Sunday, April 10, 2016

Defensive Driving Helps Keep The Roads Safer

By Kenneth Cox


Sharing the road with hundreds of other drivers is a dangerous business. We all have a responsibility to do our part to avoid accidents. Obeying the rules of the road is only part of what each driver should do. Defensive driving techniques can help each of us, as well as other drivers on the road, get where we're going safely.

Port Coquitlam is an incorporated city that has become a bedroom community for people who work in Vancouver. It is a pleasant city, but in rush hour its commuter arteries can be fast and furious. As congestion gets worse, drivers need to do their part to avoid accident and injury.

There is no greater waste of time than getting involved in an accident - and this is the best case scenario, when only your vehicle is damaged. Traffic accidents kill and injure people every day. It's a lot better to take an extra minute or two to study road conditions and traffic patterns, so you'll arrive at your destination safely.

Also use common sense when behind the wheel. Speed makes everything worse. If you are traveling fast, you have less time to react to problems ahead or mistakes made by other drivers. Don't just obey the speed limit (although that's always a good idea.) Take into account the road conditions, visibility, and the number of cars traveling with you. When the weather is bad, slow down even more.

Most accidents occur at intersections. People routinely run red lights in their hurry to avoid even a short stop. Therefore, jumping ahead as soon as the light turns green for you may get you right in the path of a vehicle coming across. It's a lot smarter to check that all cross traffic is stopped before proceeding into the intersection. Having the right of way does not help when someone else is taking it.

One way to increase your chances of accident and injury is to follow too closely to the cars ahead. This practice, called tailgating, is common in British Columbia, the rest of Canada, and everywhere else that people drive. If you fail to allow enough room to stop if the drivers ahead slow or slam on the brakes suddenly, you may end up crashing into the back of one of them. In most cases, the accident will be your fault and go on your insurance.

It's important to look ahead and know what is going on a few cars ahead of you. You need to make sure the road is clear and keep an eye out for cars on side roads that might pull out even if they don't have room to do so safely. Many areas have deer, elk, or moose on the roads at night, too, which is another sort of hazard. Anticipate the unexpected and you'll be ready for anything.

There are courses in driving safely that are run by the government or sponsored by non-profit organizations. Driving schools in Port Coquitlam teach these skills. You maybe able to save on insurance or get points taken off your record if you take such a course. You also will learn to be a better driver.




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