How driving is like American Gladiators

Have you ever seen the show American Gladiators? It appears to be a competition using the most bizarre tools/weaponry/scenarios imaginable. No one would ever swing back and forth on a giant swing trying to knock their opponent off of another giant swing using a giant Q-Tip. But that's what American Gladiators looks like to me.

That's how I imagine driving would appear to someone if they were magically transported from pre-automobile times to today.

Let's take someone from… oh… Roman times. (That was totally arbitrary. Insert your favorite century here). They somehow magically appear in our driveway just as we're going to work. So we think that someone wearing a toga would be a hilarious addition to the going-away luncheon we have planned for Suzie who happens to be moving from Accounts Payable into the Shipping department. So we convince Claudius Maximus (or whatever his name is) to get into our car.

What is going through is mind right now? (And don't say "Latin" because that's the smart aleck answer). So IF we could translate our Roman friend's Latin thoughts, we would probably get the same reaction as if we suddenly found ourselves on the set of American Gladiators.

That's because driving may seem natural to us but there's really nothing natural about it. We are getting into a giant steel and glass cage and we hurtle down a road at speeds that would cause us great discomfort if it weren't for the windshield in front of us.

Poor Claudius might wet his toga as he watches the scenery race by. He might fear the noise of the engine (and maybe he'll even be baffled at what magic you possess to drive a chariot without a horse). He might fear the closeness of other cars to the one you're in, since everything is going faster than he's used to.

I don't think that chariots or wagons can even compare to cars… and it has nothing to do with the construction and technology. Rather, I believe it has to do with the removal of our experience with the elements. If we ended up in Claudius Maximus' chariot (there's a Disney movie waiting to be made), we would find ourselves dusty when it was dry, wet when it was raining, and maybe a mouth full of bugs if we kept it open while Claudius was driving. But car owners are protected from those environmental impacts and this gives a weird illusion of safety when really, we are hurtling down the road in an American-Gladiator-style steel and glass cage.

So driving is a weird experience when we look at it from an unfamiliar viewpoint: We feel somewhat safe in a giant steel and glass cage, and that illusion is further enhanced because we are completely protected from the environment. But from the outsider's perspective, we are racing around in giant steel cages… and that sounds dangerous.

If your steel chariot collided with another in the Coliseum of life, bring it to Boyd Autobody & Glass and we'll get it fixed up right away. (Note: We do not repair horses).

Does age make a different in driving safety?

Statistics and experts tend to point fingers at young drivers or at elderly drivers as being the unsafest drivers on the roads. At Boyd Autobody & Glass, we don't entirely agree. While the statistics do show that more collisions might occur in one age group over another, we think all age groups have equal (but different) dangers in their driving, and everyone would do well to read this article and consider what personal dangers you bring to the road:

Let's start with the two demographics that the safe driving experts are eager to point to. They certainly do have some unsafe driving factors:

Young drivers lack experience to handle the ever-changing conditions of the road. In addition, many (but certainly not all) young drivers tend to consider themselves "invincible". Peer pressure and thrill-seeking might also play a factor in their unsafe driving choices.

Elderly drivers lack the quick reaction time necessary to drive on today's busy roads. As well, elderly drivers can be overly-cautious and may operate comfortably at a different speed than other drivers. In some situations (but not all), there might also be health concerns (including loss of hearing and eyesight), which could play a factor.

Although those two demographics are often pointed to as being the unsafest, we believe that there are many other drivers in other demographics that can pose an equal threat to other drivers on the road. Here are some examples:

Parents of young children can be very unsafe because they're busy dealing with their children. How often do you see parents picking up dropped toys, passing food and drinks, breaking up conflict, or periodically just checking on them in the rearview mirror?

Adults of any age can also be unsafe, particularly in the morning or afternoon rush hours. There are more cars on the road and there are often more things on driver's minds! In the morning: Getting the kids to school and daycare while trying not to be late for work. In the evening: Picking the kids up, while thinking about supper and the evening's activities. Don't forget to factor in stress and fatigue to these two scenarios!

