Month: January 2010

Pay attention to pedestrians, before it’s too late!

With so many pedestrians getting struck by motorists lately, I was wondering what’s happening to make these incidents happen. Well, I had the first hand experience this past Friday to see a pedestrian almost get creamed by a motorist. Maybe more of the fatalities were similar situations to the one I witnessed. I was out…



22 years ago…

This is a day I rarely let pass without some thought; January 29th. You see, this was the day 22 years ago that I was hired to become a driving instructor. It was a day that changed my life. Do you have a day like that in your life? I wanted to change jobs and…



Are you in a routine?

Are you paying enough attention to your driving to notice the unusual situations arising? The normal routines we do every day of our lives change every second once we add weather, pedestrians and other road users. Are your ready for these changes? We’ve had a number of pedestrians struck locally as of late and the…



What winter clothing is best for driving?

Ever since I can remember, I like to be warm. I remember being a kid and sitting around the campfire with a sweater and jeans on, maybe even a jacket. My dad on the other hand, sat in shorts and possibly a t-shirt. I even sleep better when I’m warm and of course; drive better…



Do you think of the consequences of your actions?

For the 22 years I’ve spent as a driving instructor for Young Drivers of Canada, I’ve often stressed the importance of good observation. It’s a strong fact that we drive with our eyes so our hands and feet, being tools for our eyes, can move the vehicle where we need to. To some people, driving…



Should I go to the dentist because I have a Bluetooth?

I recently received a gift from my family; a new hands-free unit for my cell phone. My previous device came with the phone and had two earplugs. The mic was down the wires and often made it seem that I was in another room than my phone. Since Ontario now has a ban on hand-held…



Is it clear yet?

We find ourselves in this situation every year; snow. For some parts of our country we haven’t received much snow yet this winter. For others, a major dumping has already arrived. Even though this is a common part of our lifestyle, I’m still amazed by how many drivers don’t clear off their vehicle properly. How…



Fact or fiction?

I was recently teaching a group of novice drivers when we discussed the actions from other drivers. One of my students was quite upset that the driver behind her and her friend was tailgating as much as they were. She wondered why drivers do things like this. I often wonder that as well. Why are…