Driver Training

If you are like me, you were taught to hold the steering wheel with your hands in the 10 and 2 position when you first learned how to drive. With the advent of the driver's side airbag, this is no longer a safe practice. We should now hold the wheel at either 8 and 4 or 9 and 3. This video from the American Automobile Association explains:

I.C.B.C., the Government of British Columbia and the Federation of B.C. Youth in Care Networks have announced $50,000 in funding to set up two bursaries that will aid youth in care. The Take the Wheel program will fund driver training and support in the coming year to enable at least 50 youth and young adults to learn to drive properly. Having a driver's licence is often critical to be able to obtain and keep a job in our society.

Here are two videos on shoulder checking featuring Rick from Smart Drive Test. He tends to wave his arms a lot, but the messages that he delivers are clear and concise. If you find them useful, there are currently 86 videos on the YouTube Smart Drive Test channel.

Every once in a while a visitor to DriveSmartBC will pose a question that makes me go “hmm...” This week brought one of those moments with the query “Does a driver supervisor have to be sane?” Without thinking, my response was that of course a supervisor would have to be sane, but after I thought about it, the only thing that a supervisor requires is a minimum age and a valid driver's licence.

I've been reading Moving to Vision Zero: Road Safety Strategy Update and Showcase of Innovation in British Columbia and was struck by these words: "The Safe System Approach enables more ambitious progress by treating the road system as a product of numerous components. These components are: safe road users who are well - trained, knowledgeable of driving challenges and risks, and who are respectful of traffic rules; safe vehicles, which are equipped with proven and effective safety designs and technologies; safe roadways, road designs, and land - use planning that reduce the risk of crashes as well as the risk of death and serious injury when crashes do occur; and safe speeds, including setting safe speed limits, and adequately enforcing those limits."