Winter's Almost Here

Driving in Canada means that we are sometimes driving in the worst conditions imaginable... especially in the winter months. During winter, Mother Nature throws a variety of collision-causing conditions at us – icy roads, piles of vision-impairing snow banks, and whiteouts. With winter on its way, it's a good time to pause and remind ourselves how to drive in these conditions rather than wait for that first snowfall and crunch of a collision to jog our memory!

Be prepared. Pack the appropriate gear in your car (like survival gear for longer trips and salt or sand plus a shovel for in the city). If you never need it, great. But the one time you do need it will make it worthwhile.

Don't let a lack of snow fool you. In my early driving days, I drove cautiously when there was snow but less cautiously when there wasn't. Until I discovered that the late fall/early winter dew covering the roads can freeze a street into a skating rink. There may not have been snow but there wasn't any traction, either!

Winter driving requires extra time. Plan to leave an extra 15 or 20 minutes early whenever you drive. You'll need a couple of minutes to brush the snow off the car and the roads will require a little extra care when navigating.

Be extra careful at intersections. Intersections are extremely dangerous in the winter! Leading up to the intersection, the roads become polished from constant braking so they can be extra slippery. As well, snow banks can block your vision… and they can keep other drivers from seeing the stop sign! Brake early when approaching an intersection, assume that other drivers aren't going to be able to stop on time, and edge out slowly when snow banks keep you from seeing clearly around corners.

Remember that it is slippery out! This might be a "no brainer" to you, but even the most careful drivers need to remember that other drivers are less careful. Therefore, even if you are making sure you've given enough space between you and the car in front of you, make sure that you have an escape route just in case the car behind you seems to be slipping out of control.

Watch out for the hidden danger. One of the most underrated dangers on winter roads is the light… or lack thereof. In the winter, it gets light very late in the morning and it gets dark much earlier in the evening. Those dawn/dusk hours are hard to drive in because our eyeballs cannot keep pace with the changing light fast enough. On the other hand, driving during the day can be absolutely dazzling when the sun glints off the snow.
Driving in the winter can be difficult even at the best of times. But if you are prepared and cautious, you can navigate our Canadian winter roads safely.

If a collision does occur, remember to be extra cautious! Other drivers who might drive around the crash site could slip and slide themselves.

And, if you find yourself in a collision, bring your car to Boyd Autobody & Glass. We're the Canadian car repair experts. We know how important it is to get your car repaired and back on the winter roads quickly and safely.

Winter is approaching – are you ready?

We've enjoyed a beautiful summer here in Canada, and the fall has been pretty good as well. But it won't be long before the first few flakes of snow start to fall and we find ourselves in a winter wonderland. Are you ready for winter?

Make sure your car is ready for winter: You'll need to check your tires so that you're running (at least) all-season tires. Make sure your washer-fluid can handle our bitterly cold temperatures. You'll definitely want a brush and ice scraper, and you'll probably want something to help you dig out if an unexpected blizzard comes up. Don't forget the plug-in for the block heater!

But that's not the only thing you'll need to get ready. Are YOU ready to face winter? Are you ready to drive safely through the ice and sleet and snow? Here are some winter driving tips to keep in mind:

• Slow down. Yes, we write this a lot… but we're serious about it. Drive slower than you do in the summer. Give yourself plenty of time to get where you need to go.
• Brush off the car before you get in. Scrape the windows in their entirety. Don't forget to brush off your brake lights and your front and back signal lights.
• When snow drifts banks build up on the side of the road, edge out carefully and slowly.
• Don't follow too closely because stopping distance is very, very long (and particularly icy near intersections).
• Remember that snow and ice can hinder your ability to steer. You may desire to steer in one direction but momentum and ice will take you in another direction.
• Refresh your skills to handle what happens when you skid on the ice.
• Let your car warm up a little before you start to drive, just to make sure that it is responsive to you (in case you need to steer defensively).
• Don't drive in bad weather. If the weather gets bad, stay off the roads. (Remember: YOU might be the best driver out there but there are millions of others who aren't… and they can all skid into your car).
• If your car is starting to frost up, pull over and let it defrost before you keep driving.
• Keep an eye out for animals. Just because some of them are hibernating doesn't mean that they all are.
• People are harder to see in the winter (they might leap out from behind a snow bank, for example) and when they are all bound up with toques and scarves, they might not hear your car approaching.

The message here shouldn't be a surprise – Be Cautious! Drive carefully and watchfully and sensibly.
If you get into a collision this winter, get your car over to one of our auto body repair centres. We'll take good care of your car and get it fixed up and back to you in no time at all.

Safe driving means knowing your options

You're driving down the street toward an intersection. The light turns yellow. You are going at a speed where you could go right through but the car in front of you gets spooked and slams on their brakes. What do you do?

There are a lot of options in this scenario and most people would automatically choose to lock up their brakes and hope for the best. Sometimes that solution works out and sometimes it results in a collision.

But there are probably other options. For example, perhaps there is another lane to steer into (such as a turning lane) to give yourself more distance to stop. Or maybe steering toward the curb is a better option, especially if there is a parking lane. Or maybe given the choice between hitting a car with people in it and a car without people in it, you choose the one that will potentially cause less injury.

Obviously, in the split second you have to decide these options, it's hard to weigh all of the factors and conclude on the best course of action, which is why most people just slam on their brakes and hope for the best. But there might be a better course of action and all it takes is just a little forethought.

As you drive, anticipate the actions of other drivers and decide what you would do in those situations. Ask yourself, "what would happen if the car in front of me stopped suddenly?" or "what would I do if a child ran out in front of my car?"

