ICBC Has Cancelled All Road Testing Due To COVID-19 Precautions

Posted on By Mark Anderson

We has just frecieved formal notification from ICBC that all Road Testing has been cancelled until further notice due to COVID-19 precautions.

Here is is the statement from ICBC:

Suspension of road testing due to COVID-19 health concern

Based on recommendations from the federal and provincial health authorities, and in an effort to protect customers, employees, and our driver training school partners, ICBC is suspending all road testing due to the ongoing COVID-19 (coronavirus) health concern.

In addition, every customer that visits an ICBC driver licensing office (DLO) will be asked a set of COVID-19 screening questions. If a customer responds “Yes” to any of these questions, or indicates they have travelled outside of Canada within the last 14 days, they’ll be asked to return at a later date. We’ll also be limiting access to our waiting areas at DLOs to ensure appropriate social distancing — instructions and guidance will be provided by DLO employees.

We understand that this decision has a direct impact on you and your customers, and greatly appreciate your understanding. We’ll continue to monitor the situation over the coming few weeks and will be reassessing the suspension of testing on a regular basis with our health authorities.

Please share this information with your staff and encourage them to check for important news and updates on Our update on ​COVID-19 (coronavirus) page on icbc.com.

Ministry of Health self-assessment tool

The Ministry of Health has developed a self-assessment tool to help determine whether someone may need further assessment or testing for COVID-19.

BC COVID-19 Self-Assessment Tool

ServiceBC office, 5785 Duncan Street, where ICBC Road Tests are conducted in Duncan, B.C. (photo by West Coast Driver Training)
ServiceBC office, 5785 Duncan Street, where ICBC Road Tests are conducted in Duncan, B.C. (photo by West Coast Driver Training)

New ICBC Announcement – ICBC Will Be Screening Road Test Examinees For Coronavirus Symptoms

Posted on By Mark Anderson

ICBC has just announced a “Mandatory Questionnaire For Road Test Examinees To Screen For Potential COVID-19 Symptoms”.

We had a student do a Class 3 Road Test today at ServiceBC in Duncan and he was not screened for COVID-19 symptoms. But anyone going for a Road Test should be prepared to be scrfeened for Coronavirus symptoms.

Here is the ICBC announcement:

“Mandatory questionnaire for examinees to screen for potential COVID-19 symptoms

ICBC is taking additional measures to protect our driver examiners where a road test examinee may have travelled to a high risk country or is presenting symptoms known to be associated with the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic.

Effective immediately, every examinee coming in for a road test will be asked about their recent travel destinations and asked some medical related questions.

After completing the questionnaire, an examinee will be advised if they can continue with their road test or be rescheduled. A minimum waiting period of 14 days will be required for a rescheduled road test.

Until further notice, a driver may cancel their road test within 48 hours of their test — and won’t be charged a Late Cancellation Fee — if their reasons are directly related to ICBC’s screening questions about COVID-19.

To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, continue to take appropriate steps to maintain clean driver training facilities and vehicles, and to remind students of proper hygiene practices.

External resources:

·        ​World Health Organization: About Coronavirus

·         World Health Organization: Advice for the public

·         Government of Canada: FAQ

·         Government of Canada: Travel advice and advisories

·         BC Centre of Disease Control: BC update

Please share this information with your staff and encourage them to check for important news and updates on our driver training web site dtcbc.com.”

ServiceBC office, 5785 Duncan Street, where ICBC Road Tests are conducted in Duncan, B.C. (photo by West Coast Driver Training)
ServiceBC office, 5785 Duncan Street, where ICBC Road Tests are conducted in Duncan, B.C. (photo by West Coast Driver Training)

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We Have Added A New 2020 Toyota Prius Prime To Our Training Fleet

Posted on By Mark Anderson

In October 2019 we added a new 2020 Toyota Prius Prime to our training fleet. With the 2020 Prius Prime and our 2018 Toyota Corolla, we can now offer driver training on on all current automobile technologies: gas, hybrid and electric.

