6 sharing the road

The last five chapters presented important driving information

in this chapter that can help you develop your smart driving skills. The next
three chapters give suggestions on how you can apply this
• Sharing the road information to your driving. Knowing how to share the road is
safely an important part of keeping safe when driving. In this chapter,
• Pedestrians you will learn who you share the road with and how to share the
road safely with them.
• Cyclists
• Motorcycle riders
• Passenger vehicles Sharing the road safely
• Large vehicles
• School buses At the scene of a crash
• Public transit buses Walter is speeding along Pine Street in his van. He’s in a
• Emergency hurry to turn left at the intersection before the light turns.
vehicles He gets into the intersection and quickly swings to the
• Emergency left. Jodi is riding her motorcycle along Pine Street in the
workers opposite direction. She wants to go straight through, and
she has just enough time to make it before the light turns
• Construction zones
yellow. Jodi assumes that Walter has seen her.
• Trains
The result is a crash that seriously injures Jodi and sends
• Horses
Walter to the hospital with minor injuries.

Be aware of other road

users who may want to
use the space you plan to
move into.

In this crash scene, both Walter and Jodi tried to move into
the same space at the same time. By law, Walter should have
stopped for Jodi before making his turn. But he didn’t see
the motorcycle coming. Jodi may have had the right-of-way,
but she still should have looked carefully for vehicles in the
intersection before riding through.

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applying your smart driving skills

The way to avoid crashes is to make sure that the space you
plan to move into will be empty. To share the road safely with
others, use your see-think-do skills.

see-think-do
Use your observation skills. Scan the intersection from left
to right, and left again, looking for hazards. Walter started
across the intersection without checking to make sure the
road was clear.

see-think-do
When another road user is approaching the space you were
think about planning to use, you need to assess the risk, then choose the
safest solution.
Think about how you’d feel if
you injured or killed someone It’s also important to know the right-of-way rules. When two or
while you were driving. What
difference would this make to
more road users want the same space, right-of-way rules tell
the rest of your life? Who else you which road user should yield. However, other road users
would be affected? make mistakes and do unexpected things. It may not always be
easy to decide who has the right-of-way. If in doubt, always be
ready to give the right-of-way.
To learn more about right-of-way rules, turn to chapter 4, rules
of the road.

see-think-do
Speed control
Drive at a safe speed. That way you will have time to stop if you
need to.

Steering
Keep both hands on the outside of the wheel to maintain good
steering control.

Space margins
If you keep well away from other road users, there will be less
chance of space conflicts. You will have room to stop or to steer
around if others start moving into your space.

Communication
Let other road users know what you are doing so they can react
in time. Watch for communication from other road users.

How to share the road

Next time you are stopped at a busy intersection, look around
and count the different types of road users you can see. You

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share the roads with a number of different road users, including:

• pedestrians (for example, children, people in wheelchairs and
traffic control people)
• cyclists
• motorcyclists
• drivers of:
–– passenger vehicles
–– large vehicles (for example, motorhomes and commercial
vehicles)
–– buses (school and public transit)
–– emergency vehicles
–– trains.
To share the road safely, you need to use all of your
see-think-do skills. You also need to understand how different
road users use the road. The following sections highlight some
of the main points to keep in mind for each type of road user.

Pedestrians
You always need to watch out for pedestrians. Like all road
users, they can be unpredictable. You never know when a child
might dash into the street, or someone might step out from
behind a parked car. And pedestrians are often hard to see,
especially at night.

see
Scan at crosswalks and intersections — many pedestrians are
warning! unaware of the distance it takes a vehicle to stop. They may
suddenly step out onto the street without warning. Any time
Crosswalks with flashing you approach a crosswalk or intersection:
green lights are controlled
by pedestrians. When you • Be aware of vision blocks. Don’t pass if you see a vehicle
see a pedestrian standing stopped at a crosswalk — it’s illegal and unsafe. The driver
near this type of crosswalk,
could have stopped to let pedestrians cross the road.
you know that they have
probably pressed the • Don’t enter a crosswalk without checking to see that it’s
button and the light is
empty, even when the light is green. Someone may be trying
about to change. Slow
down and be prepared to dash across. People who find it difficult to cross the road
to stop. quickly, such as the elderly, people with disabilities and
parents walking with young children, may still be in
the crosswalk.
• Watch out for pedestrians on the cross street whenever you
make a turn.

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applying your smart driving skills

Pay attention in school zones and playgrounds — observe

carefully when driving in school and playground zones. Smaller
children are harder to see than adults and are less predictable.
As you approach a school zone at a time when children may be
arriving, leaving or taking their lunch hour, look well ahead for
school patrols or crossing supervisors — you must obey them at
all times.
For details on speed limits for school and playground zones,
see chapter 3, signs, signals and road markings.

When you see a school

zone sign with a 30 km/h
posted speed, slow down
to that speed. The speed
limit is in effect between
8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on
school days, or the hours
shown on the sign. When
you reach the back of the
school zone sign on the
other side of the street,
you’ll know you have
reached the end of the
30 km/h zone.

Observe carefully in residential areas — children and others

driving tip may move in unpredicted ways. Remember, a ball or a hockey
net can mean children are playing nearby.
You must always be
prepared to stop if you Be especially careful if you’re backing up. Check around your
see a pedestrian who car before you get into it, then do a 360-degree vision check
is about to step out in before moving. It’s important to continue checking because
front of you. But don’t you could easily back into a child or a family pet if you aren’t
encourage crossing
observing carefully.
between intersections
by stopping and inviting Watch for pedestrians with disabilities — take extra care if
pedestrians to cross. The
car behind you may not be
you see a person who’s visually impaired. (They may be carrying
expecting you to stop and a white cane or accompanied by a guide dog.) Often, they will
may crash into you. Drivers raise their cane when they’re uncertain about crossing the street
in the other lanes may safely. That is your signal to stop and give the person the right-
not see the pedestrians
of-way. Don’t startle them or their guide dog by racing your
crossing in front of your
vehicle and may hit them. engine or honking your horn.
People in motorized
scooters or wheelchairs
also share the roads.
Watch for people in Technically, they should be
motorized scooters or on the sidewalk, but not
wheelchairs travelling all roads have sidewalks.
along the side of the
Also, sidewalks may be too
road, especially when you
are planning to make a rough or narrow to travel
right turn. on, or difficult to access.

