![]() 02/05/2016 at 11:14 • Filed to: Toronto, Canada, How to | ![]() | ![]() |
Your dollar is crap so I’m heading from Detroit to Toronto for the weekend.
I haven’t driven in Canada more then a few miles from the tunnel before, hell I don’t even know if I’ve seen a speed limit sign. Debating driving in MPH instead of KPH and telling the officer when I get pulled over: “sorry I’m Murican”.
But actually can I still do 10 over the limit and be okay? Any Canadians know if my radar detector will work and what band Canadian Police use? In Michigan I only pay attention to K and ignore all X alerts.
Do you have Moose crossing signs? Are the Mooses(meese?) so polite they only cross the road in designated areas?! What do I do if I happen to come across a gravy/syrup flood? I need answers people!
![]() 02/05/2016 at 11:18 |
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I thought radar detectors were illegal up there.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 11:18 |
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When you leaving?
Zeontestpilot is coming over to my house tomorrow to fix his brakes lol can stop by if you’re still in town
![]() 02/05/2016 at 11:21 |
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Leave the detector at home. If you’re pulled over and they see it you’ll get a huge fine. Also 10 kph over is fine. And you’ll only see moose crossing signs out in the country up north.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 11:22 |
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If you drive in MPH, you’re going to go slowly. 62mph is 100kmh. 10 over should be fine on a highway, 15 is the grey zone, don’t go more than that unless you’re confident.
Don’t use a radar detector in Canada, to my knowledge it’s illegal in every province.
If you’re driving in southern Ontario, you won’t see a moose. Sorry. Maybe a duck, or a beaver, but no moose.
Be sure to stop at Tim Horton’s. Roll Up The Rim just started, and you could win a Honda!
![]() 02/05/2016 at 11:22 |
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Ignorance of the speed limits will get you a ticket. And yes, radar detectors are illegal, and police have ways of detecting them.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 11:22 |
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Leaving in a few hours! Trying to party in other countries tonight. Thanks for the invite though.
We need an oppo meet up in the spring.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 11:23 |
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Oooo well that’d be good to know.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 11:23 |
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I dunno if I’d speed much more than 5 kph over the limit. The OPP have a rep for busting traveling ‘Muricans and probably won’t be impressed with the MPH/KPH excuse.
I would make sure to top off my tank before leaving the US as Canadian gas is generally a good bit more expensive.
Otherwise, Canada is a great place and Toronto is a fun city. Should be a fun trip!
![]() 02/05/2016 at 11:23 |
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Sounds good bro, have fun. Watch out for the moose
![]() 02/05/2016 at 11:24 |
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Other way around. If he drives 100 mph in a posted 100 kph zone, he’s going 60 kph over.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 11:25 |
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First, it’s mandatory to have a snackpack of Timbits and a coffee before you drive on any highway.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 11:26 |
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Wow. I need another coffee. Thanks
![]() 02/05/2016 at 11:27 |
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don’t bring weapons, drugs, or radar detectors.
Yes I drive 10-20 above the limit, in the 20 years of driving like that I got 2 tickets for speeding. Since technically everything over the limit is speeding, and depending on the road conditions yes you can get a ticket.
But 10 is safe, and if you are on the freeways follow the speed of the traffic
And yes we do have moose crossing signs, but you won’t see any in the GTA area. come up to my neck of the woods and you will see many.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 11:27 |
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Same. It’s Friday.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 11:28 |
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.... I dont know how I mixed up MPH/KPH so badly. Must need more coffee. But damn, I haven’t been without my radar in a decade.
Also we have timmy-ho’s all over Metro Detroit. There was one in my college and I won a few free drinks! I was there daily then and roll up the rim has pretty decent odds.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 11:29 |
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Where in Canada are ya goin, bud?
![]() 02/05/2016 at 11:29 |
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Toronto and that area is a really easy place to drive. Drivers are predictable, signal etc. I’m there a few times a month, one of the easier places I’ve driven.
If you have a radar detector turn it off, they’re not legal and it’s a pain getting caught. Going 10km/hr isn’t a big deal, often just stick to a speed around the next fastest car.
If I’m honest, I usually do 15-25km/hr over. Don’t get caught doing 31km/hr or higher than the limit. At 30 it’s not stunt driving at 31. Otherwise have fun and Welcome to Canda.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 11:30 |
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Shit actually? You can detect, detectors?!
Thats kind of mind blowing.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 11:31 |
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tl;dr?
![]() 02/05/2016 at 11:31 |
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Just downtown Toronto I believe. Lady friend is from there so shes handling all of the planning.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 11:31 |
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No no. It’s me that mixed up the MPH/KPH. Sorry! Need to get more coffee. Enjoy Toronto!
