Latest news with #AndreDurocher
CTV News
17-07-2025
- Automotive
- CTV News
E-bikes and e-scooters need clearer rules, more data: CAA-Quebec
There are several gaps in regulations and a lack of data about electric scooters and bikes on Quebec roads, a study by CAA-Quebec shows. The study by the Traffic Injury Research Foundation highlighted these concerns as more users take to micromobility as a form of transport. 'There's a lot of lacking data. We find that there's also a lack of uniformity in the legislation. So this is why we say that the objective was… we have to do something, because it's just not going to stand the road,' explained CAA-Quebec president Andre Durocher. Part of the issue is that there are no norms across the country or even across municipalities in the same province, and that can create confusion, said Durocher. Further, some of the data on collisions is inconsistent and lacks essential information, including whether an e-bike or e-scooter was even involved. 'For example, people on a scooter, if you hit a pothole, the injuries could be serious,' Durocher said, explaining that police reports don't always clearly state if the collision involved an electric micromobility vehicle. 'There's still a lot of information missing with regards to, for example, the injuries.' The study also highlights the fact that some people are unaware of basic regulations surrounding e-bikes and e-scooters, including that the minimum age for driving an electric scooter is 14, and that helmets are mandatory. The research also shows that more serious injuries are typically caused at higher speeds. Durocher said the new forms of electric micromobility are 'innovation and practical' but simply need more regulation and better accident reporting. 'We have a nice problem, because it means that we have other alternatives than the automobile, which is great for the environment. It's great, you know, to clear up traffic,' he said. 'But now, how do you manage that coexistence?' CAA-Quebec highlighted these regulations from Quebec's automobile insurance agency, the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec. Regulations in Quebec In general, the rules of the road that must be obeyed by users of motorized personal transport vehicles such as electric scooters are similar to those for cyclists: Ride as close as possible to the curb or on the right side of the roadway and in the same direction as traffic On the shoulder, ride in the same direction as traffic Do not ride on sidewalks (except in certain special cases) Yield to pedestrians at a pedestrian crossing The following are prohibited under the pilot project launched by the Government of Quebec in July 2023:
CTV News
15-07-2025
- Automotive
- CTV News
Here's how to drive on a flooded Montreal road
Driving through water is not always recommended according to CAA Quebec. (Daniel J. Rowe/CTV News) An 82-year-old man is lucky to be alive after Montreal police (SPVM) officers rescued him from his car during Sunday's thunderstorm. His car was stuck under an overpass with water levels rising, and while the circumstances leading to his being trapped are unclear, CAA Quebec says that taking chances while driving in heavy rainfall is unwise. Heavy rainfalls are becoming an annual occurrence in Quebec, with roads and highways flooding and, sometimes, trapping drivers. CAA Quebec Foundation for Road Safety director Andre Durocher said a rule of thumb is to come to a safe stop when water is pooling on the road, and do not drive through it. 'If you do not see underneath, don't take any chances,' he said. 'There could be a pothole, there could be something left over there.' Durocher added that driving through water could also be bad for the vehicle. 'We have to keep in mind, nowadays, a lot of the cars, there's a lot of electrical components even under the car,' he said. 'So having water there could cause damage that will totally ruin your vehicle. If your car has been flooded, don't try to restart it.' Durocher says navigating flooding is becoming a part of summer driving in Quebec, especially on highways, and it's useful to find other routes or stay off the road entirely. 'If it's starting to rain, and you know with your alerts on your phone,' said Durocher. 'Don't attempt, wait. It's not worth risking being stuck.' If you are stuck, do not panic and consider your options. 'You could take a second or two to assess the situation very quickly,' said Durocher. 'Are you in an area where your car is going to end up eventually completely sinking, or are you just stuck in a big pothole, or are you stuck in a ditch?' Durocher added that staying in your car or not when water levels are rising is a case-by-case situation. He said to take care of yourself first and then other passengers with climbing out of a window, one exit strategy. 'If they don't work, well there are other alternatives,' he said. 'We saw people that were rescued by two employees at the grocery store. They pressed the button for the hatch at the back to get out of there.' Durocher stressed the importance of staying calm and that if there is major rainfall, do not take any chances behind the wheel.