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 chapter 6 — sharing the road

think
Know the rules — you must yield to pedestrians:
• in marked crosswalks, if the pedestrian is close to your half of
the road
• at intersections (pedestrians near your half of the road
still have the right-of-way even when there is no marked
crosswalk)
• when turning
• when entering a road from a driveway or alley.
It is always the driver’s responsibility to avoid hitting a pedestrian.

do
Speed control and space margins
Slow down when you see pedestrians who might enter your
path, and give them plenty of room.

Strategies: being a safe pedestrian

Just as drivers need to carefully observe for pedestrians,
pedestrians also need to carefully observe for drivers.
You can make yourself safer when you are walking by
remembering a few simple rules:
• Do not leave the curb unless you are sure the
approaching vehicles on the cross street have stopped
or will stop.
• Watch for vehicles that are turning.
• Always hold a child’s hand while crossing the street until
they are old enough to understand safety rules.
• Do not start to cross if the traffic signal is flashing a
warning (for example, an orange hand).
• Use crosswalks.
• Always activate the pedestrian crossing signal if there
is one.

Cyclists
Cyclists commute to work as well as ride for recreation, so you
can expect to see them on the road at any time of the day or
night. Be aware that bicycle riders have the same rights and
responsibilities on the road as drivers. Observe carefully at all
times. Cyclists, like pedestrians, are vulnerable.

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applying your smart driving skills

Be especially careful near children on bicycles. Children are

used to adults watching out for them, so they tend to be
unaware of danger. They also have poor peripheral vision, and
often find it hard to judge the speed and distance of oncoming
vehicles. They may not know the traffic rules or how much room
it takes vehicles to stop.

see
Shoulder check — shoulder checking is important because
bicycles and riders are narrow and can easily be hidden in your
blind spot. Make sure you shoulder check before you:
• open your door to get out of your vehicle. Check your side
mirror as well. One of the most common causes of crashes
involving cyclists is drivers who swing their doors open
without checking.
• pull away from the curb
• move to the right.
Pay attention at night — observe carefully, especially for
bicycles coming in from side streets. Some cyclists may not
have lights, reflectors or reflective gear.
Be careful when passing — before you pass another vehicle,
make sure you check for oncoming cyclists and cyclists in front
of the vehicle you are passing.
Scan at intersections — be especially careful to:
• Shoulder check for bicycles before turning right.
• Watch out for a cyclist ahead waiting to turn left if you’re
driving straight through.
• Check carefully for oncoming cyclists before making a left turn.
• Check carefully for cyclists crossing the road when coming to
a place where a bicycle trail meets with a road.
• Be aware that a cyclist riding along the through road could be
approaching faster than you think.

think
Know the rules — cyclists follow the same rules and regulations
as drivers.
• Yield to cyclists as you would to any other vehicle. If you
have the right-of-way at an intersection, proceed if it is safe.
A cyclist will expect you to follow the rules of the road.
• Be aware that cyclists don’t always stay on the right. To make
a left turn, for instance, they need to move over to the left
lane. If the lane is narrow, or if there is glass or a pothole

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on the right, a cyclist has the right to move out toward the
middle for safety.
• Pay attention to bicycle lanes. For more information about
these lanes, see chapter 4, rules of the road.

do
Space margins
Allow following distance — allow plenty of following distance.
You need to be able to avoid hitting a cyclist who falls. Cyclists
who wobble are probably inexperienced and are more likely
to fall than experienced cyclists. Give them even more space
than usual.
Allow side margins — a significant number of crashes involving
driving tip cyclists result from side-swiping. Make sure there is enough
space if you want to pass a cyclist. On a narrow road, wait for a
Even if you pull just clear, straight stretch that will allow you to pull out and give the
slightly into another lane
cyclist room. Remember, you are allowed to cross a single solid
to pass, you are changing
lanes. Remember to yellow line when passing a cyclist, provided you can do it safely.
mirror check, signal and On a multi-lane road, change lanes rather than risk crowding
shoulder check. the cyclist.

At least 1 metre

Always check your side

margin when passing a
cyclist.

Communication
Recognize hand signals — understand the hand signals that
cyclists use. A cyclist may signal a right turn by extending the
right arm straight out. For more information about hand signals,
see the Turn signals section in chapter 5, see-think-do.
Make eye contact — a cyclist often uses eye contact to
communicate. Make eye contact if you can. They are probably
trying to anticipate your next move.
Avoid honking your horn — don’t honk your horn at a cyclist
unless you need to give a warning. A loud honk could startle a
cyclist and even cause a fall.

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applying your smart driving skills

Strategies: being a safe cyclist

If you are a cyclist, you’re responsible for sharing the road
in a way that keeps you and others safe.
Be predictable. Cyclists are more predictable if they
follow the rules of the road.
Be visible. Because bicycles are narrow, you need to
work at making yourself visible. Wear bright or reflective
clothing, especially in the dark or in poor weather. Position
yourself so drivers can see you. Avoid riding in blind spots.
Ride defensively. Think and look well ahead. Be assertive,
but remember that a conflict between a cyclist and a
motor vehicle usually results in injury to the cyclist.
Ride legally. In B.C., you must wear an approved
bicycle helmet. If you ride at night, your bicycle must
be equipped with a front white headlight visible at 150
metres, and have a rear red light and a red rear reflector.

Motorcycle riders
Like cyclists, motorcycle riders are vulnerable road users. They
don’t have the protection of an external frame, airbags or
bumpers, and are sometimes difficult to see.
More than half of all motorcycle crashes result in injury or death.

see
Watch for clues — sometimes a motorcycle’s turn signals are
hard to see. Watch the rider for clues. If the rider shoulder
checks or the motorcycle leans, the rider is probably planning
to change lanes or turn.