College students, truckers, and families on vacation can all be unsafe drivers as well – often because of distance traveled, stress, lack of focus, or experience.

To be clear – we're NOT saying that if you are in these demographics, you are guilty of these issues. However, we're pointing out that every group of drivers – regardless of why you are on the road – share some common issues that could make them unsafe drivers. Be aware of the factors that might make you an unsafe driver.

And don't forget: If you get into a collision, bring your car in to Boyd Autobody. We'll get you back on the road quickly and safely.

The 5 factors of safe driving

Collisions don't "just happen". Likewise, safe driving doesn't "just happen". Safe driving is a conscious decision and is the result of five factors. If you master these five factors as much as possible, you will be the safest driver you possibly can be.

The five factors of safe driving are:

Experience: Driving is all about adjusting to the always-changing, unpredictable nature of the road. So, safe drivers are drivers who have some experience in handling the variety of unusual situations that can occur when driving. (That's not to suggest that inexperienced drivers aren't safe; but experience does introduce an extra degree of safety).

Focus: Driving provides a steady stream of input for the driver. So, safe drivers are drivers who can focus on the task of driving and can ignore irrelevant distractions.

Equipment: Driving requires a car that performs as expected to help you get from point A to point B. So, safe drivers are drivers who operate cars that work.

Environment: Driving doesn't happen in a vacuum; it takes place in an environment (on a specific road, in specific weather, at a specific time of day, etc.). So, safe drivers are those who can correctly interpret the appropriate driving style needed and can adjust their driving to it.

Discipline: Driving is a complicated process of control and speed. So, safe drivers are those who have the discipline to adjust their driving according to the changing conditions, and who operate their vehicle legally.

How would you rate your skills in these five areas?

• Rate yourself on a scale of 1 to 10 in terms of how well you manage each of these five factors.
• Now here's the more challenging rating: Rate yourself on a scale of 1 to 10 in terms of how much you actually perform safely. (Lots of people will give themselves high scores in discipline, for example, but may not actually follow through).

Next, think about how you can improve each of these 5 areas.

• Experience: Improving experience is just a matter of more time behind the wheel. If you don't drive as often as a spouse, offer to drive instead. You may not love driving but the experience will help you become a safer driver.
• Focus: Turn down the radio; turn off your cellphone; and set-and-forget the climate controls; put down your coffee; put down your sandwich; ask the kids to be quiet.
• Equipment: When was the last time you had your car in for a tune-up and inspection? If it's been a while, remember that each passing day, your deteriorating car contributes a little more to unsafe driving.
• Environment: Learn to drive in bad weather; and more importantly, learn when not to drive!
• Discipline: Review your driving habits (especially your bad habits) and try to drive with a little more care.

Following these five factors won't completely eliminate collisions, but they will dramatically reduce the ones that are caused by you (and they can prepare you more effectively for collisions caused by others).

If you do get into a collision, your friendly neighborhood Boyd Autobody & Glass is there to help! Bring your car in for a fast, high-quality, professional collision repair.

Safe driving starts BEFORE you get behind the wheel

Recently, I was with some friends at a go-kart track. After a few races, our heart rates were up, our arms were shaking from controlling the go-karts, and we were dizzy from the exhaust fumes. Then we got into our cars and returned home. The ride home was weird! The car performed differently than the go-kart, and our steering, accelerating and braking were not at the level of safety that they normally were. We got home safely but reflected that our driving was not very safe.

Everyone who drives needs to make the choice to drive safely and that choice happens long before you get into the driver's seat. It happens when drivers decide that a particular activity will make them temporarily unfit to drive.

Drinking alcohol is the first and most obvious activity that can impair driving. The choice not to drink alcohol if you are going to drive is a smart, safe decision. But it gets harder when you consider some of the other driver-impairing activities or situations that aren't regulated by law and which people often do (or face) before driving:

• Go-karting is a good example. From now on, we're going to wait a few minutes after go-karting to get into the car.
• Fatigue is a serious problem that can impair driver skill.
• Conflict with family or at work can create stress that impairs driving.
• Some safe driving experts are suggesting that action movies or video games could impair driving skills by adjusting a driver's perception of control and excitement.

