Every day in Canada, there are hundreds of collisions. These collisions aren't always occurring between two completely inexperienced drivers who happen to be talking on their cellphones. Many of these collisions occur even between experienced drivers. To help you avoid a collision and keep your family safe, here are five steps you need to do:
1. Plan your trip.
Be aware of the journey and the environment before you leave. Decide the best route (which might not always be the fastest or most direct). Consider the weather and allow for it. Remember that other drivers might not be taking the time to plan as thoroughly as you; so your planning shouldn't just take your own experience into account but should also take in other drivers' inexperience.
2. Focus.
Once you are on the road, focus on the road. Keep distractions to a minimum and stay alert. Watch your mirrors and blind spots. Actively avoid getting lulled into complacency. Put aside distracting thoughts until your trip is over. Keep your mind on the road.
3. Look ahead.
Many drivers barely pay attention to the road immediately in front of their car. So, when something unexpected happens, they do not have enough time to react. Look farther ahead. Divide your gaze into zones – immediate, soon, and farther ahead – and watch what's happening in each zone. The farther away you push your awareness, the more time you have to react.
4. Obey the laws.
There are reasons why we have laws and they aren't there to annoy us. The advantage of speed limits, for example, is not to keep us from getting to our destination sooner; rather, the advantage of speed limits (and signalling and proper lane changes and stop lights) is to help make the flow of traffic predictable for everyone. Collisions can occur when drivers do unpredictable things (like driving faster or slower than everyone else or switching lanes without signalling). By obeying the laws, you help to make your driving more predictable to others and therefore you reduce the likelihood that someone will collide with you.
5. Predict.
By following the steps above, you will have a greater command of what's going on around you. This allows you to predict or anticipate what others might do. Is there a car slowing down ahead? Predict that it could stop suddenly or veer in either direction. Is there a large mailbox in a school zone? Predict that a child could be hiding behind it. By predicting the possibilities, you'll improve your ability to react when something happens (because it won't be unexpected).
Collisions are not completely unavoidable. However, they can be reduced by following these five steps – Plan, Focus, Look Ahead, Obey the Laws, and Predict. By doing these 5 things, you'll dramatically reduce the likelihood of a collision.
And if you do get into a collision, bring your car to Boyd Autobody & Glass. We'll help to get your car repaired to restore how good it looks and how safe it can keep you and your family.
