subject: Driver Training Road Safety Highways High Speed [print this page] You may be on a vacation, you driving on the freeway to work on a daily commute, as an auto driver you may even be on a long distance truck delivery to an Inuit in Whitehorse.Yet it always remains the same "drive defensively" or you may be a dead duck. In most vehicular accident situations 99 % of the time it's the fault of the other motorist. Simple as that
If you pre-plan your route you will not have to rely completely on sometimes misplaced or even misleading road signs, which can well distract you from safely paying attention to the road. Tailgaters are an annoying and dangerous hazard. Move to the right lane, reduce your speeds and signal the vehicle to quickly pass. Do not brake, instead switch on the emergency flashers to activate your break lights. With hands free cell phones you can easily call phone numbers on the go - Passing on the right can be dangerous and downright illegal.Instead of waiting for other vehicles to return to the right lane, a most impatient motorist may well have inadvertently slipped to the right side.Amazingly and unwittingly the other motorist may well be in his or her direct blind spot.
As you drive down the entrance ramp or ramps to enter a highway via acceleration lanes, signal your intention and intentions to best merge with highway traffic.If there is a car or vehicle ahead of you, don't make your move until that driver has merged fully and successfully. Trucks - especially those with wide or heavy loads, are far far less maneuverable than a novice or non professional driver might think. Truck tractor trailers require much more and additional distance and distances to stop than automobiles or even pick up trucks or SUVs .As a defensive driving motorist it is always best to increase your following distance and distances an extra truck length or second or two behind large commercial trucks. In addition beware of loose cargo and cargoes - and not even then. It's just too dangerous.Never mind the other driver. Imagine your vehicle - Professional tractor trailer drivers , and driver training schools advise to place flares and / or along with brightly burning flares well back from the auto ,car , truck ,SUV or bus.
This is routine and standard practice notes Kirker Stevens of Ace Employment Safety Truck Safety Training Driver School at the fish farm in Winnipeg Manitoba.Lastly it is standard accepted semi trailer truck professional driving school teaching not to slow down to rubberneck.Imagine being hit by a train and even your full size vehicle being reduced to a pancake - with you and your family inside.
To exit, move into the right lane. At least 1 mile (1.55 km) before the exit.Always signal your intention and intention long and well ahead of the turn off.A merging vehicle must always as a matter of standard freeway safety routine always yield to highway traffic. Sadly this is seldom the case in real life highway and turnpike driving . Take care that when you approach an "entrance ramp", move one lane to the left if it safe to do so.According to the BC traffic safety school it is always best if not essential to plan an actual "escape " route just in case the merging automobile swerves directly in front of you.Note the posted ramp speed and speeds and be prepared to break for a tight curve.Vehicles entering and exiting high speed highways and roads are often forced to merge into a "weaving lane". Lane straddling is often caused by inattentiveness or even intoxication or intoxicated drivers. Indeed officers may often directly ask the driver of a auto that is straddling lanes "Have you been drinking ?".
If you must pass a vehicle that is weaving from side to side , give it an extra wide berth.Take direct care to signal well in advance.Flash your lights and tap your horn briefly if necessary or possible - from the left especially if you are entering the highway from the right if you are exciting.
You can never play it too safe on the roads for yourself and your family - never mind your interactions with other "hogs of the road".Drive defensively.
