- 4-zero-4 -

Highway Exit Numbering

  Highway Exits in New Brunswick, as in some other provinces, are approximate references, in Km, from one end of the highway. For Highway Number 2 (the TransCanada) the origin is at the Quebec border. Some renumbering has been done recently, after highway improvements that involved re-routing and shortening.

Driving in Town:

  Beware of our four-way intersections with three-way stops! It is usually the traffic going up a hill that has no stop sign before them (although they may have a ‘yield’ or other sign), while the others three directions are controlled with stop signs. (There is (or has been) at least one similar intersection (4-way intersection, with 3-way stop) in Ontario.) SO – Check all ways before deciding a multi-way stop is a four-way stop!

Driving on the Highways:

  The locals tailgate. You can pull over to the shoulder, to let them pass; but only do so where you have a clear and complete view of un-potholed, un-restricted shoulder well ahead, and know you will not have to pull back into your lane before they are by. You might also slow to a safe speed for the distance you are being followed at – and then accelerate. Often they get the hint.

Place Names

  Some New Brunswick place names, rivers, etc., officially start Saint, some start with the abbreviation St. The next character may, variously, be a space or hyphen (such as [according to sources currently at hand] Saint-Basile and St. Stephen). Some place names are officially acceptable in either the English or French form (Grand Falls / Grand-Sault). Other place names (such as Bath) are more mundane.

  We do not have anything as creative as Quebec's 'Saint - Louis - du - Ha! Ha!'. (Yes, that name includes five words, three hyphens, and two exclamation marks.)

Flashing Green

  As with most of Canada, but notably not British Columbia, a flashing green traffic light indicates an advanced or delayed green, during which the opposing traffic should be stopped, allowing you to make a left turn. (The culture shock here is worse for visitors to B.C., than for those from BC.)

Flashing Green, in British Columbia:

  In B.C., a flashing green is used to signal:

• The intersecting traffic does NOT have a red light.
• Indeed – The intersecting road has no lights – only a stop sign (or signs, if a full cross-street).
• Traffic may enter from the cross-road when [they think] it is safe do so.
• Pedestrians have access to a button to cycle the light through yellow to red (giving them time to cross), and back.

  The standard height for North-American toilet seats may give you a surprise when you sit down.

  Australians may note that road-side reflectors are almost of a familiar colour and positioning. If I recall correctly [please correct me if I am wrong], you typically have red on the left, and white on the right. We differ in that yellow, not red, is used on the left. In your standard, the colours and position mimic what one would see from a properly oriented, parked vehicle: Tail lamps on the left; Front lamps on the right. Our standard, as we drive on the opposite side from you, is based on an entirely different history and logic: Roads markings used to be painted, exclusively, in white. Then yellow was adapted as the colour to separate lanes of opposing direction. Yellow is also used for marking the left edge of divided highways. From there, the logic of colour choice for road-side reflectors was obvious.

  Japanese may note the standard for emergency-exit signs is red, positioned high, as opposed to green, positioned low. Sorry folks. If you can not tell the difference (as seen, barely visible through smoke which has risen to the ceiling) between glowing embers you do not want to approach and a red sign indicating safety, … . [I agree. Your standard has merit.]

  Door Knobs and the lever-handles, in North America, usually work when turned either direction. Some locks may be set up to un-lock opposite to the expected ‘down on the hinge side’ direction.

  The standard for light switches, in North America, is that up is on / down is off. If you are talking to someone of French exposure about flipping a switch, they may use ‘open’ and ‘closed,’ instead of ‘on’ and ‘off,’ respectively (as if they were talking of a gas valve, not an electric circuit).

  When receiving directions, the name of a roadway may be associated with ‘Street,’ ‘Road,’ or other designation. There may, also, be a designation of ‘N[orth],’ ‘E[ast],’ or such. These are important, as the basic name may otherwise be duplicated.