Chapter 2: Safe and Responsible Driving

Safe and responsible driving

Traffic laws come from federal, provincial and municipal governments; police at each level enforce them. Courteous driving leaves other drivers room; defensive driving rests on visibility, space and communication.

Getting ready to drive

Illness, fatigue, drugs, stress and strong emotions all reduce your ability to drive, so do not drive when you are sick. Learn the controls, set the headrest right and shoulder-check to clear your blind spots. Never put more than one person in a seatbelt.

Driving along

Check your mirrors every five seconds and stay out of others' blind spots. Signal before turning or changing lanes, but check that the way is clear. Keep right except to turn left or pass; where no sign is posted, the limit is 50 km/h in cities, towns and villages and 80 km/h elsewhere.

Sharing the road

Yield to pedestrians; nearly all intersections have crosswalks even when they are not marked. When passing a cyclist, keep at least one metre away where practical, and treat motorcycles as full-lane vehicles. Slow for farm machinery at 40 km/h or less; stop at least 20 metres behind a school bus when its red lights flash.

Stopping

Use your right foot for both pedals. If a train is coming at a railway crossing, stop at least five metres from the nearest rail or gate. Where a school-crossing guard shows a stop sign, stay stopped until everyone has cleared the road. Do not pass within 30 metres of a pedestrian crossover.

Driving through intersections

Intersections are controlled or uncontrolled. When two vehicles reach an uncontrolled intersection at the same time, the driver on the left lets the driver on the right go first. At an all-way stop, yield to the first vehicle to stop completely; if two stop at once, the left one yields. Signalling does not give you the right-of-way.

Turning and roundabouts

Unless signs or markings say otherwise, begin and end a right turn close to the right side of the road, and a left turn in the far left lane in your direction. You may turn right on a red light after a complete stop, when the way is clear and no sign forbids it, and left from one-way to one-way. In a roundabout, traffic inside has the right-of-way; keep right of the centre island and go counter-clockwise. Never make a U-turn unless you can see at least 150 metres in both directions.

Changing positions

Never change lanes without signalling and looking, and not near an intersection. Pass on the right on multi-lane or one-way roads and when overtaking a streetcar.

Freeway driving

A Class G1 driver may use a freeway only when a licensed driving instructor is along. Build speed in the acceleration lane, keep right except to pass, and do not stop or reverse if you miss an exit.

Parking and roadside stops

Never park on the travelled part of a road, or where the view is not clear for 125 metres in both directions. Do not park within three metres of a fire hydrant, within nine metres of an intersection (15 if it is controlled by traffic lights) or within 15 metres of the nearest rail of a railway crossing. Facing downhill, turn the wheels towards the curb; uphill with a curb, towards the road; uphill without a curb, sharply right.

Particular situations

Tired drivers can be as impaired as drunk ones, and stimulants never replace sleep. Do not use a hand-held phone except to call 911 in an emergency; hands-free distraction can still be careless driving. When an emergency vehicle approaches from any direction with lights or siren, stop. For one stopped ahead in your direction with lights flashing, slow down, move to a lane away from it if another same-direction lane exists and it is safe to do so, and pass with caution.

Emergencies

If your brakes fail, pump the pedal and, if that does not work, apply the parking brake gently while holding the release button. If the gas pedal sticks, try to lift it with your foot first; if that does not work, turn on your hazard lights, shift to neutral and stop as soon as you can safely, preferably off the road. If a tire blows out, take your foot off the gas and steer where you want to go. In a collision with injuries, stay and call the police.

Night and bad weather

Keep your stopping distance within what your headlights show; use low beams within 150 metres of oncoming traffic or 60 metres behind another vehicle. In fog, steer by the right edge of the road and never use high beams. In rain, watch for hydroplaning and weaker brakes; do not use cruise control in snow, and if stranded in severe weather, stay with your vehicle.