For every situation, try to come up with two to four contingencies and weigh the consequences of each one – Who could be hurt? What would the ramifications be?

These might sound like morbid thoughts but here's what's going on inside your brain when you ask yourself these questions: You are training yourself to consider the contingencies. You are examining the theoretical possibilities and determining the best course of action.

Safe driving isn't the only place where this kind of theoretical contingency-planning happens. Our suggestion was inspired by "the case study method" of learning, which is a type of study used by the best business schools to teach their students how to apply concepts in real world situations.

So apply the case study method to your driving and train yourself to identify contingencies as you drive.
This won't eliminate every potential collision – some collisions are unavoidable even if you are in complete control of your vehicle – but you'll be surprised at how much more of a safer driver you'll become as you become aware of the road around you.

If you do get into a collision, bring your car to Boyd Autobody & Glass. Our conveniently located repair centres are staffed with friendly collision repair experts who can help to restore your car and get you on your way.

What 'Back to School' Means for Drivers

It's that time of year again when our mailboxes are brimming with flyers for back to school specials. Pens for a dime? Notebooks for a quarter? Back to school outfits for a twoonie? Sounds good! We'll take a dozen of each!

But "back to school" means something else entirely for drivers. "Back to school" should be synonymous with "SLOW DOWN".

In the summer drivers tend to relax a little because (compared to winter driving) the roads are nice and dry and we can see far ahead and the sun is out for much longer and people take vacation so there are fewer people on the roads. In other words, it's much easier to drive safely in the summer and so (if we were to be honest with ourselves) we maybe slack a little in our driving diligence. Oh, and in addition to that, we probably are also thinking about sitting on the beach or doing some much-needed yard work in the beautiful sunshine!

But now we're nearing September and school is starting up again. Children will be going to and from school and additional environmental distractions (like a later sunrise or an earlier sunset and more traffic) will make it harder to drive.

So what does this mean for drivers?

It's simple: When you're driving, slow down a little and keep an eye out for children. It doesn't matter whether or not you're in a school zone. Remember that kids have to walk from their neighbourhood to get to school so there are going to be children everywhere even if a school isn't a block or two away. School zones are good reminders to slow down but there will be children running around, darting in and out of traffic outside of school zones.

And slowing down doesn't just apply to 8:30 and 3:30 (or whenever school lets out in your area). Children who live near school might go home for lunch. Or, children might be late getting to school or going home early.

Don't forget, it's not just children you have to watch out for. Buses stop to pick up or drop off children and parents might also drive to pick up their kids and can stop suddenly.

Back to school means slowing down for drivers. It helps to improve your ability to react if something changes quickly – like if a child runs out between two parked cars or if a parent stops to pick up their kids.

If you are in a collision, Boyd Autobody can help to repair your car and get you safely and quickly back on the road. But you can avoid a lot of back-to-school collisions by slowing down.

Sending your child to college? Make sure they're ready with these essential items

When a parent sends their children off to college, they'll send them on their way with all of the essentials that these students need to live while studying: Clean bedding and towels, laundry soap, and an industrial-sized box of macaroni and cheese.

But what about transportation? If your university-aged child is bringing a car to college, make sure that they will be safe while driving. If I remember back to my college days, the cars of college students were not the safest or most reliable pieces of machinery on the roads. So you might make sure that they have clean underwear but you should also make sure that they can get to and from class safely.

Give them the gift of safety by bringing their car in for a tune-up, oil change, and tire rotation before they leave for school. Chances are, they won't have enough money or time during school to do this themselves so you'll ensure that the car is in good working order before school starts. Consider replacing the tires on their car from those bald balloons to something with a little more traction. After all, you want them to get home safely for Christmas.

Provide them with an emergency roadside kit that contains booster cables, safety markers or pylons, a first aid kit, emergency candles, a blanket and a small shovel. You might also consider springing for some traction mats or kitty litter in case they end up stuck in the snow.

This is also a good time to make sure they know a few fundamentals about the car: For example, do they know how to change a tire? (Hey, why not get them to rotate the tires on your car as practice?). And, do they know the top reasons that a car won't start? And don't forget what happens if they do get into an accident: Do they know what to do? Do they know what information to get from the other driver? And do they know what to do with their damaged car?

As a parent, you want to make sure that your child's university years are safe, fun (and full of learning – of course) and you can do this by making sure that their car is in good shape and that they are ready for anything.

Here's one way to help them: Put a list of important telephone numbers in the glove compartment for them: Do some research and include the names of the police department, tow trucks, your insurance company, a taxi company, and a local Boyd Autobody & Glass collision repair facility so that if they do get into an accident, they'll have all the information at their fingertips.

4 things you'll never see on the road (outside of a Hollywood movie)

Hollywood cranks out a lot of entertaining movies (and even more unentertaining ones). And the most thrilling movies usually have a car chase or three in them. As moviegoers, we love the thrill of seeing a great looking car expertly chase another great looking car through crowded streets, around treacherous turns, over or under obstacles… and usually the good guy (or girl) wins in the end.

As entertaining as this is, it's doing a disservice to the viewing public. It's teaching us the wrong things about safe driving and skilled car handling. Here are the top 4 things you'll see in movies that you'll never see on real roads.

