When the road is a jungle: drivers behaving badly
As the fall season sets in, are you seeing a difference in drivers’ behaviour? By summer’s end, drivers tend to be out of practice and revert to bad driving habits. It’s just a few weeks into the back-to-school period and we’re already witnessing some familiar risky driving behaviour!
School zone roadrunners
Teachers and other school staff all agree: the most dangerous drivers are those who have just dropped their children off at school. As soon as their child is safe, they have a tendency to head off at high speed to get to work on time. Parents may understandably be somewhat guilty of being more cautious at the wheel when their own children are on board, but they need to remain prudent in school zones, even after their own precious cargo has been safely delivered!
Sloths on the go
Do you occasionally double park when you drop your children off at school or pop into a store to pick something up? It may seem like a good idea because you think your child will be protected by your car, but in addition to violating traffic laws, it’s a dangerous practice. You block the road and force other drivers to go around you, sometimes into the oncoming traffic lane. It also makes life difficult for cyclists.
When it comes to dropping kids off at school, it can actually give them a false sense of security. They may be less attentive to surrounding traffic. A child heading to school, for instance, may think that crossing in front of your car is safe and forget about oncoming traffic in the other direction.
It’s better to park a little ways ahead of or beyond the school and let your child walk the few remaining steps either by themselves or with a crossing guard. It’s a good way for them to learn to walk safely on city streets!
The same goes for those quick trips to the store— consider the extra steps a good opportunity to stretch your legs!
Tortoise vs. hare – highway edition
Most drivers know that the highway is designed for driving at higher speeds and that the best drivers go with the flow of traffic. There are two types of highway drivers that are dangerous and when they encounter each other, the results can be tragic: left-lane tortoises and highway hares.
When you mostly do city driving, it’s easy to forget that on the highway, the left lane is the passing lane. That means that unless there is major traffic congestion, you shouldn’t remain in that lane for more than a few minutes. It should only take a few minutes to safely pass one or two of vehicles in the right-hand lane. You need to return to the right as soon as possible, since your cruising speed may not be the same as another driver’s. If you stay in the left lane while passing many cars, you must constantly be on the lookout for cars travelling faster than you, quickly approaching from behind.
It can’t be said enough: it’s very unwise to pass on the right! It’s true that left-lane hogs are in the wrong, but it doesn’t help to respond with even more dangerous conduct. The vehicle on your left is not expecting anyone to pass them on the right and could decide to change lanes while you are in their blind spot. Think of a ski hill: it’s the person coming from behind who's responsible for avoiding a collision with other skiers. The same principle applies to the highway!
Be considerate of other drivers, even when they’re a little too slow. You can indicate to them that they should exit the left lane by coming up behind them while maintaining a safe distance. This is a good way to keep your emotions in check and ensure everyone’s safety!
A quick refresher on good driving habits
Before winter arrives, it’s useful to review the driving basics. Here are a few pointers.
- Moles and signal lights: Always signal your intentions as soon as you can to provide valuable information to nearby pedestrians, cyclists and drivers. The right time to do so may be sooner than you think!
- Why you shouldn’t cross a zebra, aka solid or double lines:The lines are there for a good reason, even if it isn’t immediately clear to you. Just don’t cross them.
- Sardines and the perils of tailgating:You can keep a safe headway by picking a landmark on the side of the road. Then, make sure at least two seconds elapse between the time the car ahead of you passes it and your car passes it. This will help avoid rear-end collisions, which are often caused by the vehicle in the back following too closely.
- Red herrings at intersections: When you reach a stop sign, you need to pay attention to who has the right of way in order to avoid confusion. Be sure to stop and count three seconds!
- Magpies on the phone: If you look at your phone for even a second, this means there's no one behind the wheel for that moment. When you’re driving at 50 km/h, a second represents a distance of roughly 14 metres. This is way too long to take chances!
Several of the bad habits discussed here can have an impact on your driving record, which can affect your insurance and even your driving privileges! Be a considerate and defensive driver for your own sake and for others. It’s a safe bet!