There are other factors that can impair your driving as well but these are good examples of some of the problems.

So what can you do about it? Since safe driving is a decision, you need to decide beforehand whether or not the activity you are about to engage in is going to impair your driving.

Then, prior to driving, you need to decide if you are ready to get behind the wheel. Are you able to focus, think, react, and control the car appropriately? If you are not ready to get behind the wheel, take a break for a while and address the impairing situation. If you're fatigued, take a nap. If you're stressed out, find a way to burn it off. If you're amped up from an action movie or high-energy activity, take some time to calm down.

Safe driving is a decision, and it's not a decision we make once we're sitting behind the wheel of the car and the keys are in the ignition. Instead, it's a decision we need to make before we drive – in fact, it's a decision we always need to keep in mind. Safe driving is always worth thinking about, even when we're not behind the wheel.

If your car is in a collision, Boyd Autobody & Glass is here to help. Our expert technicians can quickly and safely repair your car and get you back on your way.

What you can learn about safe driving from your financial advisor

If you ask a financial expert about how someone should invest in the stock market, you'll inevitably discuss the reality of risk. There are all kinds of risks that exist in the stock market. They include risks that inflation will eat away at your cash, or risks that the monetary policies of the government might take away some of your profit. There are all kinds of risks and financial experts suggest that these risks can be managed with careful investing.

This is NOT an article about risk-managed investing. However, we believe that the same idea exists in driving. Just like the stock market, there are risks on the road. There's a risk that you might doze off at the wheel or that the person in the car behind you will forget to stop or that a dog will run out onto the road in front of you. There are so many risks in driving.

And, while your financial advisor might have some clever ways to avoid risk in the stock market, there are techniques you can use to avoid risk and be a safer driver.

The first thing you need to do is determine what risks are possible. If you're driving at night, there's the risk that you won't see what's in front of you. If you're driving during school hours, there's the risk that children will be crossing the road. If you're driving around other traffic, there's the risk that those other drivers will not be able to control their vehicle. Risks are always changing, depending on where and when you're driving, so be aware and always consider what risks are present at any given moment.

Now that you know what risks there, consider how you can minimize them. Sometimes it might mean giving the cars around you a lot more space. Or perhaps it means taking a different route around a busy school zone. Or maybe it means slowing down slightly to give yourself more time to react. Each of these risk-management solutions is a "tool" in your safe driving tool belt.

There are many risks on the road and they call contribute to making driving a sometimes dangerous task. But here's the good news: You have a lot of risk-management tools in you safe-driving tool belt (more tools than you think you have) and you have enough control that you can eliminate a lot of the risk! With experience and some intentional thinking about risks, you can actually increase the number of tools you have.

Collisions are not completely avoidable but if you approach risk in the same way that our financial advisor approaches risk in the stock market, you'll dramatically reduce the risk of collision.

If you do get into a collision, there might be a Boyd Autobody & Glass conveniently located in your community. Bring your car in and we'll fix it up and have you safely back on the road again.

March's Safe Driving Skill: Watch Your Blindspots

Transport Canada reports that over 124,000 collisions injure or kill people each year (according to 2009 statistics, the last numbers we have available). That number is too high, especially since so many collisions can be easily avoided.
So in 2012, we are encouraging better driving by highlighting one safe driving skill each month and giving drivers tips and ideas to improve that skill.

In this article, we'll talk about improving your sale driving skill of watching your blindspots.

Blindspots are the large sections surrounding your car that you can't see. Your car has several blindspots – perhaps more than you realize.

• The most common blindspots extend out behind your car in a triangle on each side of your car – two areas that you can't see with your rearview mirrors.
• Less common (but no less dangerous) blindspots are a small section in front of your car and around the front panels of your car. Your front bumper "hides" in this blindspot and although it's not very big, it can still result in small collisions, especially in parking lots.