Look carefully for bicycles

and motorcycles when
you drive through an
intersection. Without
good observation skills,
the driver of the blue car
might miss seeing the
motorcycle.

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 chapter 6 — sharing the road

Scan at intersections — look carefully for motorcycles when

you come to an intersection:
• When you are turning left, look out for oncoming
motorcycles. Motorcycles can be hard to see, especially at
night, at dusk or in heavy traffic. It is also difficult to judge
how fast they are approaching.
• When you are driving through an intersection, watch for an
oncoming motorcycle that may be turning left.

do
Space margins
Allow side margins — never try to share a lane with a
motorcycle. A motorcycle needs the whole lane to travel safely.
Allow following distance — allow at least three seconds of
following distance when you are behind a motorcycle because:
• Motorcycles can stop very quickly.
• Motorcyclists can skid and fall because of poor road
conditions. You need to leave plenty of room to stop safely.
Allow space when passing — allow plenty of space when you
pass a motorcycle. Your vehicle may throw dirt or water in the
rider’s face.

Communication
Make eye contact — establish eye contact whenever possible.
Read vehicle language — don’t assume that a rider in the left
part of the lane is planning to turn left. Motorcyclists often ride
in the left part of the lane to make themselves more visible.

Passenger vehicles
When you drive, you will interact with the drivers of cars, vans
and small trucks. Drivers of passenger vehicles can be just
as unpredictable as other road users. They may not always
look ahead. Their vehicles may not be well maintained — for
example, their brakes and signal lights may not be working
properly. And some drivers may be tired, impatient or impaired.
Use all of your see-think-do skills to observe and respond safely
to other passenger vehicles.

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applying your smart driving skills

Large vehicles
Large vehicles operate quite differently than cars. Give them
lots of room.

do
Space margins
Allow following distance — a big vehicle can prevent you from
seeing hazards ahead. You’ll have a wider range of vision if you
increase your following distance.
If you are stopped facing uphill behind a large vehicle,
remember that it may roll backwards when the driver releases
the brake. Leave extra space in front of your vehicle.
In rainy weather, large vehicles can spray dirt or water onto your
windshield, reducing your vision. Their tires may also spray up
rocks that could hit your vehicle. Staying well back will help
prevent this.
You will see this sign on the back of some vehicles. It is used to
indicate vehicles that will be moving slowly. Keep your distance
and pass only when you are certain it is safe.
When you see this sign or a Wide Load, Long Load or Oversize
Load sign on a truck or pilot car, it indicates that an oversize
load is being transported.
Keep clear of blind spots — there are large blind spots both
behind and beside large vehicles. Make sure you keep out
of the blind spots, otherwise the driver will not see you. You
should be able to see both mirrors of the truck or bus in front
of you. Never try to sneak behind a truck if it is backing into a
loading bay or out of a driveway — you will enter one of the
truck driver’s blind spots and risk being hit.

When travelling near a

large vehicle, think about
whether the driver can see
you — avoid travelling in
blind spots.

Allow space when passing — you need a lot of space when

passing. Remember that trucks are long — some pull two
trailers. Don’t pass unless you are sure you have enough space.

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If you pass a large vehicle, or make a lane change in front of

one, remember to leave extra room before you pull in. Big
vehicles take longer to slow down. Make sure you can see the
truck’s headlights in your rear-view mirror before you re-enter
the lane, and maintain your speed once you get there.
If you see a truck starting to slow down well before a red light,
remember that the driver requires all of that space to stop in
time. Never move into that space — you could be rear-ended.
Make room for turns — big vehicles need a lot of room to
driving tip turn. When they turn right, you may be squeezed between the
truck and the curb.
Many of the back roads
of B.C. are logging You may also have a space
roads. Observe carefully problem if you are on a
if you are driving on road that a large vehicle
one of these roads. Turn
is turning onto. The driver
on your headlights for
maximum visibility if your may need to cross the
vehicle doesn’t have centre line or cut a corner
daytime running lights. in order to complete a
Be especially cautious turn. Again, keep your
when approaching a curve
distance.
or a hill. Always yield to
logging trucks.

Avoid being on the right of

a large vehicle if there’s a
chance it might turn right.

Avoid turbulence — big vehicles create turbulence that

can push you away from the vehicle or pull you towards it.
Turbulence can cause problems when you are passing a big
truck, or when you meet one coming toward you. Allow lots of
space on the side, and keep a firm grip on the steering wheel.

Communication
Read vehicle language — many large vehicles are equipped
with engine retarders that slow the vehicle down without the
use of brakes. Truck drivers also use their gears to slow down.
This means the truck or bus ahead of you could slow down
without the brake lights going on. Look ahead and listen for
a change in the truck’s engine noise.
Watch for signs that a large vehicle is about to back up —
a horn or beeper, four-way flashers or backup lights.
Signal well ahead — if you are ahead of a large vehicle, signal
well before you slow down, turn or stop. Large vehicles need
lots of time to slow down.

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applying your smart driving skills

School buses
see
Watch for clues — a school bus that has stopped to let children
off has lights at the top that flash alternately, and sometimes a
swing-out stop sign. The school bus driver may have turned on
alternating flashing amber lights when preparing to stop.

You must stop in either

direction whenever you
see flashing red lights on a
school bus.

think
Know the rules — when you see a school bus with alternating
flashing red lights at the top, you must stop whether you are
approaching it from the front or the rear. Vehicles in all lanes
must stop.

After stopping for a school

bus, don’t start moving
again until the bus moves
on or the driver signals
that it’s safe by turning off
the lights and pulling in
the stop sign.

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 chapter 6 — sharing the road

Public transit buses

see
Watch for buses that have stopped — they may block your
view of pedestrians about to cross the street, or they may be
about to pull into traffic.

think
Know the rules — you must allow a public transit bus that is
signalling and displaying a yield-to-bus sign to move out from
the curb lane or a bus stop. This rule applies to all roads where
the speed limit is 60 km/h or lower.

do
Space margins and speed control
Change lanes to let a bus pull out if there is space in the next
lane, or slow down if you can’t change lanes safely.

