Page 328 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Pacific Northwest

326  SUR VIV AL GUIDE

Traveling by Car in the Because traffic in and around
Pacific Northwest Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver
can be heavy, it is wise to avoid
rush hours in these cities, gener-
Driving is the best way to explore the Pacific Northwest, ally between 7:30 and 9:30am
especially if you want to enjoy the spectacular beauty of more and from 3:30 to 6pm on week-
remote areas, such as Oregon’s Hells Canyon, the mountains days. On city streets, parking
of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, or British Columbia’s meters offer between 15 minutes
and 2 hours of parking. Be sure
Okanagan Valley. In major cities, parking may be hard to find to put money into the meter and
and traffic heavy during rush hours; tune into local TV or radio to read all signs, since parking
news for reports on traffic and road conditions, particularly enforcement officers are espe-
if you visit in the winter. Rental cars are widely available at cially active within city limits.
airports and in the cities and towns. Seat belts are compulsory
throughout the Pacific Northwest
for both drivers and passengers,
and children weighing less than
Driver’s License Rules of the Road 40 lb (18 kg) must be in the
and Insurance Vehicles are driven on the appropriate child seats.
In the US, you do not need an right-hand side of the Cyclists and motorcyclists
International Driving Permit if road in both the US are required to wear
you are carrying a valid driver’s and Canada. Right-hand helmets. Driving while
license from the country in which turns on a red light are intoxicated (which is defined
you live. You must, however, carry permitted after coming to as having a blood alcohol
proof of auto insurance, vehicle a complete stop unless content of more than
registration, and, if renting a car, otherwise indicated. 0.08 percent) is a criminal
the rental contract. Distances and speed offense. If you are involved
A valid driver’s license from limits are posted in miles in in an accident, contact the
your own country entitles you the US, and in kilometers local police. (In Canada,
to drive for up to 6 months in in Canada. Speed limits Coin-operated local policing may be done
British Columbia. It is advisable vary from 25 mph parking meter by the Royal Canadian
to carry an International Driving (40 km/h) on neighbor- Mounted Police, or RCMP,
Permit as well, in case you run hood streets to a maximum of depending on where you are.)
into problems. 65 mph (105 km/h) on major
Insurance coverage for drivers highways. Speed limits are
is compulsory. Before leaving strictly enforced. On most Safety on the Road
home, check your own policy to major highways in the Pacific The Pacific Northwest
see if you are covered in a rental Northwest, carpool lanes are experiences heavy rainfall and
car. Most rental agencies offer available for vehicles with two road surfaces become very
damage and liability insurance; or more passengers, to reduce slippery when wet, which
it is a good idea to have both. pollution and traffic. increases the risk of hydroplaning.
Insurance can be purchased Four-way stops are common Other potential safety hazards
on arrival through the British in the Pacific Northwest. The first for drivers include heavy snow-
Columbia Automobile car to reach the intersection has falls, black ice, and fog, which
Association (BCAA); in the the right of way. At intersections can be particularly thick along
US, contact the American with no stop signs, drivers must the coast. To be safe, always
Automobile Association (AAA). yield to the car on their right. carry a spare tire, and salt or
sand in winter, a flashlight,
jumper cables, blankets, water,
some emergency food, and a
shovel. Before venturing out
onto back roads, be sure to
inquire about road conditions
and weather forecasts and to
have a full tank of gas. Refill the
tank fairly often along the way
as an extra precaution. If you
know you will be driving on dirt
roads or in treacherous condi-
tions, you may want to rent a
vehicle with four-wheel drive.
During the spring and
summer, wildlife such as deer,
The spectacular Columbia River Historic Highway, near Rowena, Oregon bears, elk, and moose have

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