1. Long conversations without looking at the road: Directors and actors love eye contact during a conversation. And that rule of directorship 101 seems to extend to conversations that two characters have in the car. The driver and passengers can drive at high speeds down the street but will face each other for most of the conversation. We never see the driver actually watch the road! Safe driving tip: Don't do that. Safe drivers never take their eyes of the road.
2. Weaving in and out of traffic at high speeds: In every car chase, the heroes and villains of the movie chase each other around through heavy traffic. And on those roads, every car maintains perfect speed and direction (and plenty of space around each vehicle), allowing the main characters to slalom through traffic. But it doesn't really happen that way. Drivers aren't predictable and if we hear guns shooting and see crazy drivers in our mirrors, we are likely to react in panic rather than remain three car-lengths behind the car in front of us. Safe driving tip: Don’t weave through traffic like you're being chased by maniacs intent on taking over the world.
3. Expert handling: Some movies depict car chases on deserted highways but those aren't nearly as riveting for viewers as a car chase through a busy street, filled with cars and pedestrians. But in those scenes, the cars are expertly handled on the streets (and on the sidewalks!) and aside from an overturned apple cart, there isn't a lot of damage. These drivers can drift and slide and skid with ease and have all the room and confidence to do so. But it doesn't really work like that. Safe driving tip: Stay on the road, keep your distance, slow down, and maneuver predictably.
4. No one gets hurt: Most movies will show the villains get hurt and plenty of gun play but all the non-storyline characters (i.e. "man in crowd", "woman with baby", etc.) remain completely unscathed. Even in movies like Speed, when the bus hits the baby carriage, viewers are relieved (but not really surprised) when it's discovered that the carriage is full of cans and not an actual baby. Unfortunately, in the real world, driving like crazy injures innocent bystanders… and baby carriages contain babies. Safe driving tip: Remember that your driving decisions can impact other people.

And there are many more tips that we haven't mentioned! Driving without seatbelts, driving while talking on the phone, driving the wrong way on a one-way street, driving while shooting (DEFINITELY don't do that one), driving through buildings… all of these are commonplace in movies but fool us into thinking that we are safe and in control behind the wheel.

Hollywood movies are fun to watch but we must be extra careful to make sure that we do not adopt the Hollywood driving mindset when we get into the driver's seat.

July's Safe Driving Skill: Be Predictable

According to Transport Canada, there were about 124,000 collisions causing injury or death on Canadian roads in 2009 (which is the last date of record available at the time of this writing).

124,000 collisions is a huge number and at Boyd Autobody & Glass, we believe it's a number that can easily be reduced through careful driving. So in 2012, we are promoting 12 safe driving skills – one each month – to help Canadian drivers keep our roads safe.

In July, the safe driving skill we're promoting is "Be Predictable". One reason that collisions occur is that one driver doesn't know what another driver is about to do. This can result from a number of things but the biggest factors are…

• Lack of signalling
• Inconsistent driving (erratic speeds, swerving, etc.)
• Lack of control

When two cars are going down the road and one car does something unexpected, the other car is forced to react. It could be simple (such as tapping the brakes to slow down) but sometimes the reaction needs to be more dramatic. And if the unpredictable driver is near several cars (i.e. if there are several cars on the road and all of those cars need to brake and/or swerve), the potential for a collision increases.

When you drive, your goal should be: To be the most predictable driver on the road and to make sure that every other driver around you can read your mind and know exactly what you are going to do, long before you actually do it.

Fortunately, predictable driving is such an easy skill to improve upon. Here are some ways you can improve upon your predictability:

1. Signal before you change lanes or turn. Check your blind spots, too!
2. Focus on the road and turn down the music and put away your cell phone.
3. Keep both of your hands on the wheel.
4. Maintain a consistent speed and direction while driving. An easy way to do this is to decide your speed and keep an eye on it (periodically) while driving. Stay in your lane. Watch your mirrors.

Practice this on an open highway when no one else is around. If you're on a long journey along the highway, this is a great time to work hard at staying in one lane and maintaining a constant speed. (Check periodically to see if you tend to speed up or slow down). However, the place where you will benefit the most from this is when you are on a crowded road, especially in rush hour.

And if you do get into a collision – either because you've been unpredictable or someone else was unpredictable around you – bring your car to Boyd Autobody & Glass. We'll get your car fixed up and back out on the road quickly and safely.

June's Safe Driver Skill: Anticipate

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.

The case of the mysterious dent

Nearly every car gets one at some point and car owners are helpless to stop it. I'm talking about that mystery dent. Maybe it's a ding on your door. Maybe it's a newly formed bowl on your bumper. Maybe it's a half-moon-shaped dent on your quarter panel. The shape and location may be different but there is one common trait among all of these occurrences: The origins of this mystery are shrouded in the mists of the unknown.

As with any good mystery, we are forced to answer questions based on the evidence.

Question 1: How did it get there?

It's anyone's guess, really. Maybe it happened at the grocery store parking lot (where chaos reigns supreme). Maybe it happened in the church parking lot (aren't there supposed to be angels there?). Maybe it happened when you slipped into your local Big Box Store to buy toilet paper because it was on sale. Maybe it was a mysterious gravitational anomaly that occurred inside your car, pulling part of your car into itself. All we can be sure of is that we don't think it was there eight weeks ago when we last washed the car. But eight weeks is a long, long time.

Question 2: Who did it?

If you can't answer the first question, it's not so easy to answer this question. But we WANT to answer this question. We want to find the culprit! So we ask our spouse and our teenage children if they know what happened and then maybe we blame our teenage children's friends because, well, they are teenagers after all. We glare around every parking lot we park in. We look at the garden gnome out of the side of our eyes to see if it has moved at all.

Question 3: What can I do about it now?

Whether or not you find the actual culprit doesn't matter. (It is a mystery dent and maybe there is a little allure to not knowing who did it… do you think James Bond knows how every dent appeared on his Aston Martin? Not likely). You really have two options.