Emergency vehicles
Emergency vehicles include police cars, ambulances and fire
trucks.

see
Listen for sirens and watch for flashing lights — look to see
where the emergency vehicle is coming from. Once the vehicle
has passed, watch and listen because there may be others.

think
Know the rules — emergency vehicles displaying flashing
lights and sirens always have the right-of-way. All traffic moving
in both directions must stop. (Exception: if you are on a divided
highway and the emergency vehicle is approaching on the
other side of the median, you may not need to stop. Make sure
that it would be impossible for the emergency vehicle to move
driving tip onto your side of the highway.)
Clear a path — don’t block the path of emergency vehicles.
If you are stopped at an
Usually the best thing to do is pull over to the right and stop (or
intersection and you are
blocking the path of the to the left if you’re driving in the left lane of a divided highway
emergency vehicle, you or on a one-way street). Do not stop in an intersection. Think
may have to turn the well ahead, and have a plan in mind to create a path for the
corner to get out of emergency vehicle.
the way.
It is illegal to drive over a fire hose.

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applying your smart driving skills

All vehicles on both sides

of the road must pull
over to leave a clear path
whenever an emergency
vehicle uses its siren and
flashing lights.

do
Space margins and speed control
Allow following distance — when you’re following a fire truck,
you must stay back at least 150 metres.

Communication
Signal — use your turn signal to let the emergency vehicle
driver know you have seen the vehicle and are pulling over.

Stopped vehicles with

flashing lights
Drivers must slow down and leave plenty of room when passing
stopped vehicles displaying flashing lights to make highways
safer for law enforcement, emergency personnel and other
roadside workers. This rule applies to all vehicles authorized
to display flashing yellow, red, white or blue lights, including
those used by fire departments, law enforcement, commercial
vehicle inspectors, conservation officers, paramedics, tow truck
operators, highway maintenance workers, utility workers, land
surveyors, animal control workers and garbage collectors.

see
fast fact
Watch for – vehicles with flashing lights on the side of the road.
Failure to change lanes
and/or slow down when
passing a stopped vehicle
think
displaying flashing lights Know the rules – all traffic must slow down when approaching
may result in a traffic
stopped vehicles displaying flashing lights. When approaching
violation and penalty
points. these types of vehicles, you must drive no faster than 70 km/h if
the speed limit is 80 km/h or more, and no faster than 40 km/h
if the speed limit is less than 80 km/h. (Exception: this rule does
not apply if you are on a divided highway and approaching the
vehicle with flashing lights from the opposite direction.)

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If you are in the lane nearest to the stopped vehicle displaying

flashing lights, you must also change lanes if safe to do so.

do
Space margins and speed control
Slow down and leave space when passing vehicles with flashing
lights on the sides of roads. Change lanes to provide safe space
margins if it is safe to do so.

Construction zones
Road crews work throughout
the year to maintain and
improve our roads.
Despite construction zone
signs and traffic control
persons, crashes still occur
in construction zones, mainly
because some drivers don’t
pay attention.

see
Scan ahead — look for construction zones ahead and be
prepared to obey traffic control devices within the zone.
Pay attention at night — road construction doesn’t just occur
in the daytime. With the high daytime traffic volumes, more
and more road construction takes place at night. You need to
pay extra attention and drive extra slowly through construction
zones at night.
Look around — just because you don’t immediately see traffic
control persons, construction or workers in a construction zone
doesn’t mean they are not there. Be alert for traffic control
persons, construction workers and equipment.

think
Know the rules — you must obey the directions of traffic
control persons and road construction signs from the start to
the end of the construction zone. Construction zone speed
limits apply 24 hours a day when posted.
Think ahead — construction zones often require lane closures,
so you may need to change lanes. Merge to avoid a lane
closure as soon as you can. This will help maintain traffic flow.
Plan ahead — expect delays, and plan for them by leaving
early to reach your destination on time. Construction crews
aren’t there to personally inconvenience you —
­ they are

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applying your smart driving skills

improving the roads for everyone. Check radio, television and

websites for the latest traffic reports and updates to find out
what is happening on the roads within your area, and along
your intended route. Consider taking an alternate route.

do
Space margins and speed control
Slow down — the road surface may be uneven or unpaved,
so you need to slow down. You must obey construction zone
speed limits. Traffic fines are double in construction zones.
driving tip
Stop when directed — stop when directed to do so by
Unnecessary idling wastes traffic control persons or other traffic control devices. In some
gas and causes emissions construction zones, you may need to wait for a pilot car to
that degrade air quality escort you through the work zone.
and contribute to climate
change. If you are directed Allow following distance — leave plenty of following distance
to stop in a construction between your vehicle and the vehicle immediately ahead. Avoid
zone, turn off the engine. changing lanes in a construction zone.
Idling for more than 10
seconds costs more than Allow side margins — leave space between you, the construction
turning the engine off.
crews and their equipment in the construction zones.

Trains
Every year people die or are seriously injured in collisions
between vehicles and trains, so you need to be careful
when approaching a railway crossing. Most trains require
approximately two kilometres to stop — never try to beat one.

see
Watch for clues — lots of clues warn you of a railway
crossing ahead:
• Advance warning signs — these signs alert you to an
upcoming crossing, and tell you to look, listen and slow down
because you may have to stop. They are usually posted in
locations where you cannot see an upcoming railway crossing
(for example, on hilly or curvy roads). An advisory speed sign
below the advance warning sign may show that the safe road
speed is less than the posted speed.
• Pavement markings — at the approach to some railway
crossings, you may see a painted “X” on the pavement.
Some crossings also have flashing lights, a bell and gates. If
the light and bell are activated or the gate is down, it means
a train is approaching.
You may not be able to see a train coming if visibility is poor,
but you may hear its whistle. But remember that trains are not
required to sound a whistle at every crossing.

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Observe carefully — be aware that your eyes may mislead you.