Our 2020 Toyota Prius Prime is now available for lessons (photo: West Coast Driver Training)
Our 2020 Toyota Prius Prime is now available for lessons (photo: West Coast Driver Training)

To book Class 4 Restricted, Class 5 or Class 7 driving lessons with West Coast Driver Training, please Contact Us by phone or text at (250)732-8093 or by email at mark@WestCoastDriverTraining.com.

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1940 Advertisement For Plymouth, By Begg Motor Company, Government Street, Duncan

Posted on By Mark Anderson
Historic Automotive Advertisements – 1940-1949

We came across this 1940 advertisement for Plymouth, place by the Begg Motor Company, which had dealerships in Victoria and Duncan.

1940 advertisement for Plymouth, sold by Begg Motor Company, 865 Yates Street, Victoria and on Government Street in Duncan.
1940 advertisement for Plymouth, sold by Begg Motor Company, 865 Yates Street, Victoria and on Government Street in Duncan.

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1940 Advertisement For Dodge, By Begg Motor Company, Government Street, Duncan

Posted on By Mark Anderson
Historic Automotive Advertisements – 1940-1949

We came across this 1940 advertisement for Dodge, place by the Begg Motor Company, which had dealerships in Victoria and Duncan.

1940 advertisement for Dodge, sold by Begg Motor Company, 865 Yates Street, Victoria and on Government Street in Duncan.
1940 advertisement for Dodge, sold by Begg Motor Company, 865 Yates Street, Victoria and on Government Street in Duncan.

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1954 Victoria Newspaper Story About A Planned Police Crackdown On Drivers Not Using Hand Signals

Posted on By Mark Anderson

Drivers taking ICBC Road Tests are required to demonstrate hand signals and many of our students ask why they have to know this since vehicles are equipped with turn signals and brake lights.

Here is a bit of history on the use of hand signals by drivers: a 1954 Victoria newspaper report about a planned crackdown by the Victoria police against drivers who fail to use hand signals.

Victoria newspaper story about a planned police crackdown on drivers not using hand signals, 1954.
Victoria newspaper story about a planned police crackdown on drivers not using hand signals, 1954.

Note the comments in the right hand column:

“Blinking lights on both sides of car (i.e. turn signals) that have an indicator inside on the dash are allowable if the blink 32 times per minute. Certain mechanical hands on commercial vehicles are allowed [note: some trucks and commercial vehicles of the period had mechanical indicators or pointers that signaled turns or lane changes], but the lighted trafficators on some British cars [note: some British cars of the period had lights which illuminated, but did not flash, to signal turns or lane changes] are against the law.”

West Coast Driver Training & Education Has Just Reached Its First Anniversary In Operation

Posted on By Mark Anderson

West Coast Driver Training & Education Inc. has just reached a major milestone: one year of successful business operation.

Our thanks to all our students and clients who have made our first anniversary in operation possible. We look forward to many more anniversaries in future.


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We Are Now Offering Class 3 Driving Lessons

Posted on By Mark Anderson

We have recently purchased a Mack Vision day cab tractor for teaching Class 3 Driving Lessons. See our pages on Lesson Prices – Class 3 and Our Policies – Class 3.

Our Mack tractor is equipped with a 13 speed Eaton Fuller manual transmission.

Our Mack Vision day cab which we use for Class 3 training.
Our Mack Vision day cab which we use for Class 3 training.

Class 3 includes:

  • To drive trucks with more than two axles, such as dump trucks and large tow trucks but does not allow driving a bus carrying passengers;
  • To drive a tow car towing a vehicle of any weight;
  • To drive a mobile truck crane;
  • To drive any vehicle in Class 5

We are currently looking for a high quality used trailer for teaching Class 1. We will start offering Class 1 lessons once we have acquired a suitable trailer.

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