So, how do you watch your blindspots?

For your front blindspots, be aware of where your bumpers are and how close you can get to something. (You can easily test this by leaning a rake up against the front passenger corner of your bumper and sitting in your car to see the distance). Since these collisions are usually slow-moving "rubs" that occur in parking lots, give yourself plenty of room and practice judging distances using that rake handle.

Your rear blindspots aren't really a problem when you're driving forward at a standard speed but as soon as you intend to move your car – either into another lane or to turn a corner – your blindspots become danger zones that are invisible simply by looking in your mirror.

Eliminate collisions against cars and objects that are in your blindspots by checking every time you plan to turn your wheel. When turning left, physically turn your head to the left and look over your left shoulder to see what's in your left blindspot (the area that extends from the rear of your car out toward the left in a triangle), and when turning right, physically turn your head to the right and look over your right shoulder to see what's in your right blindspot (the area that extends from the rear of your car out toward the right in a triangle).

If you have trouble remembering to do that, try these tricks:

• Ask someone in the car to remind you. Your children, in particular, will be delighted to participate in watching you like a hawk and helping you drive more safely.
• Put a piece of masking tape on your blinker arm. When you use your blinker to indicate a turn, the unusual texture won't distract you but will remind you to check your blindspot.

Blindspots are so easy to miss when you're driving but dangers can lurk there! Avoid collisions this March by watching your blindspots.

Safe driving is EVERYONE's responsibility

All safe drivers know that the safest drivers are the ones who are completely focused on the road – they use a hands-free device on the phone (or better yet, they don't talk on the phone at all). But a recent study by the University of Maryland Medical Center have found that pedestrians are possibly at higher risk if they're walking down the street while wearing headphones.

Of course it's not that headphone use itself is dangerous. Rather, the study highlights a concern that pedestrians are no longer actively focused on their surroundings. Therefore, the risks are higher that they might hear a car horn or the screech of tires. We would suggest that the problem is even greater than that: Pedestrians might simply be too engaged in their iPod to realize that they are walking across a busy street. You can read a brief synopsis of the study here or a more detailed synopsis of the study here. (To be fair, the study has drawn some criticism for the way it gathered information and the way the media has handled the details of the report.)

We don't want to add to the potential scaremongering that this article accuses the media of doing. However, we do want to highlight one important thing that this study does remind us of: Safety on the road is everyone's responsibility:

• Drivers control heavy steel machines that hurtle down the road at great speeds. Drivers have the responsibility to control their vehicles in a responsible way – focused and in full control. They must also remember that they share the road with others – other cars and other people.
• Passengers have two responsibilities: They need to help drivers keep watch for unseen threats, and they need to make sure that they don't distract the driver from focusing on the road.
• Cyclists have a legal right to the road and are expected to do so safely and carefully. However, bicycles can steer tighter and stop shorter and are sometimes harder to see than cars; therefore, cyclists should use the road confidently but remember that cars need lots of warning.
• Pedestrians should cross the road in well-marked crossing zones. They should signal their intention and move across quickly. Like any other road-user, pedestrians should be focused and pay attention to the environment around them.
• Parents and teachers have a responsibility, too: Ensure that our kids are constantly reminded to be safe and cautious around roadways. Kids can so easily dart in and out of traffic, running unseen from a playground and in a split second they can be in traffic.

Safe driving is ultimately the responsibility of the person behind the wheel of the car. However, everyone plays a part in safety on the roads regardless of whether they are a seasoned driver or a toddler on a tricycle.

Google Maps as a safe driving tool

Have you ever driven through a neighborhood you weren't familiar with as you looked for a house or business address? We all have at one point or another. It's not easy – you're driving slowly, avoiding parked cars, searching for the house number and street names. Your focus isn't 100% on the road, where it should be.

Compare that experience to driving in a neighbourhood that you are familiar with. It's dramatically different! You can confidently navigate the area and your focus is more safely on the road.

Google Maps can help you be a safer driver by turning even the most unfamiliar neighbourhoods into familiar ones.