Trains often seem to be moving much slower than they really
are. Passenger trains travel at up to 160 km/h in Canada.
Be especially careful at night. Half of all nighttime collisions
between trains and cars involve vehicles hitting the side of a
train because the driver didn’t see it.
Check for other road users — watch out for other road users
warning! at railway crossings. Motorcycle riders and cyclists may have to
swerve to cross the tracks safely. They could slip and fall on wet
Expect a train on a track tracks, so be sure to cover your brake and leave extra room.
at any time. Trains don’t
always follow regular Watch for a second train — be aware that there is often more
schedules. than one track, so watch out for a second train. One of the main
causes of car and train crashes is that the driver doesn’t wait for
the second train that is hidden behind the first one.
driving tip
think
When there is a red traffic
light at an intersection Know the rules — trains always have right of way. They don’t
on the other side of a slow down for crossings. If there is a gate down, you must stop
railway crossing, do not and wait for it to go up before you cross the tracks. If flashing
stop on the tracks. Stop
before the railway crossing
red lights are displayed at the crossing, you must stop. Move
unless there is room on across the tracks only when it’s safe. If a flag person directs you
the other side. to stop, you must obey their directions. If you hear or see a train
approaching the crossing, stop and don’t proceed until it is safe.
Think ahead — if your vehicle is stuck on the track, you will
have to think and act quickly. Get all passengers out of the
vehicle. Move quickly at least 30 metres away from the track to
avoid flying debris. Then phone for help:
• T
 ransport
Stop no closer than five Canada —
metres and no further
than 15 metres from the
look for the
nearest rail. phone number
on the back
of the railway
crossing sign
• 911 or the
local police.
Note: Report the location that’s on the back of the railway
crossing sign.

do
Speed control
Travel at a safe speed — you should always be able to stop
within the distance lit by your headlights if you’re driving
at night.

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applying your smart driving skills

Gear down — if you are driving a vehicle with a standard

transmission, change to a lower gear before you begin to cross.
Never change gears on the crossing because you could stall
the vehicle.

Space margins
Allow following distance — never get trapped on a crossing.
When traffic is heavy, wait until you can clear the crossing
before moving ahead.

Horses
Horses may be ridden on most
public roads.

see
Scan ahead — look for horses
and riders.

think
Know the rules — horse riders
and horse carriage operators
have the same rights as motor
vehicle operators and must obey
the same rules.
Know the hazards — horses can be startled by sudden
movement or noise. The rider may not be able to control
the horse.

do
Space margins
Slow down — go slowly when approaching a horse and rider or
horse and carriage. Allow plenty of following distance.
Allow space when passing — leave extra room when
passing them.
Pass carefully — horses may be startled by sudden
movement or noise. Avoid sounding your horn, and pass
carefully and slowly.
Prepare to stop — if a rider is having trouble controlling their
horse, stop. It’s better to wait until the horse is back under the
rider’s control than to risk passing them.

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 7 personal strategies

In the previous chapter, you learned how to share the road

in this chapter safely with other road users. This chapter gives strategies you
can use to handle situations that can have a negative influence
• Fitness to drive on you and your driving.
–– seeing and
hearing
–– assessing your Fitness to drive
health
–– staying awake You in the driver’s seat
–– keeping focused
You wake up with a cold and feel awful, but you have
• Dangerous to go to work. You take some cold medication before
emotions getting into your car. As you’re driving, you notice that
• Impairment you feel light-headed and tired. Turning right at the first
–– facts about intersection, you narrowly miss a cyclist.
alcohol What should you do?
–– facts about drugs

• Taking risks To be in control while driving, you need to be able to rely on

• Peer pressure the information your eyes and ears pick up. You need to be
• Unsafe passengers healthy, rested and focused to be a safe driver.
• Unsafe drivers
• Aggression on
Seeing and hearing
the road Experts estimate that about 80 per cent of all driving
–– preventing information comes to drivers through their eyes. You need to
aggression take a vision screening test before you can be licensed to drive.
• Organ Donor Your sense of hearing also helps you gather information about
Registry the driving scene. Listen for important warning signals such as
horns, sirens, train whistles and unusual noises in your engine.

Strategies: seeing and hearing effectively

To see and hear effectively while driving:
• Use glasses or contact lenses if you need them.
• Scan systematically as you drive.
• Repair or replace a noisy engine muffler.
• Don’t play your stereo too loudly.
• Don’t use a cellphone or headphones while driving.

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Assessing your health

Even a mild illness like a cold or the flu can affect your alertness.
Over-the-counter medicines can make you drowsy and slow
your reaction time.
If you have a health
May cause
drowsiness. condition that you
think might impair your
ability to drive, be sure
to check with your
doctor or pharmacist
before getting behind
Read labels carefully the wheel.
before taking medication if
you plan to drive.

Strategies: what to do if you’re not feeling well

• Take the bus or get a friend to drive you.
• Read the label carefully if you are taking any
medications. Don’t drive if the label says the drug may
cause drowsiness or dizziness.

Staying awake
driving tip Being tired is one of the leading causes of crashes. Fatigue
affects all stages of the see-think-do strategy. It can cause you
You can become unaware to scan inaccurately, slow your thinking and lengthen your
of your surroundings when reaction time.
you drive for a long time
on a highway or freeway
that doesn’t change much. Strategies: staying awake
This is called highway
hypnosis. Some areas To keep alert behind the wheel, especially for long journeys:
have installed rumble
strips or rough patches to • Start out well rested.
warn drivers if they start to
drift into another lane. You
• Take breaks. Walk around and get some exercise.
can help avoid highway • Stop and eat, but avoid heavy meals because they may
hypnosis by turning off the
make you feel sleepy.
cruise control, scanning
systematically and using • Keep the heat level moderate.
strategies to stay awake.
• Keep a window open for fresh air.
• Sing or talk to keep yourself paying attention.
• Pull over to a rest stop and take a nap (be sure to lock
your doors).
• Don’t drive too far at one time. If you are making a long
trip, be especially careful on the second day. This is
when tiredness is most likely to affect you.

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 chapter 7 — personal strategies

Keeping focused
When you are driving, your mind and senses should be focused
only on driving. Distractions can affect your hazard perception
and your reaction time.