![]() 02/05/2016 at 11:32 |
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Will I get detained at the border for crossing with Starbucks? I’ll never say no to timbits though.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 11:33 |
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Yes, they use Spectre RDDs (radar-detector-detectors). The fine is $170 plus they take the detector.
Edit: plus they also use laser guns. No way to get a warning from those.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 11:33 |
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They’ll make you pour it out in the snow.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 11:33 |
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Yea yea that was just a joke. But would you say that people know the OPP?
Thanks for the tip on getting gas though.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 11:33 |
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Derp.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 11:34 |
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But can you detect detector detectors ? And what sort of radar detector do you use ? I'd like to know for...reasons.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 11:35 |
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It’s been a constant battle between radar detector companies and radar gun companies.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 11:35 |
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Yea damn. I guess its a good thing I asked here. I’ve driven with my detector in Canada probably a dozen times now, but like I said only for a few miles ... er, kilometers.
Surprised border patrol has never said anything.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 11:38 |
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Thanks, just wanted to know if 10 over is still common practice over the border.
No promises on heading further north, this will be my first time out of Windsor.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 11:38 |
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they’re legal some places way out west but not where you’re going. also doing the posted limit in miles per hour might attract attention.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 11:39 |
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More like from Canada with lies!
![]() 02/05/2016 at 11:40 |
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radar detectors are illegal, you can safely go about 15 km/h over the speed limit without trouble (on the highway; in the city, just follow traffic speed), don’t worry about the moose; we trained them to avoid Muricans that don’t respect these magnificent beasts.
Also, if you drive in MPH instead of in KPH, you’ll end up being the slow asshole in traffic... I guess you don’t want that?
Enjoy your strong dollar and our strong beer !
![]() 02/05/2016 at 11:41 |
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Damn. I’ll just unplug it and leave it in the center console then. Thanks for the heads up, I would’ve never guessed.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 11:42 |
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The average speed on the 401-403 (all the major highways) is 120 kph (75 mph). The very fast drivers will go 130 kph (80 mph).
Just stay with traffic, pass on the left, and if you see a black and white cop car, pull yourself down to 65 mph for a bit.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 11:43 |
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I am currently downtown! Come to the Aquarium, and go to Steam-whistle next door for Free beer! (one, it’s tiny, but it’s free). There are tons of great restaurants and places to get a cheap beer and meal (for you, with your fancy USD.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 11:47 |
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Haha “snow” ... we really need to get a handle on this global warming thing.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 11:47 |
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You can drive 30km over on many highway stretches, 20km over you won’t even get blinked at on the highway (unless you pass a cop—even then it’s 50/50). If you’re coming 402, deer are the big thing to look out for. And boredom.
In town, if it’s 60kph limit or more, adding 20 is good in most cases. 15 is safe. 50 and under I tend to stick closer to. 10 over is still perfectly safe.
If you drive with traffic, you are safe no matter what (9/10 times). I mention this because on some stretches of 401 and QEW there are times when the entire highway will be moving at 135-145 (ultimate limit for most people, as the limit is 100 and 50 over is vehicle seizure), and most cops don’t even bother. It’s more danger to them than it’s worth (I wouldn’t want to standinches away from the busiest hwy in North America either) and their presence reins people in enough. If you find the highway doing 140, do 140. You’ll be fine.
Notable exceptions are:
London area (don’t break 120 on the highway)
Shelburn (I doubt you are going that way anyway, but they’re traffic nazi’s)
Use your detector at your own risk. They are illegal.
No moose down here, so no signs. You need to go further north for that. The plural is Moose, and no they are not polite. They are the most rude fuckers you’ll come across. They don’t run across roads, they amble. They don’t look at the headlights like deer do, they turn away so you can’t see their eyes. They don’t run away, they stand still until the light goes away (you hit them). In case of a flood, make poutine. On that note, look up Poutini’s House of Poutine while you’re here. It’s a little hole in the wall shop on Queen Street and it’s AMAZING.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 11:47 |
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Correct.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 11:47 |
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10 kph yes, 10 mph no....
and you down with opp?
and be on the lookout for
![]() 02/05/2016 at 11:48 |
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It’s moved up. 20 is fine, 25-30 is grey.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 11:49 |
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Yea we have the same thing here. IIRC 30mph over the limit is reckless driving. Thanks for the tips!
![]() 02/05/2016 at 11:50 |
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It’s a fine if they can PROVE it was PROBABLY functioning. I once heard advice to hardwire them in with a marette connection by the seat, and if you get pulled over to pull it apart.
