Prepare
your vehicle
Before
leaving on vacation, have your vehicle checked to make sure everything is
working properly. Repair or replace worn parts to avoid the worry and
time-consuming costly repairs that could ruin your trip. Check fluid levels and
tire pressure. Make sure all lights work, including signal lights.
Keep your
passengers safe
Make sure
everyone in your vehicle is buckled up properly at all times. Buckling up is
the single most effective thing you can do to keep yourself and your passengers
safe while on the road.
If you
are travelling with young children, make sure to make regular stops. Bring
plenty of items to keep them occupied. Special travel games and songs also
help.
Drive
defensively
Drive at
a safe speed. Speeding increases the likelihood and severity of a crash. The
faster a vehicle is moving, the less time the driver has to react to a hazard,
and for other road users to react to that vehicle. A speeding vehicle requires
more time and distance to stop. Leave plenty of distance between yourself and
the vehicle ahead. Apply the three second rule so you can see around the car
ahead and plan a manoeuvre to avoid potential dangers, add more time if you
have a heavier vehicle, and in poor weather conditions.
The
Canada Safety Council estimates that 85 per cent of collisions are preventable.
But simply being in the right will not save you from injury or death. You must
be prepared for the unsafe actions of other motorists or for poor driving
conditions.
- Obey all signs and signals, including speed limits, traffic lights, stop signs and railway crossings.
- If you drive with a wireless phone, avoid unnecessary calls and always make the driving task your top priority.
- Absolutely never drink and drive.
Stay alert
Canadians
often travel long distances when they go on vacation. This creates a temptation
to keep driving for extended periods even when tired. On top of this, routes
can be quite monotonous, another factor that can make a driver sleepy. Get a
good sleep before leaving on a long trip. Fatigue is a form of impairment; so
don’t give in to that temptation to push on. If you started early, stop early.
Rest stops are important. A break keeps the driver alert by promoting blood
circulation, makes the trip more pleasant for passengers and lets the vehicle
cool down.
Carrying
a heavy load or towing a trailer
Before
you tow a trailer or haul a load, make sure your vehicle is properly equipped
for the job. Check your owner’s manual or if in doubt contact your vehicle
dealer. Check that your rear view mirrors give a clear view of the road behind.
Driving a heavily loaded car or towing a trailer means you need more space to
stop or pass. Leave plenty of distance between yourself and the vehicle ahead.
Keep your distance – at least three seconds for each six metres (20 ft.) of
vehicle length. For conditions that are less than ideal, increase the following
distance. If cars cut in front of you, drop back to keep your separation. When
traveling slower than the flow of traffic, be courteous. Pull over where
possible to let faster vehicles pass.
Share the
road
With the
warmer weather, comes the prevalence of vulnerable roads users. Motorists must
be cautious of cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians. Always be on the lookout
for and yield to vulnerable road users, even if they don’t have the
right-of-way. Summer also brings increased construction on our roads and
highways. Be prepared to stop or slow down in construction zones.
Source: Canada Safety Council - https://canadasafetycouncil.org/traffic-safety/driving-tips-summer-trips