Strategies: Leave your phone alone

To help you concentrate on driving:
• Leave your phone alone while driving, turn it off and
put it somewhere it won’t distract you.
• No call or text is so important it’s worth risking your life.
Let calls go to voicemail and ignore your text messages
while driving.
• Pull over and stop your car if you need to use your
cellphone or other electronic device.
• Pull over and look after whatever is distracting you —
check the map and figure out the best route, look for
the music you want to play, send a text message, etc.
• Assign a designated texter. Ask your passengers to
make or receive calls and texts for you.
• Make a ‘text stop’ at highway rest areas, some of which
now provide free Wi-Fi.

Cellphones and other devices

crash fact
All B.C. drivers, including those in GLP, are prohibited by
Studies show that drivers law from using hand‑held electronic devices while driving.
who are talking on a You may not:
cell phone lose about
50 per cent of what is • operate, view or hold hand-held cellphones or other
going on around them, electronic communication devices,
visually. When you are
stopped at an intersection • send or read emails or texts,
or slowed in traffic, you
are still driving. • operate or hold hand‑held music or portable gaming
devices, and
Source: IIHS (Insurance
Institute of Highway • manually program or adjust GPS systems while driving. The
Safety).
law applies whenever you are in control of the vehicle — even
when you are stopped at a red light or in bumper-to-bumper
traffic.
GLP drivers are also restricted from operating hands-free
electronic devices while driving except calling 9-1-1 to report
an emergency. The greater restrictions help GLP drivers stay
focused on the road while building driving experience. This
means no use of personal electronic devices at any-time,
including hands-free phones except calling 9-1-1 to report
an emergency. GLP drivers who receive one ticket will have
their driving record reviewed and may face driving prohibitions.   

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applying your smart driving skills

If you need to make or receive a hands-free call, it is safer to

pull over to the side of the road when it is safe to do so.

Dangerous emotions
You in the driver’s seat
You’re on your way to Vancouver Island, hoping to catch
the 3 p.m. ferry. The traffic is heavy, so your progress is
slow. As you approach a green light, the car in front slows
down. The driver seems to be deciding whether to make a
turn. You mumble under your breath in frustration. Finally,
the car moves, but the light turns yellow, so you now have
to stop and wait. You feel a surge of anger.
A driver like that shouldn’t be on the road slowing up
traffic. You just know you are going to miss your ferry.

We all have changing emotional states. Emotions are powerful

forces that can interrupt the concentration you need for driving.
When you are feeling very angry, anxious, sad or upset, you
miss important information. Your thinking becomes unclear.
Your safety and the safety of others is in danger.
Sometimes you may become angry or impatient because of
the driving environment. Crowded traffic conditions and high-
speed freeway driving often cause stress. Being slowed down
by other traffic when you’re in a hurry produces tension. Drivers
who are angry or stressed are less tolerant of the mistakes that
other road users make.
Whatever the cause of the emotion, it is important to look at
your emotional fitness to drive. Sometimes it’s best to stay out
of the driver’s seat.

Strategies: controlling emotions

Here are some things you can do to help you stay calm
and in control while driving:
• Keep learning. Analyze stressful driving situations you
have found yourself in, and figure out what you can do
next time to be calmer and safer.
• Plan ahead. Choose a route that avoids crowded traffic
so you can concentrate better.
• Allow yourself plenty of time. Being in a hurry can cause
you to become angry or frustrated. Realize that if you
leave late, you’ll arrive late.

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 chapter 7 — personal strategies

• Think of your own safety and the safety of others. This

can help you calm yourself.
• Be patient and extra courteous. Remember that all
drivers make mistakes. Take a couple of moments to
calm yourself down and leave your problems behind
before you start to drive. If you can’t focus, don’t get
behind the wheel.
• Be honest with yourself. Admitting to yourself exactly
how you feel can often help to calm you down.
• Open the windows to let in some fresh air and take a
few deep breaths.
• Listen to the radio or a relaxing CD.
• Loosen your grip on the steering wheel. This will help
to ease your arm and neck muscles and reduce the
chance of you getting a headache.

crash fact Impairment

Throughout B.C. an
average of 78 people are
You in the driver’s seat
killed each year in crashes You’re going home from a party with your friend. It’s pretty
involving impaired driving.
late and you’re anxious to get to bed. It’s been a long day.
Source: Police Traffic Your friend runs a yellow light, just catching the beginning
Accident System, 2010 of a red. You notice he is staring straight ahead, his eyes
to 2014.
not moving. The car starts to weave and then lurches to
one side as he brakes hard. “Hey, what are you doing?”
you ask. “It’s okay, I thought I was at the intersection…a
little early, huh?” he laughs.
What should you do?

Facts about alcohol

Here are some ways that alcohol can interfere with seeing,
thinking and doing.
Chapter 9, your licence, talks about some of the fines and
charges for impaired driving.

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applying your smart driving skills

Ability Driver’s symptoms Effects on the driver

• tendency to stare • c annot make eyes take in information quickly
enough
• eyes lose reflex abilities • can be blinded by glare
• reduced coordination of images • sees double
See

• reduced depth perception • c annot judge distance and speed of other

vehicles
• reduced peripheral vision • may not see hazards approaching from the side
• reasoning becomes unclear • thinks mental ability is sharp; however, cannot
Think • reduced concentration make sound driving decisions
• emotional state becomes unstable
• reduced muscular control • cannot coordinate steering and braking
• increased impulsiveness • takes greater risks by speeding or taking chances
Do • reduced coordination • oversteers; brakes late or not at all
• slowed reaction time • cannot make turns accurately
• cannot react to emergencies quickly

Alcohol myth Alcohol fact

Only time can sober you up or lower your
blood alcohol content (BAC). Contrary
to popular belief, food, coffee, cold
Alcohol won’t affect me as showers or exercise will not speed up the
much if I drink coffee, have elimination of alcohol from your system.
something to eat, or take Transport Canada states that if you have a
a cold shower. BAC of .08 it takes about six hours for your
body to completely process that alcohol
and return to a BAC of zero.

