What "I Am Legend" can teach you about safe driving

In the post-apocalyptic movie "I Am Legend", starring Will Smith, the main character Robert Neville drives around a deserted New York in a bunch of great-looking cars (especially the Ford Shelby GT500). Like all good post-apocalyptic movies (including "Mad Max: The Road Warrior", "The Book of Eli", AMC TV show "The Walking Dead", and others), the main character tries to eke out a living in a world turned upside down.

As viewers, we recognize remnants of our world but realize that it is no longer the world we know. And all of these movies can actually teach us an important lesson about safe driving.

In these movies, the main characters try to make the most of what is left... even though there isn't much left at all. And what makes each of these movies an interesting glimpse into a fictional future is the fact that technology has failed humanity.

In today's world, we rely heavily on technology. Work happens on computers. Billions of dollars are spent on web-based purchased. Our mobile phones never leave our sides and they connect us to family and friends. And, our vehicles are technological marvels of safety and control: Every day, science advances the safety and control of our vehicles just a little more. Cars are no longer "horseless buggies" that travel about as fast as a horse-drawn buggy. Rather, they speed along quickly and very quietly; they are designed with crumple zones and protective glass; they come equipped with front airbags, side airbags, and seat belts; they are controlled easily with power steering and power brakes; new technology includes steering wheel controls and even voice commands.

All of these things are wonderful advancements in technology. Unfortunately, if we're not careful, they can trick us into thinking that we are in control at higher speeds, and they trick us into assuming that we are safer than ever. (We are in control and we are safe… but we can become over-confident). That over-confidence can lead to carelessness or aggressive driving. And, as you know, over-confidence and aggressive driving can lead to collisions.

So, how can "I Am Legend" (and other post-apocalyptic movies) make you a better driver? They can remind you that technology is nice but we can't rely on it to save us. In those movies, technology failed and the world faced dire consequences. As drivers, technology can fail us, too: Our cars are safer and we have more control but we can still get seriously hurt (and we can seriously hurt others) in a collision.

The improved technology in our vehicles does give us more safety and better control but it is not a replacement for our own safe driving. As drivers, we need to focus on improving our safe driving skills and reducing our stress on the road and bring our over-confidence in check.

If you get into a collision, bring your car in to Boyd Autobody & Glass for a collision repair. We'll get you back out onto the road so you can face the world again!

NASCAR driver Juan Pablo Montoya walks away from his Daytona 500 crash.

I'm writing this blog post while I'm watching the Daytona 500 (which was postponed from yesterday because of a rain delay).

The race started off pretty crazy with a crash on the second lap that knocked out a bunch of cars, and later a wheel went flying off of a car on pit road. (Sorry I missed whose car it was because I had just tuned in).

But just now, Juan Pablo Montoya's car spun out and crashed into a jet drying truck. A jet drying truck is a truck they use to dry the track. And the word "jet" is because they use a gigantic jet engine to force air onto the track. And jet engines run on... JET FUEL.

So when Juan Pablo Montonya's car crashed into the jet drying truck, it turned into a fireball and splashed jet fuel all over the track, bringing the race to a standstill.

Here's an image from NASCARonSPEED's Facebook page:

Crazy!

Here's a video of it from YouTube:



So glad to see that everyone walked away from the crash okay. There are a lot of safety devices at play in the NASCAR sport and this is the reason why!!!

Boyd Autobody & Glass loves to see good drivers who drive safely AND who walk away from collisions.

Whether around the corner or across the country, reduce collisions by planning your trip

If you want to be a safer driver, one of the skills you can adopt to help you eliminate collisions is to plan your trips before you go on them. And when I say "trips" I don't just mean any driving excursion in which you leave the city.

Rather, any trip where you get into your car – even just to the corner store – is an occasion where a potential collision can occur and is an opportunity for trip planning to help reduce the likelihood of collision.

