How to Become a Better Driver in 2015
Article By: Scott Marshall
Scott Marshall is Director of Training for Young Drivers of Canada. He was a judge on the first 3 seasons of Canada’s Worst Driver on Discovery Network. Scott started writing columns on driving for his community paper since 2005. Since then his columns have been printed in several publications including newspaper, magazines and various web-sites. You can visit his own blog at http://safedriving.wordpress.com.
Mmm, fresh! I love the smell of fresh baked foods, fresh air and freshly cut grass. There’s something to be said about starting new. Many people make New Year resolutions at the beginning of the calendar year with the hope of making changes that will be positive in their life. With that being said, I thought I would offer some suggestions for drivers who would like to refresh their driving skills during this calendar year.
Driving Attitude
The first suggestion I would like to offer is driving attitude. Many drivers are less patient than they could be while driving. Instead of getting annoyed with other road users, take a deep breath and ask yourself what is it about the other driver’s action that goes against what you’re doing. Does it really affect you as much as you think it does? After having this change of attitude over a month or so, you’ll be a much calmer driver, making better driving decisions because you’ll be thinking clearer.
Proactive Driving
Another tip to is to drive more proactively. Some people are chronic late-comers. They leave things to the last moment. If this sounds like you, try these tips. Once you know how long your commute will be, leave early enough to give yourself an extra 10 or 15 minutes for travel. If you get to work 10 or 15 minutes early, you’ll have time to grab a coffee and relax before starting work. If you need that extra 10 or 15 minutes for commuting, you won’t be tempted to rush and make poor driving choices because of lateness.
Cleanliness
Something that many drivers could benefit from making a new start is cleanliness. I’m not talking personal hygiene, I’m talking the vehicle. Securing loose items from inside the vehicle means less distractions. Items stuffed under the driver’s seat can dislodge and roll under the brake pedal. That may prohibit the driver from braking firmly in an emergency. Speaking of braking, if items are loose inside the vehicle they can become projectiles and perhaps even strike you or passengers in the head. Loose items such as wrappers and paper can blow around on a windy day in the spring and summer with the windows down. Secure loose items before driving so they don’t take your attention away from the driving task.
Slowing Down
The last suggestion for a fresh start this year I would have to say should be slowing down sooner when approaching red lights or stopped traffic. Early slowing has many benefits for drivers. It saves fuel, saves brake wear and gives you the ability to ensure you make safe stops. The rear crash is the most common crash in North America, so this is one way to avoid it.
These are just a few suggestions to get you started off in the New Year. Will you use them? Will you keep them longer than a week? I hope so, but don’t limit your fresh start to just these few. Make the entire year your year of safe driving.