The first option is to do nothing. That's easier, isn't it? You've got enough to do between work and home and driving your aged mother to bingo every week. But there's a wee little problem with that. I call that problem: "The attack of Mr. Rusty." You see, the paint on your car isn't there just to make your car look pretty. It's also there to form a magical protective barrier around the steel that your car is made of. (Sort of the same principal as why the library laminates your library card). But when a mysterious dent appears, the paint is imperceptibly cracked. When that happens, air and moisture attacks the steel in a way that I never really paid attention to during science class… but the result is rust. Bad, ugly, stinky, dirty rust that slowly eats away at your car until it is just a dusty heap.

The other option, of course, is to get your car fixed right away at Boyd Autobody & Glass. It can feel a little annoying to fix your car since you haven't found anyone to blame, but getting your car fixed makes sense: It keeps the rust away. It helps to preserve the value of your car and the safety of its occupants. And more importantly, it shows your kids' teenage friends (and maybe your garden gnome) that you won't be intimidated by some mysterious little dent.

X Things You Shouldn't Ignore

Driving seems like an activity where you are in complete control of the car. But that is not the case. You work together with the car to get where you need to go, quickly and safely. You are in constant communication with your car and everything from road noise to alarm bells to rain on the windshield should help you to adjust your driving to the conditions.

If you are driving, here are X signs that you shouldn't ignore:

1. The gas gauge. Life gets busy. We understand that. But if you don't have time to fill your gas tank, you'll end up costing yourself a lot of stress as you search desperately for one (or you'll end up costing yourself a lot of time if you run out of gas and have to walk).

2. The temperature gauge. We don't really pay attention to this little gauge very much but it is an important gauge. The engine heats up when it has to work extra hard. So take note of where your temperature gauge is when driving under normal conditions. Consider that to be the baseline of standard operation. If the temperature is lower than that, it's usually not a problem. But if the temperature climbs higher than that, it's a definite warning sign.

3. Your tachometer. Not all cars are equipped with a tachometer, which measures RPMs. If your car is equipped with a tachometer, keep an eye on it. It should increase steadily as you accelerate and it should change when your car switches gears. If your tachometer starts jumping around, that is not a good sign. Alternatively, if you don’t have a tachometer, you'll have to rely on your ears to tell you if the engine is running steadily or if it is revving.

4. Your brakes. Brakes aren't just devices that slow you down; they're whole systems designed to work effectively and to warn you when things aren't working right. Brakes come with a built-in warning system that screeches a little when you apply the brakes. If you hear screeching when you apply the brakes, your car is telling you to check (and probably replace) the brakes.

5.    Buzzing, rattling, and clunking. Vehicles take a lot of abuse on the road and when they are in peak condition, they'll perform the way they are supposed to. But buzzing and rattling warn us that something is loose. It might not be a big deal now but if things aren't tightened up, things could get worse.

6. Grinding. Very similar to above, your car should not make a metal-on-metal grinding sound. That's the sign that a once lubricated part is now no-longer lubricated. Pay attention to where and when the grinding noise occurs and tell your mechanic at once.

On their own, these are warning signs of minor issues that can be fixed with a full tank of gas or by a mechanic. If you catch them right away, they will probably cost you very little. However, if you ignore any of these warning signs or leave them for too long before doing something about them, it could cost you. It might just be a cost of inconvenience, as is the case of an empty tank of gas. But it could be much worse – your brakes could give out, your engine might fail, your ability to control the car could disappear. When that happens, collisions occur and those are much more expensive.

If you get into a collision, bring your car to Boyd Autobody & Glass for fast, affordable collision repair that can get you back on the road safely in no time.

Stuff You Should Carry In Your Car

As Canadians, we live in a pretty harsh climate. The summer can be scorchingly hot; the winters can be shockingly cold; if you live in a place that has one of the other two seasons, they're usually wet. The temperature difference in some parts of Canada can be as much as 80 degrees between summer and winter.
(Count yourself lucky if it's less than that where you live).

So, since we live in what can only be described as an "extreme" environment, what should Canadians carry in their car? Here is comprehensive list:

• Emergency roadside kit: You never know what could happen – you might come upon an accident or you might suddenly run out of fuel. It's better to be prepared for everything. Include candles, blankets, and emergency pylons in your roadside kit.
• First aid kit: From tiny boo-boos to more significant "owies". Include disinfectant and bandages. Most emergency kits come with this but double check and stock up.
• Jumper cables: In case you leave your lights on, or to be a friendly Canadian to someone in distress. Spend extra to get longer ones because some day you'll face a situation where the shorter ones just won't reach.
• Spare tire, jack, and wrench: Seems obvious and a lot of cars come with them. Just make sure that they are usable. If necessary, invest in a better jack and wrench if your auto manufacturer was a little cheap. Jack stands also provide a little extra stability and assurance.
• Salt, sand, kitty litter, extraction devices, and snow shovel: During winter, roads get a little snowy (or sometimes a lot snowy) and every good Canadian has found themselves in a ditch from time to time. A combination of some of these tools can help you deal with those times.
• Ice scraper and snow brush: Avoid using your credit card or thumbnail to remove ice.
• Umbrella, raincoat, winter coat, extra mittens, rubber boots, winter boots: If everything worked the way it was supposed to, we'd always get where we need to go. But cars break down and, as luck would have it, they always seem to break down in the wettest, coldest weather. Be prepared with the right gear.
• Car manual, insurance card, accident report form: Keep these in your glove compartment so you can get at them when you need them. (You can download a free accident report form from here).
• Oil and season-appropriate washer fluid: You might not need to carry oil with you all the time if you mainly drive around the city but you should always carry season-appropriate washer fluid.

Obviously it doesn't make sense to carry all of these things all of the time. But keep these things near your car and when the season calls for it, put it in your car. You'll be glad you had it.

