At Boyd Autobody & Glass, we want everyone to be safe when they get behind the wheel. Unfortunately, the numbers don't look good. According to 2009 collision statistics released by Transport Canada, there were 124,000 collisions that caused injury or fatality on Canadian roads that year. As the number of cars increases, and as the number of distracted drivers increases, we believe that huge number is going to only climb.
But something can be done about it. If we all choose to work together to improve our safe driving skills, we can actually make that number go down. So, each month, we're publishing a blog that highlights one safe driving skill and gives you tips and ideas to improve that skill. This month, the skill is anticipating.
Anticipating is a huge safe driving skill but it is under-appreciated. Most of us drive around and react when we see something happen. But instead of reacting, you can act out of confidence because you correctly anticipated something happening, your ability to drive safer increases.
Here's an example: You are driving beside a line of parked cars. You think to yourself: "There are three dangers around these cars – (1) People who might run out from between the cars, (2) people in the cars who might suddenly open their door, and (3), a parked car that might pull out without first checking to see what's on the road.
By anticipating those scenarios you can act to minimize them (perhaps by moving slightly to the left and slowing down a little. Then, if one of those three things DOES happen, you can act further – braking or swerving appropriately.
Learning to anticipate is easy. The hardest part is remembering to do it while you drive.
To learn to anticipate, just keep a running commentary to yourself as you drive – pointing out verbally the various things that COULD happen: "There's a schoolyard; I'd better keep an eye out for kids. There's an intersection; I'd better slow down slightly and watch for cars that don't see their stop sign."
At first, it might seem like you are assuming the worst and being pessimistic. However, the act of anticipating does assume that unexpected things will happen and it allows you to prepare for them so that bad things don't happen! That's a big difference.
Of course, you'll never be able to anticipate everything, but even anticipating a few things will put you well on your way to becoming a safer driver. If you can get into the habit of anticipating, you can help to avoid many types of collisions.
Next time you get into the car, before you put the car into drive and step on the gas, remind yourself to anticipate on this trip.
