Top Tips for Safe Driving in Canada

Safe driving has always been something important to me ever since I first began driving at 16. My parents both taught me how to drive and were patient and shared advice they learned over the years. They taught me how it’s important to drive defensively, not offensively, and tips like if you miss a turn or an exit, just keep going and work backwards, don’t stress. Their advice has stayed with me since.

I also know the importance of safe driving as someone who has been in an accident. I was waiting at a red light a few years ago and was rear-ended by a distracted driver at a high speed. I immediately suffered whiplash and it took many years of physio to get better and it’s still something I have to manage on a daily basis. Cars are incredible and make our commutes easier, and allow us to go on amazing adventures, but can also cause a lot of damage if used carelessly. According to Allstate Canada, rear-end collisions are the most common type of vehicle collision on Canadian roads

When Allstate Canada reached out to promote safe driving it was a no brainer! I wanted to share my story but also hear your top tips for safe driving! I was reading statistics and was shocked to hear how Ottawa ranks…yikes! Ottawa is among the top 10 communities in Canada with the highest frequency of collisions!

Just last week I saw a car accident happen right in front of me! All the stats I had learned were running through my head and also memories of my own accident! My hand covered my mouth as I saw the two cars collide. I was stopped at a red light and a car was going through a green light in front of me. Another car went to do a u-turn and slammed right into the car going straight. Luckily both passengers were okay but quite a bit of damage was done to the cars. It reminded me that accidents happen in a split second! The second car was illegally turning and the accident could have been avoided. Just like my parents told me, “if you miss your exit, just keep on going and work your way back.”

I was shocked to hear these statistics but it was they were running through my head when I witnessed the other accident. I always think, even if you are the best driver on the road, others aren’t … but here are some of my tips:

1. Don’t Drive Distracted

I  can’t stress this enough. In this day and age, there is absolutely no reason why you should be driving distracted. As soon as I get into my Ford Escape, I plug my phone in and everything is hands-free. You can text, play music or make a call all hands free with Apple Carplay! This one is especially close to my heart after being on the receiving end of a distracted driver. No text is worth risking your life, or someone else’s. 

2. Signals

This is one of my biggest pet peeves and I’m shocked how many times I don’t see people signal. It is the easiest way to indicate to other drivers where you want to go and can prevent a head-on, or read-end collision. Other drivers can’t read your mind so help them out and signal. 

3. Leave Room

I do this for a few reasons – the car in front of me might slam on the breaks, someone might try and merge last minute or in the event, I get rear-ended, I don’t want my car to hit the one in front of me. The Ford Escape has Anti-Collision technology that uses cameras to detect a potential collision. If a potential collision is detected, an alert sound is emitted and a warning message displays. If your response is not sufficient, the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) will precharge and increase brake-assist sensitivity to provide full responsiveness when you brake. 

4. Winter Tires

We get some crazy winter’s here in Ottawa and winter tires can make a huge difference. Tires can lose a pound of pressure for every 5 degrees Celsius the temperature drops. That’s why it’s recommended to switch to Winter tires when temperatures reach below 7 degrees. According to Allstate Canada, December-February sees higher collision rates, I suspect this is largely due to weather. If the weather is really bad and driving can be avoided, cozy up and stay home! I will plan my days around the weather if needed. It’s not worth it to be stuck in a bad situation. I’ve seen cars spin out on the highway and I don’t want to be in their path!  

5. Avoid Peak Times If Possible

I’m fortunate enough to be able to miss rush hour most of the time but when I used to go to university, I would leave the house with my Dad super early to beat the rush hour. People are in a rush to get to work, half-asleep and not paying attention. How many of us have seen people doing their makeup in the car? I know I have! They’re not paying attention and that’s when accidents happen. 

Peak times aren’t just rush hour though. It also refers to busier days on the road. According to Allstate Canada, December 23rd is one of the worst days for collisions! With that in mind, avoid the road on December 23rd and get your holiday shopping done ahead of time 😉 

Wondering what the worst day of the week is for driving? If you guess Friday, you’re right! Allstate Canada found that Friday has been the worst week day for driving across the country for the entire decade, continuously recording the highest number of collisions over other days of the week. 

6. Did You Miss Your Turn?

Keep going! I’ve seen so many people try and merge or correct their decision last minute (like the guy who did the u-turn above) and it puts you and other drivers in danger. Keep going and redirect yourself, it may add on 5 minutes, but could prevent an accident and save you and your wallet in the long run. I’d rather keep going and redirect myself instead of doing something dangerous. We’ve all seen this video floating around on social media:

7. Roundabouts

I learned from Allstate Canada that roundabouts are known to significantly reduce accidents. Did you know there are 21 in Ottawa alone?! Allstate Canada shared that the most common reported collisions include crashes involved at an intersection. I’ve seen this too many times! Whether it’s a car racing a red light, not watching for pedestrians and more!

As part of Allstate Canada’s 10th annual Safe Driving Study (released December 2018), they asked Canadians across the country how they could enhance or improve safety in their local communities through the Allstate Takes Action contest. The winning idea was selected from Nepean, Ontario on roundabout safety. 

For roundabouts, vehicles are required to yield to pedestrians and traffic already using the roundabout, drive counter-clockwise and always stay to the right of the central island. Be courteous to other drivers and wait until there’s a gap! If you miss your exit, you can keep going around until you meet it again. 😉 To learn more about roundabout safety, check out Allstate Canada’s campaign with Ottawa’s very own, Jean-Gabriel Pageau!

If you’re interested in more statistics like this, for the past 11 years, Allstate Canada has been releasing its claims and collisions data that reveals collisions trends and information on the safes – and least safe- communities to drive in to kick-start conversations about the importance of safe driving behaviours.

The Allstate Takes Action contest is a great example of how they’re making a difference across the country by advocating for safety and giving back in the communities they operate. 

Vehicle insurance is mandatory in Canada, but I know first hand the importance of going with a good insurance company, especially in the event of an accident. They’ve been providing insurance solutions since 1953, fit to meet your unique needs. It’s important to take the time to discuss options with a local expert and know exactly what your insurance provides and also the advice and support they can provide. 

I would love to know – what are your top tips for safe driving? 

Thank you to Allstate Canada for sponsoring this blog post. As always, all opinions and thoughts are my own.