| Spreading from the Pacific coast of British | | | | restrooms or get some refreshments. The quality |
| Columbia through the Rocky Mountain range, | | | | of these refreshments may leave room for |
| flatlands of the prairies, vast forests and lakes of | | | | improvement however, so plan ahead and bring |
| Ontario, Laurentian Mountains and the Maritime | | | | some snacks if you can. |
| provinces straight to the rocky shorelines of the | | | | On any major highway, 24-hour petrol stations |
| Atlantic - this place is enormous. | | | | are easy to find and signs will tell you how many |
| At a distance of well over 5,000 miles, driving | | | | more miles/kms are left before the next fuel |
| coast to coast is an undertaking for only the truly | | | | stop. Most of these will also have a maintenance |
| adventurous or the truly foolhardy. Most visitors | | | | department should smoke mysteriously begin to |
| will be forced to choose a region, whether its | | | | emerge from under the bonnet. |
| starting in Vancouver and winding through the | | | | During a long haul drive, practicing the exercises |
| mountains, or taking the roads north from | | | | shown on airline safety videos can help, as you |
| Toronto to see some of the best lakes and river | | | | may find yourself in a seated position for as long |
| systems on the continent. | | | | as an international flight. Mental distractions may |
| Fortunately, the roads in Canada are for the most | | | | come in handy too. Be sure to bring a selection of |
| part excellent; paved, wide and never | | | | your favourite music along with you, or perhaps |
| treacherous, except if you happen to be caught in | | | | one of your more talkative friends. A book may |
| a winter snow storm. You will want to have a | | | | not be appropriate if you're the driver. |
| comfortable car for any Canadian adventure since | | | | Practically speaking, it is not difficult to obtain a |
| distances can be quite long. | | | | rental car in Canada. All foreign licences are valid |
| Fuel efficiency is a key factor in choosing the right | | | | so don't worry about getting an international |
| automobile as well, with ever increasing oil prices | | | | driving permit. For Canadians, teens can get a |
| and the vast expanses of highway you will be | | | | licence and ask dad for his car keys at 16 years |
| driving. A Hummer for example, though sure to | | | | old, but many rental companies feel that 25 years |
| get you through any rugged terrain you may | | | | old is a more appropriate minimum age to give |
| encounter, will probably break the bank to quench | | | | you theirs. |
| its thirst for gasoline. | | | | As you negotiate Canada's road systems, you'll |
| Although the gaps between places can be | | | | find speed limits do not differ greatly from |
| humbling, the motorways are some of the 30 | | | | province to province. Watch your speedometer. |
| best in the world and aside from when driving | | | | Keep it at about 30mph (50kmh) in residential |
| through major urban centres, are relatively | | | | zones, 55mph (80kmph) for your average |
| uncongested. The anecdotes of driving for | | | | two-lane highway and 68mph (100kmph) on the |
| hundreds of miles without seeing another car can | | | | major highways. |
| be all too real at times. | | | | Remember when driving in winter, any road - big |
| The Trans-Canada Highway is essentially just that, | | | | or small - can become very dangerous when |
| a highway that stretches across most of the | | | | covered with snow or ice and speeds must be |
| country. At over 5,000 miles/8,000kms, it is the | | | | adjusted accordingly, especially if the driver is |
| longest highway in the world. The Yellowhead | | | | unaccustomed to these conditions. |
| Highway, which begins in the Prairies and ends on | | | | In any season, by law all passengers in the vehicle |
| the Pacific coast, is almost as long. | | | | must be wearing seatbelts and infants must be in |
| It is recommended that you limit your driving to | | | | a safety seat. The maximum blood alcohol level is |
| between 300 and 370 miles/500 to 600kms a | | | | 0.8mg/ml and although your trip to the Great |
| day. This is important to note since many of | | | | White North should be a beauty, the police don't |
| Canada's routes essentially run straight for | | | | mess about when it comes to drink driving and |
| interminable distances and it's easy to lose a | | | | penalties are severe. |
| sense of time and become overtired. One way to | | | | In general, driving is much more hectic in Europe |
| ensure you arrive safely is to stop every few | | | | and driving Canada's highways should be a less |
| hours to stretch your legs and take rest for 15 | | | | stressful experience than across the pond, as long |
| minutes or so. | | | | as you remember to keep to the right side of |
| Even on minor highways, there is usually no | | | | the road! |
| shortage of places to stop and refuel, use the | | | | |