Google Maps is more than just a 2-dimensional map – like what drivers used to use to plot a course whenever they wanted to go somewhere. Google Maps offers an even better way to plan ahead! That's because Google Maps gives you an interactive 3-dimensial view of your journey and destination! It allows you to plot our course and see what the surroundings are like before you actually go there!

Here's how it can help: If you are traveling somewhere you've never been before, use Google Maps to view the area first. See what your destination address looks like (so you don't have to take your eyes of the road to squint at house numbers). Watch for one-way streets, left turns across busy roads, unusual street configurations that will make it challenging to get around, and even look for parking before you leave your house!

Here's how to do it, step-by-step:
Go to Google Maps (http://maps.google.com) and type in your destination. Google will reveal the 2-dimensional map of where your destination address is.

Next, get Google Maps Street View. (See the vertical line on the left of the map that you can use to zoom in and out? At the top of that vertical line is a little orange "man". Click that orange human figure and drag it with your mouse to the point that Google indicates on the map as your destination. If Google has taken 3-D pictures of the area, the 2-D map will be replaced with a 3-D version of the address… as if you were standing on the street and looking around.

You can turn 360 degrees, you can move up and down the street, you can see street names and number and house addresses and watch for landmarks. And all of this is a way to drive more safely, especially in neighborhoods you're not familiar with.
Of course, Google Maps won't reveal changes that have occurred since the pictures were taken – such as road construction or if the house changed colour. But for the most part, you'll recognize the area and drive more safely because of it.

8 things to do before you take a trip

When you need to go to the corner store, you just quickly run out wearing whatever you happen to be wearing, and pick up the milk. But when you go on a long trip, you don't just go in whatever you happen to be wearing. Instead, you think about what you might need and you pack a suitcase.

When it comes to driving, we don't always take the same approach (but maybe we should). When you go to the corner store, you just jump in the car and go. No problem. But all too often, that's the same approach we take before embarking on a long trip.

However, on a long trip, we don't have the luxury of walking home if something happens to the car. On a long trip (especially on the Canadian prairies) it can be a loooooong walk to get somewhere if something happens to the car. So, if you want to enjoy a safe and happy long trip, think about doing the following things before you leave:

1. Check your oil, coolant, and washer fluid. In the prairies, it can be a long distance between towns and if your car runs out of these fluids, you may have a long way to go before you can get some more. Add bottles of extra oil, coolant, and washer fluid in the trunk.
2. Check your tire pressure. Tire pressure has a surprisingly large impact on driving – it can damage tires, keep the car from driving predictably, and can even increase fuel consumption. Check your tire pressure and bring them all up to manufacturer's specifications.
3. Make sure you have a spare tire and that it is ready to go (it has air and adequate pressure) and that you have a jack and lug wrench.
4. Put a gas can in your car in case you run out of gas.
5. Make sure your cell phone is charged up (but don't use your cell phone while driving, of course!)
6. Check your glove compartment for insurance, registration, and the owner's manual.
7. Plan your trip. (Check road conditions, weather, and the time you'll be driving).
8. Make sure you have the right kind of gear for the weather you'll be driving through. (Rain coat or winter clothes, for example). Don't forget a survival kit/emergency kit.

On a related note, make sure you get some rest before you drive and take plenty of breaks while on the road. That will help you to stay focused.

The above 8 tips are steps to take before you go on a long trip and they will help you to get to your destination safely and on time.

If you get into a collision while traveling, you'll find many Boyd Autobody locations throughout Western Canada and we'll be happy to repair your car and get you on your way.

Multitasking: No longer the time-saver we thought it was

Recently, I was in an elevator reading an article about multitasking. I almost forgot to push the button for my floor and then when the door opened, I forgot to get off the elevator. Sadly, that is not a joke. It really happened.

Multitasking was a big buzzword in the 1990's. Time management experts told us that we could accomplish twice as much in the same amount of time by doing two things at once. (Naturally, because our lives are so busy, many assumed that if they could do twice as much doing two things at once, they must be able to accomplish three times as much doing three things at once.)

