Hi there smart driver, Rick with Smart Drive
Test talk today about safe and defensive driving. Had a comment from Claudees a couple
of weeks ago. He wanted to know about some safe and defensive driving practices
that he could put in place after he got his license. He had been successful on
his license and wanted to know what he could do to stay safe on the roadway. Unfortunately many people believe that
once they get their license that provides the benchmark for that which will
keep them safe during their driving career. Unfortunately nothing could be farther
from the truth. The top three reasons for crashing according to traffic safety
experts is: 1) speeding; 2) following too close; 3) failing to yield. The last one I
especially like— failing be yield. As I tell many students when they make an
incorrect decision in a particular traffic situation, "you can be right, or you can be dead
right right!" We'll be right back to talk to you about safe and defensive driving after you get
your license. [OPENING CREDITS & MUSIC] Hi there smart driver, Rick with Smart Drive
Test. Welcome back. Today we're talking about tips to keep you safe after you get your driver's license. Observe. Most of the information that we
use for driving is collected through our eyes - eighty to ninety percent of the
information. So look, look, look! When you pull out anywhere in traffic, look twice - always look twice before you
go. It's kind of like carpentry: measure twice, cut once. Same thing in
your car - look twice before you go. If you are uncertain at all, creep out until
you can see. For example, if you're at an intersection and it's blocked by trees or
hedges or what not, creep out until you can see and then once you see and
determine that the way is clear then go. Same thing in parking lots when you're
backing out of parking spaces. Go slowly if you can't see. As well, the slower you go the sharper the
vehicle turns so often times that allow you to navigate safely in parking lots.
But the other thing is that many people in parking lots - just on that note - get into
trouble and have backing crashes because they start moving backwards before they
look. So make sure you look first before you back up. Especially in grocery store
parking lots. Lots of kids running around and what not and you know... sometimes they get away from parents. So look twice and then move. So observation. Speeding, which is one of the number one
reasons for crashes. There are many definitions of speeding: 1) driving faster
than the traffic flow; 2) driving faster than the posted speed limit; 3) driving
faster than me; 4) driving faster than the conditions of
the road will allow. So there's lots of definitions of speeding. For the purposes
of this and after you get your driver's license I would strongly encourage you not to
drive faster than the traffic flow. Whatever that traffic flow is, stay with
the traffic flow. If you're not comfortable with the traffic flow and
you insist on driving the speed limit - stay to the right. Stay in the right lane.
That way you're not going to impede other traffic that's trying to pass on a
multi-lane highways. As well, we've all seen the signs: stay right unless passing, or or slower
traffic stay right. So if you're driving slower than the
traffic flow, stay to the right because one of the things you want to try and do
is remain predictable on the roadway. And one of the ways that you can remain
predictable is by staying with the traffic flow. Communicating with other road users:
signaling is one of the most important things. And if you're not sure, make sure you use
your mirrors and your signal and then look and move - ok. It's important that you give other
road users an opportunity to react to your signal. As I say too many a student,
signals are requests that you wish to move over, not that you are moving over!