Here are some tips to help you reduce collisions by planning your trip:

1. Be familiar with more than one route. Collisions are more likely to occur when your attention is elsewhere and if you are detoured through an unfamiliar route and aren't sure how to get to your destination, your focus is on street signs and direction rather than watching the road. This is an easy task when you are driving to the corner store but when you have to take an entirely new route home from work or over to your friend's house, the dangers increase. Check a map or mentally review your options before you get into your car.
2. Give yourself plenty of time. Collisions are more likely to occur when drivers are hurrying. So part of trip planning is to give yourself adequate time. On long trips, we might measure arrival time in hours. On local trips, we might measure it in minutes. Regardless of whether your trip is long or short, the closer you get to your intended arrival time, the higher your stress level can become (especially if you haven't arrived) and the risk increases that you will drive more aggressively. On long trips, add an extra hour or two. On short trips, add an extra few minutes.
3. Check weather conditions. Collisions are more likely to occur in bad weather, especially when drivers don't adjust their driving to accommodate the weather. If the weather is anything other than sunny and dry, add a few extra minutes to your trip. If there's snow or ice, make sure you have the right equipment in your car (i.e. a shovel, some salt, and even some survival gear).
4. Check road conditions. Collisions are more likely to occur when road conditions are not what you expected. In some cases, on roads that you are familiar with, this won't be a big problem. But the farther you stray off of your "regular" route and the longer your trip, the higher your risk of running into road conditions that you weren't expecting – construction, unplowed roads, rush hour, etc. Check the web for construction and weather reports before you travel very far from home.
5. Trip planning doesn't have to be a time-consuming task. But the longer your trip, or the more unfamiliar you are with the area you're driving in, the more time you should invest in trip planning. It will help you to stay focused on the road and in control of your car.

If you do get into a collision, Boyd Autobody and Glass has many convenient locations to repair your vehicle… even if you're in another city. Whether at home or traveling, we'd love to fix your car and get you on your way again!

February's Safe Driving Skill: Stay focused

Let's save lives this year! In 2012, we're sharing 12 tips (one a month) to help people become safer drivers.
Transport Canada reported that, in 2009, there were over 124,000 collisions on Canadian roads that resulted in injury or death. That is too many collisions and there's such an easy solution! We can all drive safer. Unfortunately, life gets in the way and it's too easy to become distracted or stressed out while driving – which can diminish our ability to act and react with caution.

Last month we covered the important skill of maintaining a safe speed. In February, work on staying focused while you drive.

There are so many things vying for our attention when we drive: Our kids are asking for things, our spouses are chatting with us, our cell phone is ringing, the radio is playing a great song. Of course, there are lots of things going on in our lives that are at the forefront of our minds, too: That conflict with our co-worker; that raise we really want; the chores we have to do to keep our home maintained; the many tasks we have for work; our credit card bill; our family responsibilities… they all crowd out what little attention we have to give.

With all of that going on, it's no wonder that the things going on around our vehicles get pushed aside. But remember: We are hurtling down the road in a steel cage at a speed that can seriously damage, injure, or even kill anything we strike. Doesn't it make sense for us to momentarily push aside those distracting thoughts and instead point our focus toward the road ahead?

Here are some tips to help:

1. If you are really stressed, don't get into the car to drive. Take a moment to relax and distress with a quick walk.
2. If you have a lot of things on your mind, write them down on a piece of paper and put the paper into your pocket. When you get to your destination, you can take out the paper and handle those things but thinking about them while you drive is just dangerous.
3. Turn off your cell phone!
4. If there is a serious distraction – for example, the kids' behavior gets out of hand – pull the car over to deal with it. Glaring at your kids through the rear view mirror isn't safe discipline!
5. Develop the habit to keep reminding yourself of your surroundings. Rather than driving on autopilot and letting your subconscious drive, maintain a running commentary about what you're doing to keep you focused.

Safe driving benefits everyone. It's one of those things that just makes sense. This February, commit to driving with greater focus!

