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One of the most common accidents to occur in a parking lot is one in which a driver is backing out of a space and strikes another vehicle, whether moving or parked. A driver backing out of a parking space will usually be found at fault for an accident with one exception. In a case where two cars are backing out at the same time and strike each other, fault in the accident is likely to be shared.
Any situation in which you as a driver strike a legally parked vehicle will typically find you at fault. This includes backing into a parked car, striking a car with your door when opening it, or clipping it in the lot. If you leave the scene of an accident in which you struck a parked car without making an effort to contact the owner of the car, it can be considered a hit-and-run.
Unfortunately, pedestrians are also at risk in parking lots, as they are walking between stores and cars and are present in greater numbers than on the average street. It’s vital that all drivers be aware of the prese…

Your insurance company could find out about your accident, by another driver reporting the accident to their insurance company. If the accident was reported to a Collision Reporting Centre, they automatically advise your insurance company, but you can request them NOT to report it, and they won’t. If a Police Report has been done then either driver can request a copy of the report at no cost and can use the report to file a claim with their insurance company. The police do NOT send out these reports automatically to your insurance company.

If you don’t have to drive, stay home.Check weather and travel conditions before heading out.Ensure your vehicle is in top operating condition, including a full tank of gas and windshield fluids. Don’t forget to have extra windshield fluid on hand.Plan your route in advance, allow extra time for travel, and let others know your route and what time they should expect you.Wear warm clothing and footwear, no matter how far you are traveling.Drive with your headlights and taillights on.Leave a safe distance between you and the other vehicles. Allow extra room to stop.If you become stuck or stranded, stay with your vehicle. It provides excellent temporary shelter and makes it easier for rescuers to find you.Tie a brightly coloured cloth to your vehicle. Use antennae or place your cloth in a rolled up window to signal distress.Run the engine just long enough to get a little bit warm. Make sure the exhaust pipe is not clogged with snow or ice.For fresh air, open a window a little bit.Don’t r…

Pull to the side of the road when it is safe to do soIf anyone is injured or the damage to the vehicles involved are more than $1,000 call 911Report your accident to the nearest collision reporting centre, if it is safe to doGet the contact information of all of the drivers involved including name, address, insurance information, phone number, drivers licence and their licence plate numberObtain the contact information of all witnesses including their name, address and telephone numberWrite down any specifics of the accident to the best of your knowledge and take photos if you are able tooReport the accident to your insurance company or broker at your earliest convenienceRemember to stay calmDo not accept any responsibility for the accident or try to pay for any damagesUse legitimate tow truck operators to remove your vehicle safely

To have a safe trip, try to plan your route ahead of time. If you are stuck somewhere, it is a good idea to know where the appropriate detours are should you need to use them. And remember to leave plenty of time to get to your destination and drive according to the condition of the roads. And don’t forget to get your vehicle ready for winter driving by:

Topping up your windshield washer fluidInstalling adequate wiper bladesChecking all of your lighting system on your vehicle for signalling and breakingServicing your breaksInstalling winter tires
If you haven’t installed winter tires yet, now is the time! Plus, you may get a break on your car insurance rates – as some insurance companies offer discounts. And before you leave for your destination, always remember to clear the ice and snow from your vehicle; pay special attention to your windows, lights, mirrors, hood and the roof.

As with any other situation, there is a set of rules that are applied to determining fault when an accident occurs in a parking lot. Some of the rules are similar to those you would expect anywhere else – if you strike another vehicle from the rear, for example, you will be found at fault.

Some of the rules are unique to parking lots. There are few other locations where cars are likely to back into each other. The aisles of a parking lot may or may not have stop signs, and may also be one-way or two way. Some are considered to be the main thoroughfares of the parking lot, and cars entering these larger paths from feeder lanes are expected to give up right of way to cars already travelling through them. Even if no stop sign exists, vehicles are expected to stop before proceeding from one aisle to another.

Additionally, parking lots are often busy with pedestrians, and contain other hazards such as shopping carts. As in any other driving situation, you are always responsible to be on the …

Staring February 6, 2014 visitors to Canada will be automatically considered for a multiple-entry visa. This type of visa is valid for 10 years and allows eligible individuals to leave and return to Canada anytime during a 6-month period. In addition, applications for visitor visas (whether single or multiple entry) will now cost $100 instead of $150. If you are from any of the countries in this list, you will need a visitor visa to enter Canada. Visitor visas are part of the Temporary Resident Program. Some of the other fees in this program will increase. The increases include: $25 for study permits and renewals;$5 increase for work permits and renewals;$25 increase for extensions to stay in Canada as a visitor; and$100 as the maximum fee for a family to apply for Temporary Resident Visas.You can read the complete news release on the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website.