Something else you should carry with you is the phone number to a local Boyd Autobody & Glass shop. If you get into a collision, call your insurance company and call us right away.

Five Steps to Driving More Safely

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.

6 Ways to See Better While Driving

While driving, you probably give a lot of thought to where you're going and what else is going on around you. This level of awareness helps you to avoid accidents and get to where you need to go safely.
You probably give little thought to your car's windshield. In good conditions, you shouldn't see it. However, Canadians rarely live in "good" conditions. We face every imaginable extreme of weather and it impacts how well we can see.

Here are some tips to help you see better while driving.

1. Your car's windshield is curved slightly, providing some aerodynamics to improve fuel efficiency. However, this means that your windshield wipers tend to take the shape of the bottom of the window, which is shaped different than the middle of the window where you look out of. When you turn on your wipers after not having used them for a while, they can smear or miss a spot entirely. Flex your wipers periodically and be sure to replace your wipers regularly as part of your automotive maintenance habits. This will ensure that you can see while you're driving!

2. Your car's windshield takes the brunt of the cold weather. When you're driving in the winter and your windshield begins to fog up, it's because the outside is much colder and drier than the inside. Turn your interior so it brings in cold air from outside (instead of recirculating the humid, warm air in your car) and roll down your windows slightly. This will lower the temperature in the car and help to eliminate some of the humidity that is causing the fog.

3. Driving during dusk or dawn, the sunlight changes rapidly and your eyes have trouble adjusting quickly. If you cannot avoid traveling during these times, drive with extra caution.

4. Bugs, mud, and glass chips may not seem like a big deal on your windshield, but they can break up your ability to focus on the road ahead. Besides, glass chips can quickly turn into glass cracks when the weather cools down. Clean your windshield regularly and get glass chips repaired as soon as possible.

5. Your car's windshield is part of your car's safety cage. Although it is glass, it helps to add support to the structure of your vehicle. Cracks in the glass diminish the safety of the windshield and put the driver and passengers at greater risk. You wouldn't think of driving with a missing door, so why would you drive with a cracked windshield?

6. In the winter, take the time to scrape all of the windows instead of a small crevice so you can see straight out. Your visibility is one of the most importance lines of defense between you and a serious accident.

Mother Nature throws an awful lot of bad weather at Canadians – from rain to snow to sleet to hail to fog to blinding sunshine. Don't let nature get the upper hand. Do everything you can to stay safe on the roads by keeping your windshield clean. If you have a glass chip or a glass crack, bring it in to Boyd Autobody to be fixed right away to help keep you safe on the road.

Why your car HATES grocery shopping

I hate grocery shopping. There are probably hundred – or even a hundred thousand – other things I'd rather do. No offense meant to grocers or to those who love grocery shopping; it's just not my thing. My car hates grocery shopping, too.

Grocery store parking lots are magnets for autobody damage. There are a lot of cars in a confined location and everyone seems intent on getting the parking spot closest to the door.

• Loose shopping carts are caught by the wind and become high speed (well, medium speed) dent-machines, barrelling head-on into the nearest car. A gust of wind and WHAM, your car has been victimized by a steel rolling cage. (It could almost be its own reality TV show, don't you think?)
• Distracted drivers are busy watching for an open parking spot while also trying not to hit people who seemingly dart out from between vehicles. It's like an insane slalom but they can make it harder by talking on their iPhone, eating a Panini, and yelling at the kids. These drivers can veer suddenly or make turns that are too wide or too narrow and WHACK, your car has a brush with steel.
• Blind reversals may sound like an investment technique or a poker-playing trick but it's actually a daily occurrence in grocery store parking lots. You know the situation: Some little family car is tucked between two behemoth SUVs and they need to get out. They should edge out slowly but "slow" isn't a word in some drivers' vocabularies. They put the car in "R" and push the accelerator to the floor. If you're lucky, they'll look directly behind them but their field of vision is too narrow anyway. When that happens, BANG, your car has been kissed by a 100 horsepower station wagon.
• Vigilante key holders are those people who think that just because they have a set of keys, they can mete out justice like a Wild West sheriff. Park your car too close, or park too nice of a car nearby, and SCRATCH, your car now has a deep canyon carved down its side.

While you're inside battling other people for a loaf of milk or a can of butter, your car is facing its own battle on the frontlines of the grocery store parking lot.

Me? I'll be the one who just sits in my idling car in the lane while my kids or spouse runs in to pick up the milk. (Oh, wait…)

But seriously, if you find your car is the victim of a grocery store parking lot "incident", drop the milk and eggs off at home and then drive down to Boyd Autobody & Glass to have us take a look at the damage. It might seem small now but we can turn your less-than-pristine car into a beautiful set of wheels once again!

May's Safe Driving Skill: Corner safely

In 2009 (the last year that statistics are available), Transport Canada reported that there were over 124,000 collisions on Canadian roads, which ended in an injury or fatality. Since the vast majority of collisions occur because of driver error, we believe that many of these 124,000 collisions could be reduced if we all worked on improving our driving skills. So in 2012, Boyd Autobody is encouraging all drivers to take some time to focus each month on one particular driving skill and to work that skill into their driving habits. Throughout the year, we'll all become better drivers.

For the month of May, the driving skill to improve is cornering. It's easy to maintain control of a vehicle when you're driving at a consistent speed in one direction. But as soon as you start to corner, you introduce a whole new set of variables that can cause you to lose control of your vehicle.