If Hollywood Predictions of Driving Come True

If television and movies are an accurate indication of what the future will be like, here is what it will be like to drive:

1. If the Jetsons are an accurate depiction of what driving is like in the future: We'll drive around in flying cars and that means there are going to be way more collisions. Sure, the flying car manufacturers will tell you that there will be fewer collisions but consider this: No one checks their blindspots now and we're only driving on a 2-dimensional plane. Factor in vertical lift and that's a whole other set of blindspots that we'll ignore.

2. If Star Wars (and its sequels and prequels) are an accurate depiction of what driving is like in the future: Everything goes faster. Today, we've got the high-pitched whine of street bikes to warn us of their approach but in the future, people will be racing around on super-fast jet bikes. We'll have to change the rearview mirrors from "objects in the rearview mirror are closer than they appear" to "if you see it in your rearview mirror, it's probably too late." (Note: The IT guy just pointed out that Star Wars happened "a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away"… so this one might not be a problem).

3. If Star Trek is an accurate depiction of what driving is like in the future: We'll have nothing to worry about because we'll beam everywhere. (That's good news because maybe I won't be as late to dinner at my mother-in-law's house on Sunday afternoon… oh, but it probably means that we'll have to stay longer because we can no longer use the "long drive home" as an excuse to leave early).

4. If Mad Max is an accurate depiction of what driving is like in the future: We'll be forced to drive like maniacs from one collision site to another as we search for gasoline for our cars or dog food to eat. That's alarming enough but even more alarming is how uncomfortable the all-leather clothes will feel in the hot sun.

5. If 2012 is an accurate depiction of what driving is like in the future: Everything will be normal until the very end… and then the world will be destroyed and we won't have to worry about cars anymore anyway. Oh. That's kind of depressing.

If we're still driving in the future, and if you robot chauffeur gets into a collision, bring your car (or jet cycle) in to Boyd Autobody & Glass and we'll fix it up and get you back out on the road quickly and safely.

"VERA" will help you avoid collisions and keep your family safe while you drive

Doctors use checklists to make sure that they check all the right things when diagnosing someone or when performing surgery. Their checklist makes sure that they factor in everything or don't forget the tweezers after operating.

Pilots also use checklists to make sure that they have everything covered before they get the plane into the air. Their checklist makes sure that the plane will operate safely and won't run out of gas so you can land on the ground.

Checklists are invaluable tools even for the things we do every single day. They help to keep us focused on the right things and not get distracted. Here is a four-point checklist to help you drive safer.

Use the acronym "VERA" to help you remember these four safety points the next time you get in the car.

Vehicle – Take a look around your vehicle and be aware of how it runs. Is something not quite right – such as squeaky brakes or deflated tires? How will it impact your driving? Also, make sure that there is nothing inside the vehicle that will distract you. Turn off cell phones and keep your sandwich wrapped up until you get to your destination. While you're driving, notice how your car is running and if anything changes during your trip.

Environment – Be aware of the environment. What environmental factors – like rain or snow or fog or ice or sunlight or darkness – will impact your driving? How should you adjust your driving to accommodate these factors and make sure that you get to your destination safely? While you're driving, notice how the environment changes and adjust your driving accordingly.

Road – While you're driving, the road will dictate how you drive. Watch for road-related factors like: Speed-limits, traffic control (stop lights, stop signs, etc.), and unusual conditions like construction or an accident. As well, pay attention to driveways and other roads that intersect with the one you're driving on, as all of these are entrance points for new elements that influence how you drive.

Arena of Focus – This is the 360 degree circle around your car. The bigger the circle and the more you're aware of what's going on inside that circle, the safer drier you'll be. Practice increasing the size of your arena of focus (plus your awareness of what is going on inside that arena). Pay attention to pedestrians and cyclists in your arena, as well as other cars – which ones are moving, which ones are parked. Assume that any of those elements (pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles) and suddenly change direction without you realizing it.

Now that you know this checklist, run through it regularly while driving. Make it a habit to run through the checklist as you pass every single block. At first, it will seem repetitive and almost silly. But practice makes perfect and it will become second nature.

