When was the last time you had a professional evaluate your driving skills? Chances are it was the day you passed your road test and were handed your driver’s license.

From that day forward you are free to drive, unevaluated, for pretty much the rest of your life. Once you pass the age of 80, you’ll have to attend Group Education Sessions every two years, where there is a multiple choice test, information about new traffic laws and driving tips. But there is still no road test unless there are indications that you may pose a road safety risk (e.g. loss of demerit points, poor hearing etc.)

This leaves a lot of time in one’s life for developing bad habits, forgetting good habits and encountering risky driving conditions. All of this makes a compelling case for drivers to take the initiative to attend a defensive driving school.

Defensive driving school also covers crucial topics that are not covered on an Ontario’s driver’s license test. “Parallel parking was the hardest part of getting your driver’s license,” points out recent graduate Judi Norman. “And you can always avoid doing that if you don’t want to, whereas you don’t get to choose when you go into a skid.”

Norman and longtime friend Gaëtane Dubois attended a one-day training session at Skid Control School in Oakville, Ontario and both agree they went from “being really, really nervous to really, really confident” in less than two attempts at a controlled skid. “Once I had it down, I could have stayed in the car all day,” reports Norman.

Norman and Dubois began with a drive through Oakville with one of the school’s driving instructors Mike McGregor. It was the first time they had had their driving skills evaluated since they earned their licenses “years ago”. 

“You’re suppose to have your hands at nine and three on the steering wheel now,” explains Dubois. “When I learned it was ten and two.” The new hand positioning allows arms to maintain a relaxed posture and be more responsive.

“I practiced keeping my chin up and looking further ahead,” adds Norman. “This allows me to anticipate things before they happen instead of just reacting to the brake lights on the car in front of me.”

The lesson in focal points would be a key to their success at controlled skids in the afternoon.

Practicing controlled skids took place at the school’s private track in Oakville. They took turns behind the wheel of a four-door Ford sedan on overinflated tires with little tread. “The instructor has a button that causes the brakes on the car to lock up,” recounts Dubois. Driving at about 40 km/h and over a large puddle of water, McGregor locked the brakes and Dubois was left to recover. Dubois explains: “You have to keep focused on looking ahead, and your eyes will tell your hands where to steer to.” With both feet off the pedals, both drivers were able to keep focus on where the wanted to go and steer the car back under control. The importance of looking ahead was emphasized when on Norman’s third attempt, McGregor instructed her to look straight down in front of the car. When the brakes locked, “I instantly lost control and did two 360’s”. Dubois also was shocked by how quickly she lost control of the car when not looking far ahead, “as soon as I looked down, I was out.”

Both graduates feel more confident as drivers and highly recommend it for everyone. “I now know how I would react in those situations and how I should react,” explains Dubois. “I want my husband and kids to take it now,” adds Norman.

 

Winter Driving Tips – Side Bar

Check you air pressure

Proper air pressure in tires increases your grip on the road, allowing greater maneuverability and brake times. Remember as you load up your car with family and gear this holiday, your car will be heavier and harder to control.

Rear End Collisions are on the rise

Texting is now illegal in Ontario, but some people are still texting. You don’t want these barely focused drivers coming up behind you at an intersection. Leave yourself space and watch your rear view mirror.

Don’t use your cruise control in snow and ice

Turning off your cruise control requires you to hit the brakes. If your car suddenly skids or slides you’ll need to slow down by taking your foot off the gas. If you have to hit the brake pedal to slow down, your skid or slide will be much harder to recover from.

Look up while driving

Looking far down the road (and not directly at the car in front of you) increases your peripheral vision and allows you to easily spot hazards, increase your reaction time and stay safe.