Two readers added to the list of safe driving behaviours I had offered last week.
These are behaviours, like looking at mirror blind spots behind your vehicle before reversing, that you can get away without doing most of the time. But then yousa国际传媒檙e rolling the dice on causing another tragedy like the death of the baby at the drive in on Montrealsa国际传媒檚 South Shore last month.
To stop rolling the road safety dice, they must become second nature sa国际传媒渆very timesa国际传媒� behaviours.
The important driving behaviour Andrew contributed comes up if you are waiting for a red light to change to green. Donsa国际传媒檛 treat the light change sa国际传媒渟a国际传媒s if itsa国际传媒檚 some kind of sa国际传媒榞reen gosa国际传媒� for the Grand Prixsa国际传媒�, but instead take a moment to ensure it is safe to proceed before hitting the gas.
He specifically mentioned the possibility of a crossing vehicle blowing their red light or a late starting pedestrian who hasnsa国际传媒檛 made it fully across. There are all sorts of circumstances, including emergency services vehicles that can pop up any time, that can result in tragedy if you donsa国际传媒檛 take that moment.
Most of the time you can drive as if in a zombie trance following traffic lights and signals. And many drivers do. If you blindly expect that the intersection will be clear for you when the light turns green you are rolling the road safety dice.
Please follow Andrewsa国际传媒檚 lead, while heeding his warning: sa国际传媒淥f course always be prepared for the dim wit behind who slams their hand on the horn because you have not raced away on the greensa国际传媒�.
Michaelsa国际传媒檚 contribution has to do with signaling for a right turn.
I share Michaelsa国际传媒檚 pet peeve about drivers who fail to signal their intention to turn.
If you are going to turn off the roadway, out of the way of traffic that is waiting for you so they can proceed, failing to signal your intention (or waiting until the very last moment before you start your turn) is not only unlawful and potentially dangerous, it is discourteous.
It is discourteous because your laziness or sloppiness, however you categorize it, makes others wait.
But Michaelsa国际传媒檚 road safety contribution is the opposite problem. Says Michael: sa国际传媒渟a国际传媒ut even worse are the drivers who signal a right turn, then proceed to drive straight through.sa国际传媒� His road safety behaviour: sa国际传媒淚 always wait until I see the vehicle commit to a turn before I start to drive forward.sa国际传媒�
Most of the time you can absent mindedly assume that other road users will follow through with their signaled intentions. But doing so is rolling the road safety dice.
By waiting a couple extra moments to see clues like the vehicle slowing or shifting position in the lane, you can assess whether the signal is intentional or has been absent-mindedly left on. And being on high alert will decrease your reaction time if the signaling driver changes their mind at the last moment.
Some of us learned these behaviours when beginning to drive, from our parents or in driving courses. Some were learned sa国际传媒渢he hard waysa国际传媒�, through the experience of close calls or actual collisions.
Our roadways would be safer if the road safety behaviours listed in the last two columns became second nature for everyone. If you have any ideas about how to raise awareness and reinforce the adoption of these behaviours, or have more to add to the list, please e-mail me.
Missed last weeksa国际传媒檚 column?
Hergott: Donsa国际传媒檛 villainize those involved in tragedy
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