DriveSmartBC

We are an affluent society. Teens today own vehicles in numbers only dreamed about when I was that age. Often their disposable income doesn't end there and many dollars are spent on vehicle modifications and improvements. Some are good, some are borderline and others are decidedly unsafe.

The only thing I wanted for my 16th birthday was my driver's licence. My father took time off of work to drive me to what was then called the Motor License Office where I earned my learner's. It was a big day in my life, and marked the first milestone in joining the world of the adult.

Mirror, signal, shoulder check, move. These are the four steps for a successful lane change. Simple enough one would expect, until you watch what goes on around you in traffic these days. Many drivers will make lane changes where it is forbidden to do so. It is illegal to make a lane change over a solid line at any time.

One would think that wearing a seatbelt would be an automatic habit for today's drivers and their passengers. The seatbelt law has been in place for many years and the benefits of being properly buckled up have been clearly demonstrated. However, ICBC seatbelt surveys still show that a significant percentage of vehicle occupants don't buckle up, especially on rural roads.

Anti-lock brakes (ABS) have gone from being a novelty to being present on most vehicles today. Have you read and understood the section of your vehicle owner's manual on this vital safety system? Contrary to popular belief, ABS does not always mean shorter stopping distances.