That's right, cornering is not just a matter of slightly turning the wheel and letting nature take its course (even though that's how many people take corners). When you corner, the weight of your car shifts to one corner of your vehicle and then moves backward until you straighten out. (If you're turning left, the weight of your car shifts first to the right front of your car and then as you continue through the corner, the weight of your car flows backward toward the right-centre of your car until you straighten the wheel). When you combine the shifting weight, your speed, the grip of your tires, and the condition of the road, corners become places where drivers easily lose control.

Add to that the following factors, smooth steering throughout the corner and other vehicles driving nearby, and a simple turn can become collision chaos.

Improve your cornering in the following ways:

• Keep a firm grip on the steering wheel all the way through the corner.
• Avoid making too tight of a turn (because that throws the weight farther and faster onto the front corner of your car and that can cause you to lose control).
• Slow down in a corner to help you distribute the weight evenly.
• Check your blindspots.
• Pay attention to where all four corners of the car are (to avoid clipping something with your outside front corner or running over something with your inside back corner).
• Remember that your back tires take a tighter turn than your front tires so be sure to allow for that when judging corner distances.
• Don’t hit the accelerator too early in the corner, especially in poor weather conditions, because that can cause you to lose control.

Cornering should be a simple, safe procedure but it can quickly turn into a common collision scenario. Follow these tips to improve your safe cornering and you'll help to dramatically reduce your chance of collision.

The number one secret to safe driving

When cars were first built, driving was all about getting where you needed to go. As horsepower increased, driving was all about getting where you needed to go quickly. But today, driving is all about getting where you need to go quickly AND safely. There are so many cars on the road and it seems like only about 10% of those cars are driven by people who took a driving lesson at some point in their lives. Plus, we're all in a hurry and it's easy to take additional risks when we're in a hurry.

With so many people driving, how can we drive safely? Here's the number one secret to navigating our treacherous roads safely: Anticipate.

When you anticipate, you look farther ahead and you think farther ahead. You try to predict what other drivers are going to do. You forecast what could happen and you plan and act accordingly. The farther ahead you can anticipate, the better a driver you'll be. Here are some ways to anticipate effectively.

Anticipate environmental conditions. Most of us will stick our head out the door before we leave the house to figure out if we should bring a jacket. But anticipating the weather as a careful driver means considering what the weather is going to be like for the entire time that we'll be on the road… AND considering how the weather will impact your driving and the vehicles around you. Are conditions dry and clear? More people will be driving and they'll be driving faster. Is the sun going to be in your eyes? It will probably be in other people's eyes, too, so be sure to watch out for careless lane changers. Is there fog and will it lift? Turn on your headlights but drive a little slower and watch for people who forgot to turn their headlights on.

Anticipate routes. We are creatures of habit and can always take the same route to a destination. But a few minutes of anticipating the route's conditions can make for a safer drive. Is it a well-traveled route during rush hour? Check the clock and consider another way. Is there construction or accidents? Check social media (like Twitter) before heading out on the road. Watch for mentions of accidents and roadwork. Once you get to your destination, is it easy to find a parking spot? It can be hard to find parking in the downtown cores of larger cities, so if you have to drive around for a while looking for a spot, make sure you don't get lost.

Anticipate drivers. The above two anticipating techniques are done before you drive but anticipating how others will drive WHILE YOU DRIVE is going to be the most valuable technique. To anticipate how others will drive, look farther ahead down the road. Most of us look only a car-length ahead while we drive. However, you should shift your vision between the car in front of you and several car lengths in front of you. For traffic that you're following, watch for brake lights and sudden movement (swerving, accelerating, or braking). For oncoming traffic, watch for sudden movement; at the same time, watch for road conditions that might change how the traffic ahead of you behaves. Are there parked cars? One of them could pull out. Are there trees or mailboxes on the side of the road? They could be hiding a pedestrian. Are there intersections? Someone on the cross street might miss the stop sign.

Safe driving isn't just controlling your own car. It's about anticipating how the rest of the world is going to change around you while you drive. Collisions will still happen because you can't plan for everything, but you'll help to minimize your risk of collision with this top tip for safe driving.

If you do get into a collision, Boyd Autobody is there to help you get back on the road as quickly as possible. Stay safe while you drive!

Tips for driving safely through water

There's nothing like a good rainfall. The thunder and lightning can be fearsome but torrential downpours are also cleansing. And you can almost hear the grass growing right after a good burst of rain. Although our lawns might like wet weather, our cars do not necessarily thrive in wet conditions.

Cars are built to handle inclement weather but only within certain parameters. If you are driving during or shortly after a rainfall, here are some tips to take care of your car:

• Steer clear of puddles. Yes, puddles seem innocent enough and splashing through one can remind us of when we were kids with rubber boots. However, puddles can do two types of damage to your car: First, puddles can hide a pothole. Running over a pothole can damage your car's tires and undercarriage, and knock your wheels out of alignment (which can cause further wear and tear). Second, puddles can splash. That doesn't seem like a big deal except that puddles can splash under our own car into the engine compartment (which can cause damage) or it can splash other cars and affect their ability to see clearly (which can cause accidents!). If you see a puddle, slow down and try to avoid it.
• Be cautious about hydroplaning. Hydroplaning sounds like a superhero's water vehicle but it's really a dangerous situation that can occur during or after a heavy rain. Rain water that doesn't drain off of the road quickly enough can cause cars to lose traction. When your car loses traction, you lose your ability to control your car. Unfortunately, a roadway where the threat of hydroplaning can be difficult to see since all you really see is a wet road. But the threat is real. Slow down a little during and after a rainfall and avoid making sudden changes in direction.
• Don't drive in deep water. During torrential rains, storm drains become overwhelmed with the amount of water and they don't drain fast enough. Roads become rivers. Driving in these conditions is extremely dangerous: You can no longer see potholes or even the curbs, water can get into your engine very easily, and you can even float away in a wave caused by another vehicle! During a bad storm, our instinct is to get home to safety but if we're driving our car we should really just park off of the roadway and let the water diminish.