This is a great way to help you become a safer driver and avoid collision. Unfortunately, not every collision is avoidable. If you do get into a collision, Boyd Autobody can repair your car and get you back to where you belong – behind the wheel.

Useful tricks to help you drive safer

There are a lot of reasons why collisions occurs but one of the biggest reasons is because people cannot accurately judge distance when they are driving.

(It's not that humans are incapable of judging distance accurately, it's just because our sensation of speed is dulled by the fact that we are sitting in a quiet, comfortable car.)

So, if we want to accurately judge distance to drive safer, here is a useful piece of information to know: When traveling at 50 km/h in dry conditions, it can take an average car approximately 24 metres (78 feet) to stop.

• Forget what you think about your superior foot-eye coordination or ABS brakes – physics is in control here and you get 24 metres as the minimum stopping distance. (That's assuming that you actually have good foot-eye coordination and you can put down your coffee in time and have a car in perfect operating condition and are not driving in rain and snow). (Source http://www.rulesoftheroad.ie).
• Park your car at the curb and then measure. Use a steady, full pace (which is slightly less than a metre for most people) and count off at least 24 paces. Or just look at the property lines. In a city where property frontages are 50 feet each, you'll need one and a half properties to stop. Or use sidewalk squares – since most sidewalk squares are a uniform length (often they are 4 or 5 feet long), count off the required number of sidewalk squares. Once you know the distance, mark it somehow and then sit in your car and observe how far away it is from your car.
• See for yourself: Take your car out to an empty road and drive at a steady 50 km/h. Then, when you pass a fixed point (such as a fence post), try to stop your car as quickly as possible without locking up your brakes. Then get out of your car and see for yourself what the distance is. The distance will surprise you and should alert you to the distance required when driving on busy streets.
• One of the most practical tips to use while driving (to keep your speed in check) is to use the "two second rule". The two second rule advises that all drivers keep a minimum distance away from vehicles in front of them under optimum conditions (and increase that distance to three or even four seconds when the weather is bad). To apply the two second rule while you drive, choose a fixed point beside the road (like a tree or a telephone pole) and watch the car in front of you as it passes that fixed point. As soon as its rear bumper passes the fixed point, start counting – "one Mississippi, two Mississippi" – and see when your front bumper passes the same fixed point. If you're like most drivers, you'll pass the tree or pole in one or less seconds!
• The distances we've covered are only for regular city travelling at 50 km/h. It's important to remember that as your car speeds up, your distance required to stop increases, too.

Even when we're extra careful, collisions still happen. When they do, bring your car to Boyd Autobody & Glass and we'll help you get your car fixed up and back on the road quickly and safely.

5 things you can learn about safe driving from NASCAR

Here in Canada, the preferred sport might be hockey but there are many motorsports fans who enjoy the deafening roar of a NASCAR race.

Even if you're not a fan (and even if you're not convinced that driving around in a circle can be called "a sport"), you can probably still appreciate the power and skill that driving a 750 horsepower race car through traffic-jam-tight spaces.

Here are 5 things you can learn about safe driving from NASCAR

1. Environmental conditions play a role in your ability to control the car. If you listen to commentators and race car drivers before and during the race, you'll hear about how the cars change their handling as the racetrack warms up during the race. It's the same for your car, too. The environment plays a role in how your car handles, so take a moment before you drive to assess what the driving conditions are like.
2. You can't mess with physics. In almost every race, you'll observe as a cocky, inexperienced driver approaches a turn too quickly and (in spite of their best effort) slams into the wall. Even experienced drivers do that from time to time. And so can you. You can think you're in control but the real thing controlling your car is physics and when you combine speed and weight, it becomes difficult to control your vehicle.
3. Pit stops are crucial. You'll often see races where drivers push their cars as long as they can without going into the pits… sometimes it helps but often it hurts them: Their tires don't grip as well and they run out of gas. Your car is a machine with a lot of moving parts and you need to make sure those parts are functioning as efficiently as they can be. Bringing your car into your mechanic for a "pit stop" can help avoid accidents by making sure your car is in peak working condition.
4. Pay attention to those around you. The very best drivers are the ones who know exactly what's going on all 360 degrees around them. When they have that level of awareness, they can take opportunities to pass when they arise or they can avoid accidents that can suddenly happen. When you're driving, pay attention and stay focused and know exactly what goes on around you… for the same reasons!
5. Speed is only part of the equation. In NASCAR, the first person past the checkered flag wins. But strategic racing can earn points for all kinds of other benefits… and sometimes speed isn't the most important factor. Likewise, slowing down while you drive can help you get where you need to go safely.