How many drivers have we seen flip the signal on, and they're moving even before
the signal comes on? So make sure you signal — at least two or three flashes before you start moving over. That way it gives other traffic time to react. Because driving
is a social experience: it's not just you out there against the masses. It's an interaction between people
driving cars, even though it just seems like an inanimate object beside you
there on the roadway. It's actually another person in that vehicle. And if
you request to move over—a lot of drivers upgrading to a commercial
license are surprised somewhat by this— Now we say to them, "put your signal on" and actually ask the person to move. Oftentimes the person does move. So make sure you communicate effectively. And one of the most important ways that we
communicate on the roadway is the position of our vehicle on the road. If
the vehicle is in the left-hand turning lane, there's a pretty good chance that that
vehicle is going to turn left. So you can predict traffic patterns by
figuring out and taking note of where the vehicles are on the roadway. As well
with communicating with other road users hand gestures—appropriate hand gestures—with other road users and eye contact. If you've got pedestrians and whatnot, make
sure you get eye contact with them. And don't assume that pedestrians will see
you, especially at night. Because sometimes they don't see you or you—vice
versa—you don't see them. So make sure you're on the lookout - make
sure you make allowances between those different kinds of road users. Vehicle comfort - I know that for many of
us what we get in terms of a vehicle we don't really have a lot of choice, but if
you've got a bit of choice and you can make some decisions about the kinds of
vehicles that you are going to drive pick something that's comfortable for
you. A few years ago I road tested an FJ
cruiser. It's a Toyota vehicle - it's an SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle). It was very closed in and it was
difficult to see. It had all kinds of blind spots and whatnot. So when you pick
a vehicle, pick something that is comfortable for you to drive. You don't want to be driving a big Ford
F-350 if you're five feet tall and you're trying to climb in and out of
this thing and you can't see over the steering wheel and you got to get this
thing in and around parking lots, or those types of things. It's not practical - so buy something
that's practical. If you have a vehicle that you're comfortable driving, you like
driving it, it's fun to drive, and it doesn't have
enormous numbers of blind spots, it's going to be safer for you. As well,
keep your vehicle well maintained, keep the inside of it relatively clean. If
it's clean, it's going to feel safer. So the vehicle - make sure you fit the
vehicle that you're going to drive. It just makes life a whole lot simpler. You're trying to get it around the
parking lots. For novice drivers, left turns probably
present the biggest challenge. One of the things you want to do on a
left-hand turn— many people, even driving instructors—
will tell you to get right into the intersection. If you're not comfortable and you're a
new driver—you're a novice driver— don't drive into the intersection.
Because you're going to be stuck out there. Put the front wheels your vehicle on the
front crosswalk line. That way you're committed to the turn, but you're not in
the intersection. If something goes wrong: you decide not to go, you're not paying attention, there's too much stuff going on and the light goes yellow to red, then you're not in the intersection. Yes
you're annoying the pedestrians because you're across the crosswalk, but you're not in the intersection -
you're not stuck in the intersection. The other thing with left-hand turns: if you don't feel that gap is big enough
coming the other way don't go, just simply don't go. Yes other people may get annoyed and honk
behind you, but like I say to students all the time: "they got three choices: 1) they
can wait for you; 2) they can crash into you; 3) or they can go home - whatever." So you know - just take a breath, wait for the gap that you are
comfortable with to make that left hand turn. Finally on the left-hand turn for novice
drivers, you may have to go on the yellow. If you get stuck in the intersection, the
light goes to yellow. You've got to clear the intersection. Now know that when
you're in that intersection, you own the intersection. So take your time and go.
Look in the direction where you're going to go. As well, when you're going on the
yellow, make sure that somebody's not coming through - is not charging at yellow light
and pushing through it. So make sure all the vehicles on the
other side are coming to a stop before you proceed through the intersection. So
left-hand turns - take your time, take a deep breath. Don't
go unless you're comfortable and you may have to go on the yellow. If you go on the yellow, make sure that
cars are not coming through from the other side and are actually stopping. Following distance - following too close.
As I say to many a student, time and time again - if you're not near
anything, it's less likely you're going to hit it.
Keep away from other vehicles - not only in your following distance when you're
going up and down the road - 2 to 3 seconds in a car or light truck, an ambulance and
whatnot. Five seconds in bigger vehicles. And for those of you towing big RV
trailers, same thing - increase your following distance three to four seconds.
And I'll put a video up here for the video on following distance. So you can
watch that and determine how to judge your following distance. As well, when you
pull up to the traffic, don't pull up as close to the vehicle in front of you as
you can. Stop back so you can see the tires of the vehicle in front of you
making clear contact with the pavement. And again, there's a video up here about
stopping in traffic, and I'll put that up for you. There's lots of defensive reasons about
staying back at least a vehicle length from the vehicle in front of you at
traffic lights. And the other thing is if everybody stayed back a vehicle length
from the vehicle in front of them when they stopped at traffic lights the whole pack could move off much
faster than what it does. Because when you're right close, everybody's gotta wait for the person in
front of them to go before they can go. Whereas if you got some space between
you—a buffer—everybody could move off at the same rate. But you know - we all have our illusions
of utopia and that's never going to happen. But try and keep a bit of space
there. As i said, if you're not near anything, it's less likely you're going to hit
something. And in terms of following distance, we know that forty percent of
traffic crashes happen in intersections. If you see something that could
potentially materialize into a hazard, obstacle, or conflict - get your foot over the brake. Cover the
brake and cut down your reaction time. As well, leave space around your vehicle so
in the event of an emergency that that does culminate into an emergency you can
drive around it. It's much faster to drive around
something than it is to brake, but if you cover the brake, it's going to cut down
your reaction time and I'll put a video up here on covering the brake, if you don't know what covering the
brake is. Cruise control - I am a huge advocate of
cruise control. I love cruise control, especially on the highway. If you use
cruise control, it will cut down on driver distraction because you're not
watching the speed limit and monitoring the speed limit all the time on your
vehicle. So use cruise control - get it set. And as well, if you find yourself running
up on other cars all the time and have to turn your cruise off and whatnot, just set it to two three kilometers less
than what the traffic flow is. That way you'll never have to turn it off. As well, it will reduce speeding tickets because
you're not running up over the speed limit all the time. So the less chance of
getting a speeding ticket with cruise control. And finally, improved fuel
economy because you get a nice steady speed with your vehicle. So cruise
control - use as much as possible. Shoulder check anytime you bring that
vehicle laterally. Shoulder check - shoulder check in the
direction that you're moving the vehicle. If you're shoulder checking to the left: 90°
degrees to the left - just have a look. It's your peripheral vision that checks it
out here, if you're checking. If you're moving to the right, shoulder check right.
Move your head 90° degrees. That's all you have to do. It will help you determine if
somebody's in the blind spot. And every vehicle has blind spots - so make sure
you shoulder check. If you're physically unable - you have a physical disability
that prevents you from being able to shoulder check. You can't move your head and neck then move from the hips. If you can't move from the hips, go buy
yourself convex mirrors and stick them on your mirrors. That way you can
determine if there are vehicles in your blind spots Shoulder check or get convex
mirrors so you can see in the blind spots of the vehicle. Distracted driving - this is a big one. And
I really don't have the answers for distracted driving. We all live in a world where we all have
cell phones; we all live in a world of modern
vehicles that are full of telematics. These screens that show you back up
cameras, and your stereo, and your radio and all kinds of GPS information. And people
do all kinds of things in their vehicles: they listen to their iPod, they have
headphones in, they're shaving, they're putting on makeup, they're drinking, they're eating
their talking on the phone, they're doing all kinds of things. So I really - the only
advice that I can give you about distracted driving—because studies show
that this is an increasing problem and it's not getting any better and people
are just becoming more and more pervasive in their use of cell phones
and doing other things in their vehicle— don't do it in busy traffic; don't do it
when you're around other vehicles; and if it really becomes all-consuming from the
task of driving; pull over get off the road. Stop the vehicle. In any event, you should try and do that
anyway. Get yourself a hands-free device so that you can talk on your phone
without having to look at your phone. Figure out how to use the voice commands
on your phones. All this stuff is getting better. Distracted driving! Now in terms of
distracted driving is also impaired driving. And we all know about drinking and
driving and drugs and driving - don't do it! Now this may come as a bit of surprise to
