Leave early so that you don't feel the need to rush on the roadways

• Obey construction zone signs – slow down
• Look both ways and slow down at railway crossings
• Give the right of way to other fellow drivers
• Obey traffic laws, signs and Police officers
• Make proper lane changes signal, check your rear view mirror, and look over your shoulder to see the vehicle your passing
• Inspect your vehicle for road worthiness before starting to drive
• Signal, and move out of the way quickly and safely for emergency vehicles
• Do not tailgate other drivers
• Do not drink, or take any kind of drugs before/while your driving
• Plan your trip, check weather and road conditions, avoid driving during peak rush hour times
• When the weather is bad give yourself enough space and time to arrive safely. If possible cancel or wait  until the weather clears up.
• Wear your seatbelt it may save your life
• Share the road with others: pedestrians, cyclists, etc…
• Don't play the road rage war with other drivers
• Keep all windows and mirrors unobstructed for a clear driving view

Driving Observations:

- Always check your blind spot /over your shoulder before signaling
- Scan every intersection with a quick glance
-Check mirrors every 3-5 seconds and after every turn
-Use your peripheral vision
-Look up the road as far as your eyes can see.

Graduated licensing System produces safe drivers

In April of 1994 Graduated Licensing was introduced. All new drivers' from that point on were and are required to follow the two step licensing process. That means that new drivers earn full driving privileges in two stages. You will start out with a G1 license. To obtain one you must be at least 16 years of age and pass two tests. The first one is a vision test and the second test is your knowledge of traffic signs and the rules of the road.

With a G1 license the wait time before you can go to the G2 road test is 12 months. If you take a Ministry approve Driver Education course you can reduce that time to 8 months. Being a G1 license holder means there are some fairly strict rules to follow. Learn more about them through the course we offer.

After the student has passed the driving test they then have the privilege of being a G2 licensed driver. A G2 license offers more privileges due to the amount of driving experience that person has gained while being a G1 licensed driver. There are still some driving restrictions for a G2 license holder.

The Graduated Licensing System has had much success in reducing injury and death for novice drivers.

Preventative Maintenance is good for safe driving and your bottom line:

Tires

Making sure your tires are both properly inflated and changing them when they become too worn can save your life. Worn tires or ones that are improperly inflated can cause hydroplaning in wet weather, skidding on dry pavement or in snow and icy conditions. Over inflation causes tires to wear more in the center of the tread. Worn tires can affect the steering control of the vehicle. In all cases, traction is reduced by too little tire on the road surface, creating a great risk for you and the people in your vehicle. Always inflate your tires to the level indicated in your Owner's manual for your vehicles make and model.

Oil

If the oil light comes on, it doesn't always mean the oil level is low, but also when you have lost oil pressure. This means that you can have a full reservoir of oil, but the oil isn't reaching the engine. Oil lubricates all the moving metal components in the engine. Regular oil changes will increase the life of your engine. Check your Owner's manual for the details of when to replace your oil and what oil is recommended for your engine. Having regular oil changes also ensures that the oil filter and air filter get replaced as needed. Dirty air and oil filters can make your engine lag on acceleration, which increases fuel consumption.

Battery

The battery is the electric charge that starts your engine. The battery connectors must be clean from corrosion in order for the current to fully reach the alternator to start the engine. The corrosion (white powdery substance) is lead sulfate which is toxic if inhaled. Wear a mask, safety glasses, and gloves to brush off (wire brush) the corrosion on the terminals. Vaseline (petroleum jelly) is the recommended coating to put on the terminals (connectors) after they have been cleaned to help prevent corrosion buildup.

Dashboard Control Panel

During nighttime driving out on country roads, it is advisable to slightly dim the rheostat (dimmer switch) down a little as it will give you better night vision. With no street lights you just need to read the instrument panel without overpowering the exterior lighting. The more light reflecting in the interior of the car the harder it is to see while driving at night.

Driver Distractions

In Ontario one of the toughest driving convictions is a conviction for Careless driving. Police can charge you with careless driving if your full attention is not on the driving task at hand. The penalties are quite high, fines up to $1000, automatic 6 demerit points, possible jail term, or a suspended license for up to 2 years. If you're caught eating, drinking, smoking, grooming, map reading, tending to children or pets, talking on the cell phone or using a laptop, know that these are all driver distractions. Your first responsibility is road safety.

Sharing the Road with Tractor Trailers

Lots of drivers are nervous driving beside or around Tractor Trailers. A driving maneuver by a car near a large truck or Tractor Trailer is far more dangerous than near another car. The size, weight and the aerodynamics of a tractor trailer makes it impossible for them to come to an emergency stop. A study was performed by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute. It found that drivers, who get involved in fatal car collisions, drive the same way around large trucks as they do around other cars. It identified a few irresponsible driving habits that were contributing factors:

• Failing to stay in the lane
• Running off the road
• Failing to yield the right of way
• Driving too fast for conditions or above the speed limit
• Failing to obey signs and signals
• Driver distraction

Strategies for Avoiding Tailgating

Yielding to the other driver is the safest way to reduce the risk of tailgating. Alternatively, if that can't be accomplished safely, then leave more driving distance between you and the vehicle in front of you, in case of sudden traffic congestion. Slightly slowing down to allow the tailgater to pass you when it is safe to do so is the best course of action to take.

 

Roundabouts

Roundabouts are fairly new the Kitchener Waterloo streets, knowing their purpose is important. They were designed to keep traffic moving and provide a safer alternative to traffic lights and stop signs intersections. With no stop signs or traffic lights, traffic moves slowly around the circle. They also reduce air and noise pollution by keeping the traffic moving at a reduced speed. There is no stopped-idling involved so it saves the environment the emission toxins. There is also reduced injury if a collision occurs.

 

Car Insurance 

Car insurance is required by law to drive a vehicle in Canada. Liability Insurance covers losses to property, injury, and death, because most of us don't have the money to pay for losses or damage that could be the result of a collision. Liability insurance is mandatory in Canada, due to that fact. How insurance premiums are calculated is somewhat complicated. However, to simplify it, it works like this, within limits, some that are prescribed by laws; the premium is calculated by the probability that you will make a claim. That is you would make a claim or draw from the insurance pool. Those who are less likely to draw from the insurance pool pay less money on their premiums. Just because you haven't made a claim doesn't mean that you should pay less on your premium. More so it is the statistical group to which you fit or belong to that determines your premium.

 

Environment and Recycling

 

Batteries

Most Companies these days that sell car/truck batteries also recycle them. Usually, you pay an environmental fee at time of purchase, when you return your old battery there is a refund. For most part the batteries contain "lead acid" which makes them hazardous waste. They must never be put into a regular garbage station. Be very careful when transporting batteries, never let the liquid spill onto your clothes or skin.

 

Oil

If your' one for changing your own car oil know that you can recycle the used motor oil. It must be in a clean container (never used with a screw on cap). Used motor oil can usually be recycled at community oil collection centers, car dealerships, service stations, or oil change centers. In some areas there may even be a curbside recycling program. The old oil once recycled can be turned into fuel oils or used as raw material for the refining and petrochemical industries. Keep out of reach for children or pets.

 

Tires 

Largely, Canadian drivers use all-weather radials on their vehicles, as the tread wears, the tires will have decreased traction especially on snowy road surfaces. Drivers often replace them before they are completely worn. Some of these partially worn tires are collected, shipped, and resold to Third world countries. Because of the warm temperatures these same tires may last for thousands of kilometers on dry road surfaces. Many worn but, undamaged tires are returned to the factories for retreading. In Ontario, over a million truck tires are retreaded and resold each year.