With the crazy and unpredictable weather we've been experiencing in Canada in the past few years, it's hard to know when the next rainfall will be and exactly how much water will plummet from the skies. Use these tips to drive safely. If you do find yourself caught in a heavy rainstorm, have your car inspected right away.

And if you lose control and collide with another vehicle, bring your car to Boyd Autobody for a repair. We'll dry out your car and repair it and get you back out on the road as quickly as possible.

Deal with these small issues before they turn into big problems

Door ding? Paint scratch? Rust blemish? Glass chip? None of these seem like a big deal if they show up on your car. In fact, they're so small that we might not notice them right away. But sooner or later the light might catch it in a certain way or we happen to walk around the passenger side of the vehicle and we see the tiny issue and wonder "when did that get there?"

What you do next could cost you thousands of dollars.

Do you get into your car and continue driving? Or do you pick up the phone and make an appointment at a nearby autobody repair centre?

It can be tempting to just continue on. It's easy to forget about those tiny issues. After all, they're so small and there are other things in life that seem more pressing – the boss wants that report first thing; the kids need braces; the spouse wants a vacation to somewhere tropical; the brother-in-law needs help moving again. You name it; your agenda is filled with things that seem way more important than a tiny door ding or rust blemish.

These door dings, paint scratches, rust blemishes, and glass chips seem so insignificant that you notice them and they disappear from your mind right away. But just because they're gone from your mind doesn't mean that they're gone from your car. And here's something else you should know: These small issues don't remain small. They grow.

Tiny door dings and paint scratches can lead to rust because the protective coat of paint is broken (even if you can't see that it's broken). Tiny rust blemishes can lead to big rust patches. All rust needs to grow is a foothold. And tiny glass chips turn into big glass cracks once water invades, freezes, and expands. So small issues are small issues and easily forgotten. But they turn into big issues before you know it and suddenly your car is no longer the pristine point of pride it once was.

More importantly, a small ding, scratch, blemish, or chip costs very little to repair and it can be done quickly. But large patches of rust and big glass cracks cost comparatively higher amounts and take much longer to repair.

At Boyd Autobody & Glass, we see these situations on a daily basis – vehicle owners who waited too long to bring in their vehicle to repair what was once a small issue and is now a big problem.

Do yourself and your car and your wallet a favour. Take a walk around your car and thoroughly check for small issues – the things you would normally forget about like door dings, paint scratches, rust blemishes, and glass chips. They're there… and probably forgotten. Then come down to one of our collision repair shops for a quote right away. You'll save hundreds or even thousands of dollars, plus you'll save yourself a lot of time.

Is your car an investment?

We all know the "rule of thumb" that your car loses half its value as soon as you drive it off of the dealership lot. Cars depreciate and unless you own a nicely restored classic car or antique car (you know, from the years when they looked GOOD), you're pretty much guaranteed that you are going to lose money on your car from the moment you purchase it.

For this reason, personal financial experts will tell you that your car is not a good investment… After all, investments are supposed to make money, not lose them. But your car might actually be a better investment than you think.

Cars depreciate. That part is indisputable. But cars are an investment in other ways:

1. Cars are an investment in making money: Your car enables you to get to and from work regularly so you can earn an income. A small portion of that income goes toward maintaining your car, but much more of your income goes toward all of the other things that we need in life.
2. Cars are an investment in saving time: Public transportation is good for the environment and a nice alternative when you don’t want to drive or fight for a parking spot downtown. However, there are many times when you need to get somewhere a little faster than by bus and a car can get you there. And since "time is money", saving times means that your vehicular investment is that much more worthwhile.
3. Cars are an investment in convenience: Have you ever shopped for groceries then had to walk all the way home? It's not very pleasant, especially in particularly hot or cold weather. Along with getting you to and from the grocery store quickly, your car makes your life more convenient.
4. Cars are an investment in safety: When you drive, you're literally hurtling down the road in a cage of steel and glass, zooming by other cages of steel and glass. Buying a car means buying a high-tech safety device that you can move your family around safely in.

For these four reasons, your car IS an investment. Sure, you probably won't "buy low and sell high" as you would with shares of a company on the stock market, but investing in a car means investing in yourself and your ability to make money, save time, enjoy an easier life, and travel safely. Those are important and worthwhile things to spend money on.

Since your car is an investment, it makes sense to take care of it. After all, your house is also an investment and you take care of that. To take care of your vehicle investment properly, you need to do two things: First, keep the car's mechanics well-tuned so the engine runs smoothly and will last a long time. But a tuned engine is only the first step. Earlier in this article we said that your car is a high-tech cage of steel and glass. You need to keep it maintained so that it will last as long as the engine does. At Boyd Autobody & Glass, we can help. From fixing major fender-benders to tiny door dings and glass chips, we can help to prolong the value of your investment.

How to win a marathon in three easy steps... and how it can make you a safer driver

Want to know the secret to winning a marathon? Simply follow these 3 steps and you're guaranteed to be successful. My advice has nothing to do with the shoes you wear or the food you eat before hand or the amount that you train. If you want to win a marathon, here's what to do:

1. Put your left foot in front of your right foot.
2. Put your right foot in front of your left foot.
3. Repeat, faster than everyone else in the race.

Before you click away from this article out of anger at my smart alecky advice, consider this: With that kind of advice, anyone could win any marathon they entered, but it's all theoretical until you actually put it into a practice. And only the people who put it into practice will win. Many runners will try to find other tricks and gimmicks to get around it but ultimately a marathon is won by doing exactly that!

