1 Making Your Drives Safer
Driving a car is a joy and a privilege, but it’s also a responsibility. Automobile accidents are, sadly, all too common in today’s world. Every time you get behind the wheel, whether it’s to get to work or catch up with loved ones, you are responsible for the safety of the occupants of your vehicle as well as other people on the road.
Since the first automobiles, a bevy of safety advancements in the automobile industry—improvements in the drivetrain, steering, and braking systems, and safety features such as airbags—have ensured that taking your vehicle out on the road is a far less risky proposition than it might have been even a few decades ago. The road to making automobiles safer for everyone has been a long one, marked by a series of innovations from automobile manufacturers that have been an integral part of automobile evolution over several decades.
While we are all familiar with safety features such as seat belts, airbags, and emergency braking systems, other features like headlights, and safety glass in windshields have been around for so long that we don’t even think of them as ‘safety’ features anymore.
The steady march of automobiles towards becoming a safer mode of transportation has been driven both by automobile manufacturers investing in the research and development of safety features and by regulators, who have kept updating mandatory safety standards to keep pace with the progress of technology. As electric vehicles become more popular and self-driving cars come closer to becoming a reality, safety standards will no doubt evolve in parallel. Check out a summary of the history of automobile safety below.
2 Safe Driving Tips
No drive is safe without a safe driver. Regardless of the safety features your car is equipped with, having the necessary driving skills and not being impaired in any way is a prerequisite before getting behind the wheel. Make sure you familiarize yourself with and master the controls of your car. Understanding the proper use of your vehicle’s lights is critically important in this regard, especially in inclement weather. Check out our detailed guide on the correct use of your lights to maximize ease and safety while driving.
Be proactive in maintaining your vehicle to minimize the risk of incidents or breakdowns on the road. On our website, you can find guides on how to keep your vehicle in top shape. However, it is also critical not to injure yourself while maintaining your vehicle! When working on your vehicle, use the proper safety equipment. Prepare for the worst by keeping a fire extinguisher and first aid kit on hand. If you need to lift the vehicle, you must understand how to use the jack properly. You can find a detailed description of these, as well as other garage safety measures, here.
Different weather conditions pose their own challenges for safety too. The heat waves that summer can sometimes bring to Canada, especially in the southern parts, necessitate some basic precautions for your and your vehicle’s safety. It is sensible to have a backup plan so that you don’t panic in this unfortunate event. Observe common sense precautions such as staying hydrated, parking your car in the shade, and never leaving children or pets in the car unattended. In the summer months, checking the coolant levels, ensuring the air conditioning is functioning properly, and checking to see that tires are not filled beyond optimal levels also become critically important activities. We have compiled a comprehensive list of checks and measures to keep your vehicle safe in the summer.
To meet the difficult challenge of driving in snow- and ice-covered conditions during the Canadian winter, it’s critical to be diligent in taking precautions and observing every safety measure. Winter accounts for 17% of all crashes, so be extra cautious during these months. Driving slowly and carefully is always a good idea, but it is especially important on wet and icy roads. Having said that, no amount of caution can eliminate the possibility of an accident or breakdown. Make sure you have provisions in your vehicle in case of an incident while you wait for help.
