, harmed considerably the businesses of the owners and importers of this type of vehicles; We, signatories of this petition, ask the National Assembly of Quebec to make pressure on the government so that are not prohibited on the right the imported, vehicles 15 years old and more, not provided with a driver's cab, and require that one take time to examine any change going in this direction within the framework of a parliamentary commission.
Text of Kei Car Petition
Note: Kei is interchangeable with 'light'
CONSIDERING THAT, under the terms of the ministerial decree 2009-15 of October 22, 2009, the vehicles known as “light” cannot circulate any more, and this since December 27, 2009, on the motorways of Quebec as any public way on which allowed maximum speed is of more than 70 km/h;
CONSIDERING THAT this restriction also applies to the owners having acquired of such a vehicle before the coming into effect of the known as ministerial decree;
CONSIDERING THAT there does not exist, in the road Error correcting code, of clear beacons allowing to determine the vehicles not offering enough protection for their occupants;
CONSIDERING THAT certain “light vehicles” answer security standards on the protection of their occupants;
CONSIDERING THAT the “light vehicles” offer more protection than the motor cycles and the auto-cycles;
CONSIDERING THAT the minister of Transport recently a pilot scheme aiming set up at reducing the requirements as regards driving licence for the motor cycle with three wheels “Spyder”, marketed by Bombardier;
CONSIDERING THAT the vehicles classified like antiques, not having been conceived to meet standards of protection of their occupants, do not have any access control to the public ways; We, signatories of this petition, ask l' National Assembly of Quebec to make pressure on the government so that the access to the public ways is not restricted for the “light vehicles” and let us ask that one take time to examine any change going in this direction within the framework of a parliamentary commission.
Consider signing.... tell your friends! Spread the word!
rob
What are the controls like in a Right Hand Drive car?
This question isn't as simple as it might seem. I'll tell you what I know, and then I'll tell you what the internet knows.
To get it out of the way I'll tell you straight off that the pedals are in the same order as LHD cars. Accelerator on the far right, then the brake to the left of that and then to the left of that, the clutch... if you have one. So, this carries over no problem.
The shifter is still in the middle of the car. No shocker there. For cars with manual transmissions you'll find that they have the same shift pattern as LHD cars. It's actually quite natural to shift with the left hand. My opinion is that 75%+ of the world is right handed. So, why would we make the majority of the population shift (the easy job) with their dominant hand and drive with the less useful hand?
My radio, though I don't know about others, is backwards. The volume knob is on the far right and the tuner is on the far left.... confuses the heck out of everyone. But that might be a one-off.
Ok, now for the messy part. The signal lights and wiper controls. These are opposite on right hand drive cars. So, you'll probably turn on the wipers when trying to signal a few times in the first week.
BUT
That's only in Japanese vehicles. Or, I should say, the common layout for controls in Japanese vehicles.
I've been told that right hand drives in the UK have the signal controls on the left, much like North American LHDs. The learning curve might be a little simpler for North Americans in this instance. But, after talking to a few Brits before this post it sounds like it's more of a mixed bag of signal light control locations.
If you're considering a right hand drive and are worried about the controls, don't be. I switch between right and left hand cars on a regular basis and it's never an issue. I'd say I choose the wrong control and turn on the windshield wipers about once a month because I switch back and forth... but most people wouldn't even notice that something went wrong as long as you don't panic.
Rob