You must always use your turn signal to let other road users know that you are planning to turn, change lanes, pull out or pull over. Signal well ahead to give other road users plenty of warning, but don’t apply your turn signal too soon because it might confuse other people. Note: There are situations in which your vehicle’s turn signals may not be noticeable, such as in very bright sunlight or when you’re pulling out from a line of parked vehicles. In these situations, use a hand signal as well as the turn signal.

Maintaining a space cushion all around your vehicle will help reduce the chance of a collision. Always leave a safe following distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front. You need at least two seconds of space in front under good driving conditions. Keep at least one metre of clear space on each side of your vehicle while you’re driving. As you pass pedestrians, cyclists or other vehicles, allow at least one metre of space (more if you are travelling at higher speeds). Increase your side space margins even more when visibility or road conditions are poor.

Wet brakes can be less effective. Avoid driving through standing or flowing water if possible. If not, slow down and downshift into a low gear. Gently press on the brakes and maintain pressure for a short distance once you are out of the water. This will heat up the brakes and dry them out

Sharing the road means considering other drivers. Don’t block passing lanes. If there is a long line of vehicles behind you, change lanes or pull over to let them pass. If other drivers start acting aggressively behind the wheel, respond with good driving manners. Give the other drivers plenty of room and the right-of-way. Don’t return aggression. Avoid eye contact, keep away from erratic drivers, and don’t yell or gesture back.

The laws of physics ensure that if a large, heavy object hits a smaller, lighter object, the smaller, lighter object will experience a much greater change in velocity. Of all road users, pedestrians and cyclists are among the most vulnerable. And unlike the occupants of a car, they lack the protection of an external frame. You always need to watch out for them.

A school bus has lights at the top that can flash alternately, and sometimes a swing‑out stop sign. 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 and must not start to move again until the bus moves on or the bus driver signals that it’s safe by turning off the lights and pulling in the stop sign

It takes time for your eyes to adjust to dim light or darkness. The older you are, the longer it takes for your eyes to adjust. Before entering a tunnel, slow down to give your eyes more time to adjust to the lower light levels. Also remove your sunglasses and turn on your headlights for increased visibility.

An unexpected vehicle breakdown can create a dangerous situation, so try to get your vehicle away from traffic. If your engine fails, signal and steer to the edge of the road. Try to get to the nearest exit or service area or pull off the road as far as possible if you are on a freeway. Turn on your hazard lights and stay with your vehicle. Don’t try to do roadside repairs on crowded and fast‑moving freeways.

If your gas pedal sticks and you cannot lift it with your toe, apply the brakes and look for an escape path that will get you off the road. While continuing to brake, shift into neutral to disconnect the engine from the drive wheels. This may damage your engine, but it’s better than crashing. Follow your escape path and once you’re stopped, turn off the engine. Don’t try to restart the engine; call for help instead

Whenever you enter a lane, the vehicles that are already in that lane have the right-of-way. When changing lanes, check your mirrors and your blind spots. Make sure there is a large enough gap so that when you pull in front of another vehicle, that driver doesn’t have to slow down to avoid crashing into you. Signal, then enter the lane. Legally, you must signal whenever you change lanes.

Tailgating (following too closely behind the vehicle in front) is a major cause of rear-end collisions. If you tailgate, the vehicle in front can block your view of hazards ahead. Worse, if the vehicle stops suddenly, you’ll have no time to slow down and stop safely. (A common crash scenario: Traffic in the tailgater’s lane may be slowing ahead, and he or she decides to move into a faster lane. The tailgater takes his or her eyes off the road ahead to check his or her blind spot. At that moment, the vehicle in front slows down and the tailgater fails to see it in time to slow down too.) If you rear-end the other driver, you will be held responsible for the crash.

Know where you want to go before you enter a roundabout, and enter the correct lane. Lane use signs or road markings will show you which lane you need to use. If you want to turn left, use the left lane. If you want to turn right, use the right lane. If you want to go straight, you may use either the left or right lane

Get ready for winter by switching to tires that are suitable for winter conditions. Carry chains in your vehicle and know how to mount them. In British Columbia, snow tires or chains are a legal requirement on many roads during the winter. Carry sand or salt and a shovel to use if you become stuck on ice or in the snow. Have emergency warning devices (such as flares or reflective triangles) available as well. Before you start to drive, make sure you can see. Scrape snow or frost from the windows and mirrors, get rid of any ice or snow on the wipers, and clean all the lights. Scan farther ahead when driving to give yourself a larger safety margin. Your vehicle’s braking distance can be 10 times as long on ice as it is on dry pavement.

For comfortable and safe control of your steering, place your hands at the 9 o’clock and 3 o’clock positions on the steering wheel. Note: Years ago, the preferred position was 10 o’clock and 2 o’clock, but this position is now considered unsafe for modern vehicles equipped with driver’s-side airbags. The driver’s-side airbag deploys out of the steering wheel at very high speed. If your hands are that high on the steering wheel, the deploying airbag could shove your hands into your face, possibly injuring you.