Keep your winter tires properly inflated. With the right tire pressure you will get better traction on winter roads and maximized fuel efficiency.
Keep your gas tank at least half full. Fuel gives added weight to the vehicle and also helps keep ice crystals from forming inside your fuel line.
Know what to do if you start skidding. Sometimes skidding or sliding on icy, snow-covered roads is unavoidable. If your vehicle starts to skid, take your foot off the accelerator, gradually turn your vehicle in the direction you are skidding and gently apply steady pressure to your vehicle's brakes. Don’t pump them, as it may cause you to lose control of the vehicle.
Don't spin your tires if you get stuck in the snow. This won’t help you regain traction and will only create a rut. Instead, use a shovel or ice scraper to remove any snow or ice from underneath the tires. Pour sand or gravel (or salt if you have it) under the drive wheel tires to help improve your traction. Then turn off your v…

Rush hour periods are now longer, running from 6-10 a.m. and from 3-7 p.m. Monday to Friday.Illegally parking on a busy street during rush hour carries a heavier fine. Drivers will now be charged $150 instead of $60. This is now a fixed fine, meaning you can’t dispute the amount owed.An officer can also fine a driver $150 for stopping and waiting on certain streets during rush hour periods.The City can now tow your vehicle if you have three outstanding parking tickets and an officer is giving you your fourth.If your parked car has an expired validation sticker on the licence plate, a parking officer can give you a ticket. This is different than before, when a police officer had to pull a driver over to issue the ticket. This is now a $40 fixed fine.

The US is relying upon NSA metadata to identify targets for drone strikes, reports the Intercept. A former NSA operative said the tactic is flawed and the agency targets phones “in the hopes that the person on the other end of the missile is the bad guy.”

​ Accident Worksheet​Date :​Time :​ Location :​ Weather conditions :​ Road conditions :​ Estimated speed of the vehicle(s): ​ Description of accident :​ ​Diagram : A Your vehicle
B Other vehicle
C Other vehicle​ Other drivers' information: ​

Always keep a basic vehicle first aid or emergency kit in the trunk of your vehicle. You can easily create an emergency kit for your vehicle by filling a plastic storage container with the following: a basic first aid kit,a disposable camera,emergency road flares, warning triangles or cones,a fire extinguisher (A-B-C Type),a flashlight and extra batteries,bottled water, booster cables,a tire repair kit and pump,a small tool kit,a towel,a pair of work gloves,some type of non-perishable food,hand wipes,a thermal blanket.

It is a good reminder to remember to keep an eye out for what others are doing. Other ways to be a defensive driver is to always check blind spots and when stopped at an intersection check for cars coming through before going, even when the light is green. In addition, always keeping a good distance away from other cars is a huge help in avoiding accidents since it gives the driver more reaction time if something goes wrong.

Stay in Your Car and Stay Calm

If your vehicle is still operable and you don’t have any serious injuries after the car accident, it’s a good idea to drive your vehicle to the side of the road to avoid another crash. If your car cannot be moved, I think it’s safer to just remain in your car with seat belts fastened and hazard lights turned on until help arrives. At this point you may be in shock and unaware of any injuries, so sitting still could prevent further health issues. If your car is on fire, it’s probably safest to vacate that vehicle if you can.

Locate Any Witnesses

Did someone see the accident happen? Get their name and number just in case you need a witness for the accident. Write down or audio record (you can do this with some cell phones) their version of what happened at the scene of the car accident. You also need to get the names and numbers of everyone involved in the car accident and their account of what happened. Don't argue with them if you disagree... just try a…

cell phonedisposable camerapen and papermedical information card – detailing insurance numbers, allergies and conditions that may require special attention if you are not conscious.contact names and numbers: emergency numbers and relatives contactsfirst aid kitsmall road cones, emergency flaresMylar blankets

Family Literacy Day is a national awareness initiative created by ABC Life Literacy Canada in 1999 and held annually on January 27 to raise awareness of the importance of reading and engaging in other literacy-related activities as a family. Taking time every day to read or do a learning activity with children is crucial to a child’s development. Even just 15 minutes a day can improve a child’s literacy skills dramatically, and can help a parent improve their skills as well. Check out these 15-minute activites to get started!