Take it from the pros ...
Try these suggestions to make your time behind the wheel safer for everyone
You might have read a lot lately about the so-called impending age of autonomous cars, but the fact remains that cars still need people to drive them. And while driving is still fun for many, it also comes with a huge responsibility. So you want to be the best and safest driver you can be: but how? At Driving we know a thing or two about getting behind the wheel. These tips will help finetune your motoring habits.
TERMINATE THE TAILGATING
I spend quite a bit of time on the highways around Toronto, and see countless rear-enders. Therefore, I’d have to say: Keep a safe distance! A no-brainer, if you like. But most of the no-brainers I see are those who tailgate. When there are three lanes of congestion moving at the same speed, are you going to get to your destination any faster by riding on someone’s butt? Ah, no. Are you going to run into them if they slam on the brakes? Ah, yes. And here’s an exercise to while away those crap hours in accordion traffic — you know, when it cycles between moving ahead and coming to a stop. Hang back a bit and be a buffer. When the traffic in front slows, you have space to keep moving, and by the time you catch up they might be rolling again.
— Peter Bleakney
NEVER STOP LEARNING
Take advanced driving courses. It’s likely you learned just enough to pass the test and get your licence, and that’s not enough. No matter how long you’ve been driving, extra courses will make you a better driver. They’re not about going fast, but about controlling your vehicle. The instructors work on everything from your seating position, to steering and braking, to anticipating and handling problems. And winter courses are vital in our climate for safely handling skids and bad weather. Your car has all sorts of safety features, but they’re basically there to save your butt when something goes wrong. Sure, they cost money. But after you’ve spent thousands on a vehicle, why wouldn’t you spend a bit more — often less than the price of a smartphone — to keep your car and passengers in one piece? — Jil McIntosh
USE YOUR EYES
Vision. This one, multi-faceted aspect of driving is the foundation upon which almost every other driving skills rest — and it could save a life. About to crash into something? Look for an escape route and your hands will steer you to a safer spot (and possibly avoid impact altogether). Entering a skid? Again, look where you want the car to go. Your hands will adjust and correct the trajectory. Crossing a busy intersection or turning left? Eagle eyes can spot someone running a light or an errant pedestrian. Sudden stopping ahead? Looking far down the road gives an early warning. Even simple lane changes can be better achieved by using all your peripheral vision. And how far do you think a vehicle travelling 80 km/h will go in the time it takes just to look down at your phone to see who texted you? In only four seconds, your two tonnes of steel, rubber and plastic will have covered about 100 metres — close to the length of a football field. Imagine if a dog, child or vehicle had moved into your path in those four seconds? Add a few more seconds to react, plus a few more to stop, and the results will not be good.
— Derek McNaughton
USE YOUR EYES, PART 2
Having two teenagers — one with a couple of years of drive time under his belt, the other on the threshold of taking the wheel — I’ve had occasion to share advice from my own years in the left-hand seat. Most of it is pretty commonplace: routinely glance in your mirrors, always shoulder check, keep both hands on the wheel, keep a safe distance from the vehicle ahead. The one piece of advice that I’ve imparted that is a little out of the box is something I learned riding a motorcycle during my university years: Watch the drivers in vehicles around you. Like “tells” in poker, a driver will telegraph an intention before actually executing a move. For instance, if they are checking their driver’s side mirror, chances are they are going to make a lane change. Likewise, it they are reaching for their turn signal stalk. And if they are yakking on their phone, well, you know to get the hell away from them.
— Andrew McCredie Driving.ca