A glass of beer contains the same amount

Beer doesn’t affect driving as of alcohol as a glass of wine or an average
much as other alcoholic drinks cocktail. In some cases, even small
do. amounts of alcohol can cause a driver to
be impaired.

If you plan to drink, decide

ahead of time how you will
get home safely.

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crash fact Strategies: protecting yourself

from impaired drivers
Is it worth it to drink
and drive? To get home safely:
• You or your passengers • Learn about the effects of drugs and alcohol. Accurate
could be injured or
killed in a crash.
information allows you to make informed decisions.
• You may spend time • Refuse to ride with drivers who may be impaired. Ask to
in jail.
be let out of the car if necessary.
• You could lose your
licence. • Take a stand — don’t let someone who may be
• You may have to pay impaired drive.
stiff fines.
• Your insurance may not • Choose a designated driver before going out.
pay for any injuries or
damage you cause. • Keep money aside for a bus or taxi.
• Call a friend.

Facts about drugs

Drugs and driving
Drugs and medications can impair driving. If you are taking
medications or drugs, you need to know how they can affect
your ability to drive safely.
Drugs affect different people differently. If there is any doubt
about safety, leave the driving to someone else.
driving tip
Medications
If you are feeling impaired
after taking a drug or
Over-the-counter medicines for allergies, coughs, colds and
medication, don’t drive — nausea can cause:
let someone else do the
driving until the effect has • drowsiness
worn off.
• inattentiveness.
Prescriptions including sedatives, tranquilizers, painkillers and
some antidepressants can affect:
• alertness
driving tip
• concentration
Always read the label
• reaction time.
of any medication you
are taking to see if it can These effects can continue for many hours after the medicine
affect driving. If you are
taking more than one
is taken.
medication, ask your
If your doctor or pharmacist cautions you that a medication is
pharmacist or doctor
about their combined likely to interfere with driving safety, pay attention. If you are
effects on driving. feeling impaired after taking a medication, don’t drive — let
someone else do the driving until the effect has worn off.

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Illegal drugs
Recreational or street drugs such as speed, heroin and cocaine
have a wide variety of effects including those noted under
Medications on the previous page, as well as:
• hallucinations
• altered perception

crash fact • feelings of invincibility

• lack of judgment.
A driver who combines
alcohol and drugs is nine
times more likely to have a
Cannabis
crash than a sober driver.
Cannabis may cause a driver to:
Australian study,
O. Drummer, 1994 • have difficulty following the movement of vehicles or
pedestrians accurately
• misunderstand visual cues from the driving environment
• delay responses, especially in emergency situations.

Drugs and alcohol

Many drugs will greatly increase impairment
when combined with even small amounts of
alcohol.

Taking risks
You in the driver’s seat
You’re alone and driving on a straight stretch of highway.
You’re tempted to floor it.
What choice will you make?

New drivers differ in how they manage risk. You probably know
drivers who are unsure of what actions to take and are nervous
around other road users. These people lack confidence in their
skills. And then there are overconfident drivers — the ones who
think they are much better drivers than they really are. Both
overconfident drivers and those who lack confidence need to
learn more and take more time to practise their skills.
A few people adopt a dangerous driving style, seeking out
excitement through speeding and taking risks. These people
are thrill-seekers — they enjoy speeding, tailgating or passing
unsafely.
What kind of driving style do you plan to have? Do you want
to stay within your skill level? Do you think it is better to be
cautious rather than take too many chances? Driving attitude or
style is something you choose.
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 chapter 7 — personal strategies

How often do you take risks?

How often do you: Always Sometimes Never

Shoulder check?

Drive within the speed limit?

Signal?

Avoid drinking and driving?

Leave good space margins?

Strategies: identifying your driving

attitude or style
To identify your driving attitude or style:
• Ask someone you trust to give you some feedback on
your driving skills, driving attitude and driving style.
• Analyze your attitude and style. If you have a close call,
ask yourself why it happened, and think about how you
can drive more safely so it doesn’t happen again.
• Be critical when you watch a car ad or a car chase scene
in a movie. Ask yourself: What message am I getting?
Do I agree with this message? Will this message affect
my driving attitude or style?
• Do you find yourself always blaming others for bad
driving? If so, then ask yourself: Is it really their fault or
could it be me?

Peer pressure
crash fact You in the driver’s seat

Over 75 per cent of all

“Aw come on, join the party, have a drink,” your
drivers travelling at an friend says.
unsafe speed resulting in
a casualty collision were You promised to be the driver after the party. You were
male. Over 37 per cent of going to stick to soft drinks. But this is a new friend and
persons killed in collisions you really like them.
were victims of collisions
caused by unsafe speed. What choice would you make?
B.C. Traffic Collision
Statistics, Police-attended It’s hard to resist peer pressure. We want to belong, so we’re
injury and fatal collisions
sensitive to what others think of us. There are two kinds of
2007
peer pressure: positive and negative. Friends who persuade

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applying your smart driving skills

you to do the safe thing because they care about you are
giving positive peer pressure. On the other hand, friends or
acquaintances who encourage you to do something dangerous
are putting negative pressure on you.
Learning how to handle peer pressure takes a lot of practice.
You want to keep your friends, but you don’t want to get talked
into doing things that put yourself and others in danger.

Strategies: handling negative peer pressure

Try using these four steps to help you resist negative peer
pressure:
1. Identify the problem. You may impress your new
friend if you drink, but you aren’t fulfilling your promise
of staying sober and being the designated driver.
2. Think about the consequences. If you choose to have
a drink so you don’t upset your friend, you increase
the risk of being involved in a crash when you get
behind the wheel. You could hurt or even kill yourself
or someone else.
3. Identify alternatives. Suggest to your friend that
you’ll have a drink with them another time when you
don’t have to drive.
4. Follow through. Stay sober, and when you are ready
to leave, offer your friends a ride.

Unsafe passengers
You in the driver’s seat
You’re driving home at night with a load of passengers.
They’re all having a good time, telling jokes and fooling
around. The light rain is making it hard to see. There’s a lot
of reflection on the road. You need to concentrate,
but you are finding it hard to think with all the noise
around you.
What should you do?

