Month: August 2010

What is defensive driving?

For the almost 23 years I’ve been a driving instructor at Young Drivers of Canada, I’ve heard the term “defensive driving” many times. What is defensive driving? Many years ago it seemed like it was about driving slowly, but now it’s more about staying away from the other driver. Do you drive defensively or offensively?…




Does colour matter?

I had recently been sent an e-mail from a former student of mine who had recently got her driver’s license. She wanted to buy a new vehicle and had asked me which colour of vehicle she should avoid buying. I explained to her that, although silver and grey are very popular vehicle colours; they can…



If you could go back in time

We’ve all done things in our past that we wish he hadn’t. As a kid, we did things because of peer pressure or because we were in a hurry. Seconds or minutes later, we could have kicked ourselves because of what happened. Haven’t you had moments like that as a kid? Have you ever had…



If you snooze…

We’ve all heard of the saying that there are two seasons; winter and construction. So why does it seem to surprise many drivers when they see the road signs letting them know the lane is closed? Better yet, why do drivers drive up to the “lane closed” sign and then try to move over at…



Can you make the adjustment?

One of the most common comments I’ve had from my students from Young Drivers of Canada is that they have a difficult time getting used to my training car. They say it’s different than their family vehicle. That’s true, but should that be an excuse for not driving well? The steering wheel is still round…



Driving lane or eating lane?

While I was teaching class at one of our local Young Drivers of Canada locations recently, it was brought up that eating and drinking while driving can be equally as distracting as talking on the phone. It was an interesting thought, so I continued the discussion. When is a good time to take a quick…