When you're driving, remember these five NASCAR-inspired lessons to driver safer than you ever have before. And if you do get into a crash, make sure Boyd Autobody & Glass is your "pit stop" to repair your car and get you back into your race quickly and safely.

Forget 'road rage'… people now have intersection rage

Recently, I was turning in an intersection and the car behind me was right up on my bumper. As soon as we completed the turn, the other driver raced around me and shouted obscenities as he passed, and was quick to point out that I didn't turn fast enough for him.

Strange, because I estimate that I got through the intersection in probably three or four seconds. Even if I was a slow driver (which I'm not) I would have still cleared the intersection in less than ten seconds. Unfortunately, the driver behind me suffered from what I call "Intersection Rage". It's a subset of Road Rage that seems to only spring up around intersections.

Intersection Rage can be triggered by any combination of the following ten problems:

1. The lights take too long to turn from red back to green
2. Other cars that slow down too slowly
3. Other cars that slow down too quickly/too close to the intersection
4. Other cars that stop too close to the car in front
5. Other cars that stop too far from the car in front
6. Other cars that run a yellow light
7. Other cars that jump the light (by going before it turns green)
8. Other cars that accelerate too quickly
9. Other cars that accelerate too slowly
10. Other cars that that take too long in the intersection

 Do any of these drive you crazy? I think most of us suffer from some sort of Intersection Rage because I suspect that most of us are annoyed by a handful of these problems… although I think it's probably different for each person. I don't care so much if someone slows down far from the intersection but I'm driven crazy by people who feel the need to jam on the accelerator as soon as the light turns green.

Which of these drives you crazy?

The problem is, you can't do a lot about how other drivers drive. In fact, if you look at these ten problems, none of them are things you can personally control (and maybe that's why they make us bonkers).
But let's take a minute and assess ourselves: How many of these issues are REAL problems that should annoy us?

I think that there are two things we need to do to eliminate Intersection Rage from our driving habits.

First, we need to be a little more courteous to other people. It's not a contest out there… it's just driving.

Second, we need to revisit our ability to tell time. Yes, this probably sounds funny but I think it's a significant cause of the problem: We get upset if someone clears an intersection in six seconds instead of four seconds.

We get impatient if the light is red for 2 minutes instead of 1 minute.

Don't let an intersection get the better of you. Master your Intersection Rage!

If an intersection gets the better of you and your car is wrecked in the process, bring it in to Boyd Autobody & Glass. We'll fix it up and make it safe for your family once again.

We're living in a zombie apocalypse

Yes, you read that correctly. We are currently living in a zombie apocalypse and we're all in immense danger. But before you get a rifle and lock yourself away in a remote cottage with a bunch of strangers, you should know that there is something you can do about it.

Each day, millions of sleep-deprived people get out of bed and shuffle toward their car (with hair askew and arms outstretched). Once in their car, they drive to work, paying about as much attention to the road as the undead pays to personal hygiene. After a long day at work these same zombies shuffle back to their cars and journey home. They'll go to bed too late and won't get enough sleep…

… And tomorrow, the undead will rise to roam the earth again. Fatigue is a serious problem on our roads and it is creating an army of drivers who are as close to zombies as you can get (while still being medically alive).
We don't get enough sleep at night. We work hard through the day. We're tired during our commute to and from work. We're busy and stressed with family responsibilities. We don't go to bed on time at night. This vicious cycle repeats itself every single day.