Businesses jumped on this as a way to squeeze more productivity out of people and drivers adopted this mentality to spend their commuting time putting on their make-up, catching up on their reading, or gobbling down lunch.

But today's time management experts are revealing that the benefit of multitasking does not actually exist. Rather than doing one thing well, people who multitask do two things poorly. It's not just a matter of doing half the job, the combined effect is actually much worse! It has something to do with not being able to two things at once.

Therefore, when we drive and focus only on driving, 100% of our focus is on driving. But when we drive and split our focus between driving and some other act (eating, reading, disciplining children, talking on our phones, texting, etc.) we end up doing each of those activities far less than at 50% effectiveness.
Today's time management experts have a new buzzword that they are adopting and we think it perfectly applies to safe driving. It's called "singletasking" and it means doing one thing. (Yeah, we're not sure why there needs to be a word for it).

When you singletask, you do one thing at a time. So when you're behind the wheel, you aren't eating or texting or phoning or have one hand over the back seat trying to keep your kids from fighting with each other. When you singletask, your entire focus is directed toward one activity (driving) and you're able to achieve far more safer driving by singletasking compared to multitasking. You'll remember to check your blindspots and signal before turning and watch the road signs and stop when the car in front of you stops.

By singletasking, you drive better, you're more likely to get to your destination faster, you'll keep yourself and your family safer, and you'll reduce the expense and burden of a collision.

If you do get into a collision, the collision repair experts at Boyd Autobody & Glass are ready to fix your car quickly, restoring its safety and look to its pre-collision condition.

10 Ways that Safe Driving Saves You Money

Safe Driving reduces collisions, it reduces our stress levels, and it keeps our families safe and happy and alive. Those are great benefits and the best reasons to become a safer driver. But there are financial benefits to safer driving as well. In this article, we'll outline some of the ways that safer driving can help to save you money.

1. As a driver who obeys the speed limits, you get to your destination with only a few minutes extra (compared to speeding) plus you reduce the likelihood of a collision.
2. The more aggressively you drive, the harder you are on your vehicle, cost much more in fuel and in wear-and-tear on tires, brakes, and other systems.
3. In a collision, you might be responsible for your deductible. By driving safely, you save that payment.
4. There are thousands of collisions each year (124,000 injury- or fatality-causing collisions in 2009). Insurance companies pay to repair vehicles, they pay to provide injury rehab, they pay death benefits, they pay disability replacement-income. Collisions are increasing and the amount that insurance companies pay out is increasing. So those insurance companies raise rates regularly to cover their increasing costs. You pay increasingly higher insurance premiums even if you haven't been in a collision because of the cumulative cost of insurance among all policyholders. If we all drive safely, insurance rates won't rise as quickly.
5. In a collision, tax dollars are spent on emergency response, hospital services, and collision clean-up. Those tax dollars come out of your pocket. As collisions increase and costs increase, your tax dollars are impacted. If we all drive safely, tax spending won't rise as quickly.
6. Collisions might result in missed work and lost wages. By driving safely, you show up to work and get paid.
7. Along with damaging your car (replaced through insurance), collisions might damage items in your car (not all of which might be covered by insurance). By driving safely, you don't have to spend money to replace things you already own.
8. Collision repair might require you to rent a vehicle (and pay for rental car insurance). By driving safely, you don't have to rent a car or buy car rental insurance.
9. When you plan your route with the safe-driving skill of trip-planning, you'll reduce your fuel consumption and get to your destination faster. (Gas is expensive!)
10. Safer driving reduces stress and reduced stress leads to a healthier life… and a healthier life costs less to live – you eat less, you are more productive, you have fewer health costly troubles.

We've listed 10 ways that safe driving can save you money. Some of the money saved will be immediately noticed (such as less spent on fuel and less spent on speeding tickets) and some of the money saved will be spread over your lifetime. However it comes to you, money saved is always a good thing! It pays to be a safer driver.