Not sure anyone’s ever tried it though.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 11:51 |
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10 mph is fine as long as you tread lightly around London.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 11:55 |
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BUT, if you went ten over the posted limit in miles instead of peoples glorious metric time/distance units you’d get a sweet ticket for going 179 you could frame, so keep that in mind.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 11:56 |
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Thanks for putting it in murican terms. That sounds about right with here though, I should be just fine.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 11:56 |
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Enjoy your strong dollar and our strong beer !
Thats the plan!
![]() 02/05/2016 at 11:58 |
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Yeah you know me.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 11:59 |
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The speak french in canada, I suggest you speak french to everybody you have to talk to, and see the shock and confusion on their faces. Unless you go to Quebec, speak english with a Texas drawl in Quebec.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 12:01 |
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I got a warning for 94 in a 60... granted I was about 100 meters short of where the 60 turned into an 80 zone
![]() 02/05/2016 at 12:04 |
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Gas might be more expensive but thanks to the positive dollar conversion, it really is not that far off in price. I actually paid more in NY to fill up than I did in Ontario last summer. Oddest part for sure though was filling up first and then paying. I felt like a criminal at first.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 12:08 |
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Stay the week, next weekend is NBA all star weekend in Toronto.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 12:08 |
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NEW RECORD!
![]() 02/05/2016 at 12:12 |
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Radar detectors are illegal in all of Canada besides BC, Alberta, and Sask, and you’ll get a fine of $170-$650 depending on province, and it’ll be confiscated too.
In BC you can get away with doing 140 in a 120 zone, don’t know about back east.
I don’t know about Toronto, but I feel like there’s no moose in the city limits... here there’s Elk Crossing signs on the highway.
Leave any weapons at home, best case is they’ll turn you around. Worst case involves syrup waterboarding and celine dion.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 12:14 |
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Wait, your speed limits there are only 100 kph? It’s 120 in BC
![]() 02/05/2016 at 12:16 |
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This is good Oppo.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 12:18 |
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‘Murica
![]() 02/05/2016 at 12:20 |
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Shelburn cops love doing that. They sit just at the edge of town where it turns into 80. The difference is the throw the book at you.
Needless to say, I watch my step around there. And avoid it whenever possible. I worked out a new way to get to the lake last summer, now I don’t touch the place with a barge pole.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 12:21 |
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Americans in Canada like:
I’ll put ‘em on the to do list through!
![]() 02/05/2016 at 12:23 |
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I want to burn the fucking mto to the ground. Honestly. They absolutely refuse to consider changing it. When they do it’ll be to 105 or something.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 12:25 |
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Damn, sounds like you hate Moose! But “Poutini’s House of Poutine” sounds like the most amazing thing. Thanks for the pro-tips on speeds and I’ll slow it down for London.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 12:26 |
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just try to not sing that song every time you see one.
it’s impossible for me.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 12:26 |
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I feel like I’m being trolled. But either way I’m going with a Canadian, I should be okay.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 12:27 |
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I’m pretty sure all BC highways got their limits raised 10km/h a couple years back, and everyone rejoiced!
![]() 02/05/2016 at 12:29 |
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Highways you’re golden to 20 over, 25-30 is a grey area.
Our limit are so low that our courts are completely packed. A general rule is less than 20% over the limit will get thrown out of court for lack of time to deal with it, so 9 time out of 10 you’re safe around that mark. Also, if you’re 15 or few km/h over the limit, it’s up to 50$ fine and no points, so if you’re in that range they never bother you.
One of their favorite moneygrabs is taking a higher ticket and dropping it to 15 km over. That way you feel grateful enough not to take it to court, they just get your money.
US gas doesn’t make a blind bit of difference right now with the current exchange rate. Not enough to make it worthwhile on anything less than an empty tank anyway.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 12:29 |
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Ugh. I haven’t seen an actual radar trap in years, this was on an undivided road leaving town and there was an unmarked SUV heading in, saw me, put on his lights and did a U turn.
No radar traps, but we have a LOT more unmarked vehicles than we used to...
![]() 02/05/2016 at 12:31 |
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Border patrol doesn’t care. Not their job. It’s a provincail law, not federal. Besides, more fine money. can’t do that if their stopped at the border.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 12:32 |
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But Celine dion will love me!
You forgot about that, didnt ya?
