Always be aware of traffic around you as you drive. Develop a routine for looking ahead, behind and from side to side. Check your mirrors every five seconds or so, and check your blind spots by turning your head to look over your shoulder. Keep other drivers out of your blind spot by changing your speed and don't drive in other vehicles' blind spots. Be extra careful at dusk and dawn when everyone has difficulty adjusting to the changing light.

Keep a cushion of space around your vehicle and be prepared for the unexpected. Anticipate other driver's movements and make allowances for every possible error. Look well ahead and watch for people in parked vehicles - they may be about to pull out in front of you or to open a door. Watch for smaller vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians.

Steer smoothly

All steering should be smooth and precise. You should do most steering and lane changes without taking either hand off the wheel. You should also be able to steer in a straight line while shifting gears, adjusting controls or checking your blind spot.

Picture the steering wheel as a clock and place your hands at nine o'clock and three o'clock or at 10 o'clock and two o'clock.

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Use signals

Left Turn		Right Turn		Slowing Down OR Stopping

Signals tell other drivers what you want to do, giving them a chance to co-operate.

Use your turn signals and brake lights to signal before stopping, slowing down, turning, changing lanes, leaving the road, or moving out from a parked position. Give the correct signal well before the action and make sure other drivers can see it. Check that the way is clear before you act - just signalling is not enough.

If your turn signals and brake lights are not working, use hand and arm signals. The pictures show how to make hand and arm signals. When watching for signals made by others, remember that cyclists may signal right turns by holding their right arms straight out.

After signalling, move only when it is safe to do so.

Keep right

Keep to the right of the road or in the right-hand lane on multi-lane roads unless you want to turn left or pass another vehicle. This is especially important if you are driving more slowly than other vehicles.

Obey speed limits

Obey the maximum speed limit posted on signs along the road, but always drive at a speed that will let you stop safely. This means driving below the maximum speed in bad weather, in heavy traffic or in a construction zone.

Where there are no posted speed limits, the maximum speed is 50 km/h in cities, towns, villages and built-up areas and 80 km/h elsewhere.

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Obey police

When police officers are directing traffic, you must follow their directions even if they are different from traffic lights or signs.

Bring your vehicle to a safe stop when a police officer signals you to pull over.

Keep a safe distance from other vehicles

As a general rule, drive at the same speed as traffic around you without going over the speed limit. Leave a cushion of space around your vehicle to let other drivers see you and to avoid a collision.

Whenever you follow another vehicle, you need enough space to stop safely if the other vehicle brakes suddenly. A safe following distance is at least two seconds behind the vehicle in front of you. This lets you see around the vehicle ahead and gives you enough distance to stop suddenly.

Do not block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic.

To give yourself a two-second space, follow these steps:

1. Pick a marker on the road ahead, such as a road sign or telephone pole.
2. When the rear of the vehicle ahead passes the marker, count "one thousand and one, one thousand and two".
3. When the front of your vehicle reaches the marker, stop counting. If you reach the marker before you count "one thousand and two," you are following too closely.

Leave more than a two-second distance in bad weather and when following large vehicles that block your view of the road ahead. You will also need to leave more space when your vehicle is heavily loaded and when following smaller, lighter vehicles, such as motorcycles, limited-speed motorcycles and mopeds, that can stop more quickly than you.

Sharing the road

Sharing the road with other vehicles

Motorcycles, limited-speed motorcycles, mopeds, and bicycles are harder to see because of their size. Drivers of these vehicles may make sudden moves because of uneven road surfaces or poor weather conditions. And because they are less protected, they are more likely to be injured in a collision.

Drivers of motorcycles, mopeds, motor assisted bicycles and bicycles must obey the same rules of the road as car drivers. However, mopeds, motor assisted bicycles and bicycles that cannot keep up with traffic should drive as close as possible to the right edge of the road. For safety, cyclists should ride at least one metre away from parked vehicles and at least one-half metre away from the curb to avoid debris, potholes and sewer grates. If the lane is wide enough, you may share it with the cyclist, keeping a safe distance to the cyclist's left. If the lane is not wide enough to share, the cyclist has the right to use the whole lane.

Motorcycles use a full lane; treat them like other vehicles when driving. Since many motorcycle turn signals do not automatically shut off, be careful when turning left in front of an oncoming motorcycle with its turn signal on. Make sure the motorcyclist is turning and not going through your path having forgotten to switch off the turn signal.

Sharing the road with large vehicles

The length and width of large trucks can create special driving situations. For example, drivers of long trucks that are turning right may move into the left lane to avoid hitting the curb as they turn.

If you ignore a truck's turn signals and pull up on its right side, you may be squeezed between the truck and the curb when the turn begins.

Most trucks need a longer distance to stop than cars. Signal well before turning, slowing or stopping to give trucks behind you enough time to brake. When stopped going uphill, a truck may roll back farther than a car when the driver releases the brake and engages the clutch. Leave at least one car length between your vehicle and the truck.

On some high-speed roads with more than two lanes in each direction, trucks longer than 6.5 metres cannot use the far left lane. Overhead signs mark these lanes. Trucks must use the lane to the right to pass slower vehicles, so try to keep this lane clear.

On some roads, buses have special stopping areas for dropping off and picking up passengers. You must let buses re-enter traffic from these areas.

Sharing the road with pedestrians

Pay special attention to pedestrians, whether they are crossing roads in traffic, walking or jogging alongside roads, or using crosswalks or pedestrian crossings. Elderly pedestrians or those with disabilities need extra caution and courtesy from drivers as they may be slow in crossing the road. Be alert for pedestrians who are blind, visually impaired, hearing impaired, people in wheel chairs or people walking slowly due to some other physical impairment and give them appropriate consideration. Pedestrians who are blind or visually impaired may use a white cane or guide dog to help them travel safely along sidewalks and across intersections. Caution signs are posted in some areas where there is a special need for drivers to be alert.

Some streetcar stops have a special safety island or zone for passengers getting on and off. Pass these safety islands and zones at a reasonable speed. Always be ready in case pedestrians make sudden or unexpected moves.

© 2003 Queen's Printer for Ontario

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