The same goes for safe driving. Automakers can create high-tech vehicles that are extremely safe and easy to operate. And lawmakers can make and enforce laws that keep people from speeding or messaging on their cell phones. But ultimately, safe driving boils down to just a few fundamentals:

1. You have to WANT to be a safe driver.
2. You need to slow down and focus on the road.
3. Safe driving is a series of decisions and skills that get better when you make the conscious decision to improve them.
4. The first three steps must be repeated every single time you get behind the wheel.

Our safer cars are good. Our safe driving laws are good. But they are only as good as the people who follow them and understand their purpose.

Safe driving comes down to YOU and your own decision. It's a simple decision not to let other things in life keep us from getting to our destination in one piece. It's also a selfless decision because it sometimes means letting another driver in in-front of you.

These are hard to do until we remember this important fact: Our families are the most important things in our lives and we must drive safer to keep them safe and to ensure that we are there for them when they need us.
(And there's a second fact to remember, too: Everyone else on the road also has a family who loves them and relies on them. Our safe driving keeps other people safe and other families happy).

Safe Driving Wrap-up

Want to win a marathon? There are no tricks or gimmicks, just simple advice. Want to drive safer? There are no tricks or gimmicks, just simple advice. If you want to driver safer, just follow it.

Avoiding collisions by playing the numbers

Collisions are costly – even deadly – and they can be easily avoided. One of the best ways to avoid a collision is to know what the most common reasons for a collision are and then drive in a way to eliminate or minimize those risks.

So, what are the top causes of car collisions in Canada? I went hunting but actually had a hard time finding well-written, quantifiable numbers. I did find a US-based article and although this article doesn't have quantifiable numbers, it is well written and lists the top 25 causes of collisions in the US. When we read it, we can take most of what it says as being applicable to Canada (although we need to factor in winter conditions as a top factor as well). Here's the article: http://seriousaccidents.com/legal-advice/top-causes-of-car-accidents/

So, if you want to drive safer and avoid more collisions, read this list and adjust your driving to reduce the risks around each of these accidents. Let's take the top 5 reasons and think about how your driving can change because of it:

1. Distracted driving. This one is easy. Put the coffee down. Put the iPhone down. Put the makeup kit down. Put the banana muffin down. Put both hands on the wheel and look straight ahead (while also keeping an eye on your blindspots, of course). We all have different things that pull our focus off the roads – it could be our desire to check a Facebook status or it could be the kids in the back seat or the roast beef sandwich that is perched on the dashboard. Know what can pull your attention off the road and (as much as possible) avoid being distracted by those things.
2. Speeding. Uhhh. Slow down. Do we need to write anything else about this? I hope not. The same goes for…
3. Drunk driving. The fact that we still live in an age when this is an issue is appalling.
4. Reckless driving. Again. This one should be an easy one. Avoid reckless driving. If another driver is driving recklessly, steer clear. Take a different route if necessary.
5. Rain. I'll also add snow, sleet, hail, blizzards, etc. Drive according to the conditions of the road. Unless the road is dry and the day is perfectly sunny, give yourself a few extra minutes and keep our eyes farther up the road to see what's happening ahead.

Now that I've done that for the first 5 top causes of automobile collisions, read through the other 20 in the article and think about how you can adjust your driving to reduce the risks.

Driving safer means driving smarter and acting on this information can help you dramatically reduce your risk of collision.

If you do get into a collision, Boyd Autobody & Glass can help to restore the safety of your car so you and your family can get back out on the road as quickly as possible.

April's Safe Driving Skill: Plan ahead

According to Transport Canada, there were a shocking 124,000 collisions on Canadian roads in 2009 that caused injury or death.

At Boyd, we believe that safe driving is the most effective way to reduce the number of collisions on Canadian roads and save lives. So in 2012, we're going back to basics and writing about 12 safe driving skills (one skill each month) for people to work on during the month to become safer drivers.

In the month of April, the safe driving skill we're focusing on is Planning Ahead. Safe driving doesn't just happen by accident. It is a decision, and part of that decision to be a safe driver is knowing what you are going to face when you get out onto the road.

Before any trip, plan ahead.

Start by looking at the weather and determining what the weather will be like between now and when you reach your destination. (There won't be any weather change in a 5 minute trip but a 5 hour trip could see some significant weather change).

First, consider the following weather or environmental elements and their impact on your driving:

• Temperatures: Air temperature and road-surface temperature
• Precipitation (rain, snow, and even fog will all play a factor in your driving, but will also be impacted by temperatures)
• Lighting conditions (Full sun? Dusk or Dawn? Cloudy? Are you driving into the sun or away from it?)

Second, note the route you plan to take. What will you face on that route? Is there construction? Do people park along the road? Are there a lot of pedestrians? In the winter, is it a route that is plowed? What is an alternate route if that route is closed for some reason?

Third, consider the time of day. Note if you are going to be driving in rush hour, or when school lets out or during night when difficult-to-see animals can become hypnotized by your headlights.

Fourth, consider how your car will handle given all of this information. Are your windows clean so you can easily spot hazards or are not blinded by the rising sun reflecting off of your bug-splattered windshield? Are your headlights and signal lights working? Do you have the right tires for road conditions? Do you have safety equipment and a shovel (especially on longer trips)? Do you have enough fuel to get where you need to go?

Safe drivers never get into the car unprepared. When they do get into the car, they know exactly where they want to go, how they'll get there, and they have spent a few minutes anticipating what hazards, obstacles, and dangers lie ahead. Obviously you can never prepare for everything but a little preparation will help to reduce many of the collision risks you face.