many of you, but the number one way that people are impaired when driving is
through prescribed medication. If you are unsure about the prescription that you
are taking in terms of prescribed medication, talk to your pharmacist, talk
to your doctor about physical effects that may have on you in terms of driving. Emotional control - we all get frustrated, we all get anxious when our reality
collides with our expectations. Every one of us gets in her car thinking that
'happy doody'! Everything's going to be great - just
going to drive down the road and then somebody cuts us off; somebody speeds
past us; were behind a senior citizen doing 30 in a 50. All that stuff drives
crazy and sends us over the edge - even to the point of road rage. Take a breath. Know that there is going
to be traffic. If somebody cut you off, just smile, nod, take a breath and let them go down the road and have their crash somewhere else. Because if you can do that, you're going
to lower your blood pressure, you're going to lower your cholesterol and you're going
to have a much happier drive. And the other thing about it: you can get all
torqued out of shape about people cutting you off, but the reality is that in nine times out of
ten situations that person that cut you off, didn't even know they cut you
off and went to work and had a blissful day, while you're spending the rest of the day
steaming about something that's really not that important. Have you ever noticed thatwhen you drive the people that drive faster than you are idiots and people that drive slower than
your boneheads. It's one of the things that unites us as drivers— globally—in the world. We get excited
about driving. Emotional control - figure out ways that when you drive you can
just zone out. One of the things that I do is I go to the library and get audio
books and I listened to stories while I'm driving. Especially if I got a 15 or 20
minute drive. It just helps to get my mind busy, so I'm concentrating on something
other than what other people are doing. What you can expect - other people will
speed; other people will drive too slow; other people to charge yellow lights; and
those types of things. So know that it's going to happen and
have emotional control. In conclusion, ways to keep you safe on
the roadway after you get your license. Look, observe - look twice before you pull
out and if you can't see creep out until you can see. Next thing, speed. Stay with the traffic flow. If you
insist on doing the speed limit, stay over to the right-hand lane. Stay
out of the way. Those signs slower traffic state right; stay right unless
to pass. Those are for you if you insist on doing the speed limit. If you want to exceed the traffic flow,
go to the racetrack. Signaling - make sure you communicate with other road users.
Signaling, hand gestures—appropriate hand gestures—eye contact. All of these things
will help you communicate with other road users. And don't forget the most
important way that we communicate with road users is the position of our
vehicle on the roadway communicates our intentions. Number four: vehicle comfort.
Get a vehicle that you are comfortable driving. If you're not comfortable
driving it, don't drive it. OK, left-hand turns for
novice drivers. If you're not comfortable going, don't go.
Put the front tires on the front crosswalk line - that way you're committed
to the intersection, but not in the intersection. If you go on the yellow, make sure that
the cars coming through from the other way are stopped or coming to a stop before you proceed through on the yellow. Following distance - you're not near
anything, it's less likely that you're going to hit anything. So stay away from
other vehicles. Maintain a good following distance when you come up and stop in
traffic. Make sure you're back at least one
vehicle length. All that's going to keep you safe. Shoulder checking - this is with
observation. Every time you move the vehicle laterally, make sure your shoulder check. If you
can't shoulder check because you have a physical impairment, get those little
convex mirrors. You can buy them at the hardware store. They stick on your
mirrors and they'll help you out to check the blind spots on your vehicle.
Number 9 Distracted driving. Don't do it unless you absolutely have
to. If you do and you can get a spot that you can pull over - pull over and do that.
As well, leave yourself some more time so you can shave and do all those sorts of
things at home. Number 10 - emotional control. Know that
there's going to be traffic, know that somebody's going to cut you off - take a
breath let them go and have their crash somewhere else. Remaining calm is going to prevent road
rage and going to prevent all of the things that are going to cause you to
make bad decisions while you're driving. I'm Rick with Smart Drive Test. If you
like what you see here, share, subscribe, leave a comment down in the comment
section. All that helps us out. Remember pick the
best answer, not necessarily the right answer. Have a safe driving career. Remember:
don't speed, and stay away from things. And you can be
right, or you can be 'dead right!' Have a good day. Bye now. [CLOSING CREDITS & MUSIC]