It takes a toll on our minds and bodies and it turns us into the living dead: Research shows that fatigue dramatically decreases our ability to think clearly and logically, it slows down our mental reaction time and our physical responses, and it degrades our ability to act with precision.

The only difference between these real life zombies and the ones depicted in fiction is the insatiable appetite for human flesh. Otherwise (at least from a mental perspective), our streets are filled with zombie drivers.
"It's not that bad" readers might object. "Everyone's just a little tired… but we have to carry on anyway". But it IS bad. Studies from the National Institute of Health (in the US) show that the effects of fatigue compared to moderate alcohol consumption are surprisingly similar. Yes, you read that correctly: The more tired you are, the more you react as if you've been drinking.

Imagine if every driver woke up in the morning and drank 3 or 4 beers or a couple glasses of wine before driving to work, and then had the same amount of alcohol before going home for the night. If everyone was doing that, we wouldn't drive on the streets because of the high risk… But that dramatic and alarming illustration is really happening on our streets today, all because of fatigue!

The solution is simple, and here is where we depart from our usual "slow down and drive safely" articles to recommend that you eat balanced meals, drink plenty of water, get some exercise, and go to bed early. All of these great disciplines (which we all want to do anyway) help to improve our ability to sleep and decreases our stress (which also helps improve our ability to sleep) and a good night's sleep makes us more productive AND safer drivers.

By the way, if your car is attacked by zombies, bring it in to your local Boyd Autobody & Glass location. We'll take care of your car so you can get back on the road safely (and while we're fixing your car, you should get some sleep!).

The pitfalls of experience

When you look at frequency of collisions by age group, the numbers are startling but not always a huge surprise: Collisions among young drivers are the highest. Actuarial numbers reveal that inexperience (perhaps combined with excessive bravado and socializing) can lead to an increase in collisions… On the other hand, years of driving experience help to create safer drivers. But experience only lessens the number of collisions, it doesn't eliminate them altogether. That's because experience can also create and prolong bad habits among seasoned drivers. Here are four reasons why experienced drivers are also drivers with very bad habits:

1. People become lazy

We don't like to admit it but we become a little lazy. We become drivers who just do the bare minimum to get somewhere. Instead of checking our blind spots every time we turn, we do it less and less and then just drop it altogether. Instead of paying attention to the road (the same road we travel every day to and from work for a decade) we drive it on autopilot.

2. Laws change

There was a time when it wasn't against the law to use a cell phone. And when I drive around, I see many people who don't seem to feel that this new law applies to them. And there was a time when it wasn't the law to move to the other lane when you pass an emergency vehicle pulled over to the side of the road. I have trouble with this one. And, there was a time when it was legal to drive without seatbelts. It's almost hard to believe but some people still have trouble with this one!

3. Technology changes

Cars become more powerful and safer, but sometimes these features aren't always appreciated. As humourous as it may sound to younger drivers, older drivers might not be used to their car's rapid acceleration or the stopping power of ABS brakes.

4. Cities evolve

If you drive the same way to work every day for a decade, you might get used to the 50 kmh speed… until they build a school and drop the speed to 40 kmh. Suddenly, your experience and habits are working against you as you drive dangerously fast (and probably on autopilot) through a schoolzone.

Young drivers need to learn to develop good habits, and that is something that insurance companies and schools and law enforcement has really come together on to promote. Unfortunately, as people age, their good habits can become bad habits and their experience can actually work against them.

Check your driving skills and see how up-to-date you are. If you're an experienced driver, there's a good chance that you could use a refresher.

If you do get into a collision, bring your car in to Boyd Autobody & Glass. We've been working with drivers for years to get their cars repaired and back out on to the road quickly and safely.

Bad driving habits we learn from television

There's nothing like a mindless action flick to escape into after a busy week at work. The villains are villainous, the heroes are virtuous, and no one gets seriously wounded in spite of the amount of shooting, punching, and car-crashing depicted.