When you drive, you are responsible for the safety of your
passengers. Sometimes you will find that passengers can be
distracting. Children often become bored with long drives and
demand attention from you. Passengers may start talking loudly,
teasing or wrestling in the car. This is a time when you will have
to show leadership and maintain control.

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Strategies: being a good passenger

As a passenger, you can help drivers:
• Avoid heated or emotional conversations, as these can
distract the driver.
• Discourage reckless driving.
• Be prepared to take a stand for safety.

Strategies: keeping passengers safe

Help keep people in your vehicle safe:
• Refuse to move unless everyone is wearing a seatbelt.
• Tell children the rules before you start the trip.
• Give children activities if it’s a long drive.
• Tell passengers that you will not be able to talk very
much because you need to concentrate on driving.
• Use humour with your friends. For example, tell them
you’re not smart enough to drive and joke around at
the same time.
• Make sure animals you are transporting are secured in
cages. A wandering, frightened animal is a dangerous
distraction.

Unsafe drivers
You in the driver’s seat
Your friend offers to drive you and your buddies to the
next town. It’s only 20 km away so you agree. He starts
down the highway and is soon way over the speed limit.
He pulls out to pass a car and barely has space to get
back into the lane. You quickly realize that he is a very
unsafe driver.
What should you do?

Everyone’s had the experience of being stuck in a car with

someone whose driving scares them. Having a licence gives you
more power to deal with this situation because you know the
rules and regulations and you know what safe driving means.
But it isn’t easy to persuade an unsafe driver to change their
driving style.

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applying your smart driving skills

Strategies: stopping unsafe driving situations

Here are some ideas that could help you handle unsafe
drivers:
• Try using humour — it works sometimes.
• Use “I” statements to get across how you feel.
For example, you might say: I’m feeling pretty nervous
right now. Could you please slow down for me?
• Offer to take the wheel. Tell your friend that you’d really
like a turn driving.
• If there are other passengers, try to get their help.
Ask: How are you feeling right now? Chances are they
are probably feeling the same way.
• Be firm. Say something like: Hey! Slow down before
you get us killed.
• If all else fails, ask to be let out of the car.

Aggression on the road

You in the driver’s seat
It’s late at night and you’re driving in an unfamiliar
neighbourhood. A vehicle comes speeding up behind
you. The driver starts flicking the headlights back and forth
from high to low beam.
What should you do?

It’s often difficult to know what to do when you’re faced with

drivers who are aggressive. Their lack of courtesy and bad
driving habits can lead to crashes. Extreme aggression, or road
rage, is not common, but mild aggression can escalate if you
are not careful. How should you respond?

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 chapter 7 — personal strategies

Strategies: handling other drivers’ aggression

When other drivers start acting aggressively behind
the wheel:
• Respond with good driving manners. Give the other
driver plenty of room and the right-of-way.
• Don’t return aggression. Avoid eye contact, keep away
from erratic drivers and don’t gesture back.
If you’re in a situation where you feel threatened:
• Get help. Drive to a police station or to a location
where there are plenty of people (for example, a
shopping mall).
• Call the police if you have a cellphone. (If you’re
travelling with someone else, get this person to make
the call so you can focus on driving.)
• Don’t go home.
• Keep the doors locked and the windows closed.
• Sound the horn or attract attention to yourself if
someone tries to get into your car.

Preventing aggression
How can you make sure you don’t increase the anger or
frustration of other drivers? If you use your smart driving skills,
allow plenty of space and give others the right-of-way, you can
help prevent situations that cause aggression.

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applying your smart driving skills

Strategies: preventing aggression

Help prevent other drivers from becoming frustrated
or angry:
• Know the rules of the road and follow them.
• Keep a generous following distance.
• Give the right-of-way.
• Move over for merging traffic.
• Signal your intentions.
• Pull over to let other drivers go by if there is a line of
vehicles behind you.
• Keep your headlights on low beam unless you’re in
an unlit area.
• Keep your car stereo turned down.
• Don’t block passing lanes.
• Don’t take more than one parking spot.
• Don’t use your horn unless it’s really necessary.
• Don’t park in spaces reserved for people with
disabilities if you’re not entitled to use the space.
• Don’t yell at other road users.

Guess I’d
better fix
this.

Sharing the road means

considering other drivers.
What messages do your
actions give to other
drivers?

112
 “Organ donation has chapter 7 — personal strategies
Scan here
given us a precious gift in
ister as an
the midst of great tragedy
and personal loss.”
an donor at: Emma, Barry & Olivia

ketwominutes.ca
Alistair’s family
Right now in British Columbia, there is a very long list of people
waiting for organ and tissue transplants. For some, the gift of an
organ will not come in time. Yet only about a quarter of people
in B.C. are registered to be organ donors.
Everyone has the potential to be an organ donor. There are no
age limits.
@BCTransplant @BC_Transplant @BC_Transplant

Organ Donor Registry

In the past, you could have a decal placed on your driver’s

“Organ donation has

licence to show your intent to be an organ donor.
Since 1997, the Organ Donor Registry has replaced all previous

Scan here
ways of indicating your decision about organ donation. The

ven us a precious gift in

Registry allows you to make an educated decision about organ
donation and legally record your decision. It also removes this
difficult decision from surviving family members during the
grieving period — a time when this kind of decision is most

e midst of great tragedy

difficult. The Registry is accessible 24 hours a day only to BC
Transplant’s organ donation health care professionals.

How to register
LIVE LIFE.
and
PASS ITpersonal loss.”
@BCTransplant
@BC_Transplant
Organ Donor Registration forms are available at all ICBC driver
ON. licensing
@BC_Transplant centres, claim centres and Autoplan brokers.
You can also register online at www.transplant.bc.ca or by
calling 1-800-663-6189.

Emma, Barry & Olivia

Please register to be an organ donor. You could save a life.
And live on.
Alistair’s family

CTransplant @BC_Transplant @BC_Transplant

113