![]() 02/05/2016 at 12:33 |
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I did feel sort of odd not having DRLs while driving down the highway. Since I assume DRLs must be required up there? My Miata does not have those so I turned my lights on to fit in lol. And I really didn’t want to get a speeding ticket in a foreign country so on the highway I just kept my cruise set to right around the speed limit and kept to the right lane. I found in general traffic was less crazy than home in NJ and people really were not whipping by me. Just seemed like driving etiquette was slightly better there.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 12:34 |
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I like moose behind bars. Or with a rifle (or knife and fork) between us. Terrible tempers if you’re on foot, just a menace at night in a car.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 12:34 |
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Too late its already in my head. Its going to be a long 4 hour drive.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 12:35 |
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Thankfully, we have very few unmarked vehicles being used for traffic enforcement. When they do, though, you’ll never know until they get you—they do it properly. Rusted out late 90's caravans etc.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 12:38 |
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I personally recommend the Maple Bacon Poutine. Delicious heart attack in a bowl.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 12:39 |
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Yes you can.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 12:40 |
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You are correct, I’m just here for the really bad advice. True Story: I was in french class in the US and we did a trip through Alberta and BC to “practice” our french. Hilarity ensued. Later in life I went to college with some guys from Alberta and they had to learn french in school but by no means did they take it seriously or actually learn any of the language beyond sign reading and swearing.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 12:43 |
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But is there a detector^4
![]() 02/05/2016 at 12:47 |
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Thats only like 3KM from where I’ll be staying (kensington market).
I’ll legitimately try to get there.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 12:48 |
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Ha, figured as much. Haven’t heard French once in Windsor.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 12:50 |
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Yea I drive fast for Detroit, which is full of bad drivers/speeders. I’m going to have to watch my shit.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 12:53 |
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I think I learned more from bilingual packaging than French class.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 12:55 |
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DRL’s are required. And it is a very good thing.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 12:58 |
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I just considered it as vacation time and drove slow to enjoy the scenery instead of being in a rush to get anywhere. Plus it was annoying to try to find the small lines for km/hr on my speedometer so it was much easier to just set the cruise and forget about it. Public transit though within Toronto is excellent. I didn't actually drive within the city at all once I was up there.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 12:59 |
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All of ours are new Tahoes or Suburbans, about half are blacked out with the push bars on the front, and the other half are beige or blue or other non-cop colours, and they have stick figure families in the back window
![]() 02/05/2016 at 13:01 |
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Idk, DRL's just seem to result in more people driving around at night or in the early morning without their headlights on. And DRL's generally do not turn the tail lights on. So those people end up driving dark but think they have lights on.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 13:02 |
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I notice this seems the worst on Hondas since their DRL's are actually quite bright but then they have no tail lights.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 13:04 |
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#1- All lights should be automatic. I don’t know why this isn’t a regulation yet.
#2- DRL’s should be at all 4 corners.
#3- Some lights at all times is better than no lights sometimes. Idiots gonna idiot no matter what, I’ll have the DRL’s thanks. I have to say it never made sense to me until I saw a car without them, but even in daylight lights make a huge visibility difference.
But that’s just my view
![]() 02/05/2016 at 13:06 |
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On a future trip, I recommend Quebec.
Stuff is more expensive, but the choice of brewery beer is amazing.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 13:19 |
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Probably? There’s now laser based guns which can’t be detected yet.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 13:36 |
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Sorry!
![]() 02/05/2016 at 13:40 |
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Oh yeah the value of them is definitely great. Having lights on during the day is still useful. I think it would be most useful to just have all lights on at all times. Sure there should be a switch to turn them off but it should ding at you until you and flash a warning until you turn them back on. It just seems silly to have half-lights rather than just the full thing.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 13:45 |
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Oh, it’s idiotic, agreed. I’d rather full manual lights than those ones that turn on the headlights automatically (full brightness) and leave the taillights off.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 16:44 |
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Haha, they do that at both ends of town in Shelburne, it’s brutal. When it goes 80 to 50, you’d better not be doing more than a few km/h over 50, otherwise you’re having an unpleasant conversation.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 17:15 |
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There’s a guy just on 24 just north of 89—you may have seen him—with an old black Town car with white doors. He’s put a light bar on it, he puts a mannequin in the drivers seat and parks the car in plain sight.
Whether he means to or not he’s done many drivers a big favour, because the cops like to sit just up the road.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 17:25 |
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I know the one, definitely on purpose.
![]() 02/05/2016 at 19:54 |
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Don’t break 118 on the 400 series highways. If you cross at Detroit, do NOT break 115 in the Chatham Kent area. They will seriously nail you for 105 if they are having a bad day. London sucks. Woodstock sucks. Kitchener and Cambridge suck. Milton sucks. Halton Hills is cool. Nah, it sucks. Mississauga is the suburb capital of Toronto. And it sucks. Oakville has a Ford assembly plant. Ford sucks. Brampton has a Chrysler plant. They built my car there. They don’t suck. Everything east of the Don Valley Parkway is Quebec. They Parley Vous. And they suck. Everything south of Toronto is under water. It is very cold and wet, and you can’t drive in it because it is a Lake. And it sucks.
Maybe you should stay home now that I think of it.