It would be great if that escapism was purely escapism… but it's possible that we subconsciously learn bad habits from television and film. Here are four bad driving habits we see frequently in movies and TV:

1. You don't need to look out the windshield when you're having a conversation

This one is one of the most common! Two people are having a conversation in a car but the driver doesn't look at the road for extended periods of time. That may work in movies but it doesn't work in real life! Keep your eyes on the road and off of the leading lady sitting beside you.

2. You can do several complex things while driving perfectly (usually through a crowded, narrow European street)
Laws are being passed all over North America to ban drivers from using cell phones while driving. Statistics show that we can't use cell phones and drive at the same time. But we're taught by television that we can use a cell phone, shoot a gun, solve a mystery (and probably eat a sandwich) while racing at high speeds… and usually through the most crowded, narrow, and winding streets in Europe.

3. Everyone else moves at a uniform rate of speed, allowing you to weave through traffic

Have you ever noticed this? While the hero races after the villain, every other car seems to drive at a uniform speed and perfectly spaced from the person in front of them, allowing the two action cars to slalom between the innocent drivers. This doesn't happen in real life: Beware of all other cars on the road… no one ever drives at a uniform speed.

4. Car chases have no consequences

This one is another very common scenario in action movies: Entire city streets are completely demolished, cars crash into buildings, they drive on sidewalks, they sideswipe parked cars, they run red lights… all while people from one car shoot at another. Amazingly, no one gets hurt. In real life, this doesn't happen. There are consequences to every decision we make on the road and some of those consequences are disastrous… or even fatal!

It's okay to watch exciting action movies and to get caught up in the thrilling adventure. But make sure you get a reality check before you sit behind the wheel of your real car… because the consequence-free high-speed action sequences do not exist in real life.

If you experience the consequences of a collision, bring your car to Boyd Autobody & Glass. We've been helping action heroes like you by repairing cars and making them safe again.

Why you SHOULD talk to yourself while driving

If you've been driving for a while, it's easy to slip into the "autopilot mode" that we all can so easily drive with. You know the mode I'm talking about – it's when you stop thinking about the road around you and your focus goes into your mind where your thoughts are. You start to think about all the other things you need to do in your day and you forget to pay attention.

That's when collisions occur.

To avoid this problem, follow this one simple trick: Keep a running commentary about what's going on around you, as if you are a golf commentator. (You can do this out loud or, more likely, you'll just do this in your head).

So, as you drive down the road you might say: "I'm approaching an intersection in 100 yards. The light is green now but it could be yellow by the time I get there. There are two cars in front of me and they might brake quickly to reach that yellow…
 

… No, the light has stayed green. I can make it through. But there are cars driving on the cross street. Do they see that their light is red?
 

… Yes, they do. It's safe to proceed."

What I’m describing here is not as crazy as it sounds. You did this when you were first learning to drive (even if you don't remember doing that). And it's a great way to help keep us focused on what's going on and to create enough relevant "noise" in our minds to crowd out the distracting thoughts that arise.

As you narrate your journey, watch what's going on all around you.

• Name the cars and where they are – "red sedan is ahead, turning left… I'd better slow down", "blue SUV is right behind me but is signalling to pass… I'll keep an eye on my blind spot".
• Discuss the road geometry (intersections, curves, corners) and signs.
• Highlight potential dangers – "There's a school zone ahead and it's 3:30… kids could come running out into traffic unexpectedly". And don't forget to talk about potential contingencies to situations.
• On long trips, this skill also helps you stay alert. Don't forget to include gauge checks, mirror checks, and car-function checks – "The car's performance is changing slightly. It looks like the temperature gauge is rising" or "Mirror check! There's an 18-wheeler behind me. I'd better be careful about how quickly I slow down."

Like any skill that you might have used once but haven't used in a while, you might feel rusty and you might even forget to do it. But do your best to remember. And if it feels weird, just remember that you've used this skill in the past and it's something that can help you stay alert and focused and safe while you drive.