VANCOUVER, May 14, 2012 /CNW/ – Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) is offering tips for motorists during Canada Road Safety Week to increase their personal road safety habits.
“We want Canadians to be as safe as possible on the roads. These tips deal with common driver issues and can make a difference in the number of lives saved on the roads,” says Lindsay Olson, Vice President, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba with IBC.
The goal of Canada Road Safety Week aligns with Canada’s Road Safety Strategy 2015, to make Canada’s roads the safest in the world. This initiative follows the 2008 Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) report that ranked Canada 10th in terms of fatalities per billion vehicle kilometers traveled compared to other members of the OECD.
Top 10 road safety tips:
- Avoid driver distractions. Distracted drivers can be just as impaired as drunk drivers.
- Ensure proper use of seat belts, child car seats and booster seats at all times.
- Obey the rules of the road, respect posted speed limits, the rights of other drivers and drive according to road conditions.
- Understand graduated licensing restrictions. Encourage yourself to learn more about being a safe road user at every age.
- Always have a designated driver. Impaired driving is a serious danger to public safety as alcohol and drugs can reduce a driver’s reaction times and attention to the road.
- If you’re experiencing driver fatigue pull off the road to a safe spot and have a nap as driving while drowsy can be just as fatal as impaired driving.
- Be alert to the presence of all vulnerable road users and operate your vehicle safely around them.
- If you are a medically-at-risk driver, protect yourself and consistently refresh your driving knowledge.
- Share the road with trucks. Be visible and be aware of a motor carrier’s capabilities and limitations.
- Spread the word to friends and family about safer road behaviour and road safety issues. Education starts with you.
(Source: IBC, Transport Canada, Ontario Ministry of Transportation and Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists)