Not all safety features come with the vehicle
BY BILL REYNOLDS
Today’s vehicle safety systems are better than ever but at the end of the day, a car can’t do it all — it also needs the engaged brain of a safety-minded driver behind the wheel: a driver who isn’t distracted, tired or in a hurry, keeps their eyes on the road and pays attention to what’s happening at all times. Such drivers are aware of their vehicle’s safety features and how to use them, and they make driving decisions that help maximize the safety of themselves, their passengers and fellow drivers.
Unfortunately, many Canadian drivers underutilize their brain when they drive.
To encourage Canadians to learn more about driving safely, the Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF) has launched a public awareness website called Brain on Board (BrainonBoard.ca). The website is a one-stop shop to learn about the many vehicle safety features that are increasingly becoming standard on today’s vehicles and trucks, and how to maximize the protection they offer in combination with safe driving behaviours.
The program is sponsored by the Toyota Canada Foundation (TCF), a national, not-forprofit foundation that funds research and other activities in the areas of safety, environment and education.
“Brain on Board is a tool for all Canadians who want to get the most out of their vehicle safety features,” says Robyn Robertson, TIRF President and CEO. “The website is a resource for information about the different safety features available now, what these features are designed to do, how they work and the role we as drivers play when it comes to safety.”
Based on research conducted by TIRF in preparing BrainonBoard.ca, Canadians are not as aware as they could be about vehicle safety features. To measure awareness TIRF polled 2,506 Canadian drivers between November, 2011, and January, 2012, with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.0%, 19 times out of 20.
The results point out some interesting behaviours and a lack of awareness among Canadians about the vehicle safety features available today.
Less than one-third of Canadian drivers reported being familiar with new vehicle safety features such as brake assist, electronic stability control (ESC), electronic brake-force distribution, adaptive headlights, collision warning systems, lane departure warning systems, brake override and driver monitoring systems. Yet the majority of those drivers said vehicle safety features are easy to use.
“With the exception of ABS and traction control, the majority of Canadians are unfamiliar with many of the vehicle safety features available,” Ms. Robertson says.
One-fifth of Canadian drivers polled by TIRF said they would be more likely to drive while tired or fatigued if their vehicle had safety features – slightly higher than the 16% of people who reported they frequently drive when tired. Meanwhile, 13.1% would be more willing to tailgate other vehicles for the same reason. Again this is slightly higher
The majority of Canadians are unfamiliar with many of the vehicle safety features available
than the 8.6% of drivers who said they frequently tailgate when driving.
Canadians also think they are safer than their fellow drivers, with the majority of respondents rating themselves eight out of 10 while rating other drivers five out of 10. And 64.8% of Canadian drivers think other drivers rely too much on their vehicle’s safety features and do not pay enough attention to driving.
“The results suggest that Canadian drivers may lack a clear vision of how their driving habits relate to the functioning of their safety features. Safety is not the other person’s responsibility it is everyone’s responsibility,” Ms. Robertson added. “Drivers need to understand the benefits of their safety features and the limitations and, above all, be alert behind the wheel.”
TIRF and the Toyota Canada Foundation hope they can make a difference in the way Canadians think while they drive. To find out more about maximizing your vehicle’s most important safety feature, go towww.BrainonBoard.ca.