Canada's Worst Driver is a reality TV show in which bad-driver participants are nominated by a friend or loved one and they learn how to become better drivers… with a lot of tears and melodrama along the way.
In this article (part 4 of a 5-part series on lessons we can learn by watching Canada's Worst Driver), we'll be talking about the 4th lesson we can learn from Canada's Worst Driver: Pay attention and be responsible.
Most of the contestants on the show will arrive at "The Rehab Centre" (that's what it's called on the show) and they seem to be completely oblivious to their problems. Sometimes their problems are bad habits that are deeply ingrained from years of bad driving – such as driving too slow or not being able to deal emotionally with traffic. But a lot of the drivers are nominated for a different reason: They are simply unfocused and irresponsible.
Usually, the lack of focus comes from cell phone usage or from food or from being distracted by other things (pets, children, etc.). And usually the irresponsibility comes from allowing these distractions to pull away their focus but they don't adjust their speed accordingly. In other words: They drive fast while talking on the phone and eating.
So what's the lesson here? It's probably obvious but it bears mentioning: Focus on driving, and be responsible when driving.
Focus on driving: Driving is more complicated than we think it is. The activity of driving deserves our full and undivided attention. Things that take our hands off the wheels or our eyes off the road should be eradicated from our driving habit. If your cell phone is going to be a temptation every time it chimes, turn it off. If you like to eat on the ride home after work, stop at a restaurant. If you like to travel with your pets in the car, put them in the backseat and restrain them with a pet-appropriate safety device.
Be responsible: Don't speed. That one should be obvious. Be courteous. That one should be obvious, too. If we slowed down slightly and didn't mind that another driver passes us on the road, our entire outlook in the day will be completely different! Responsibility also means: When something happens to change driving conditions or to pull your focus away from the road, adjust your driving appropriately. Slow down or stop at the side of the road, take care of whatever the situation is, and then return to driving.
These two lessons seem obvious but it's clear from watching Canada's Worst Driver that there is an epidemic of distraction and irresponsibility on the road, and those two factors help to contribute to millions of dollars in damage, hundreds of thousands of injuries, and thousands of fatalities on Canadian roads.
If you get into a collision, Boyd Autobody & Glass can help. With our convenient, local locations, we have a shop that can help to repair your car and get you back on the road safely!
