Young Drivers of Canada - Stouffville

10/09/2021

Wishing you and your loved ones a joyous and gratitude-filled holiday! Happy Thanksgiving!

09/24/2021

Did you know that in some provinces, pavement markings that indicate when passing is permitted (or not permitted) are just a guideline for the driver? Most provincial passing legislation refers to visibility (from Newfoundland – drivers cannot drive a vehicle on the left side of the road to overtake and pass another vehicle “unless the left side is clearly visible and free of oncoming and overtaking traffic for a sufficient distance to permit overtaking and passing to be completely made” without compromising the safety of other vehicles; from Ontario – vehicles shall not be driven left of the centre of the roadway “when approaching the crest of a grade or upon a curve in the roadway or within 30 metres of a bridge, viaduct or tunnel where the driver’s view is obstructed within that distance so as to create a potential hazard” and “within 30 metres of a level railway crossing”). Did you notice that legislation quoted DOES NOT INCLUDE a reference to PAVEMENT MARKINGS?
Passing lanes offer a safer place to overtake slower traffic – though every overtaking maneuver carries some risk! If you must overtake slower moving traffic, be aware of your surroundings. The pavement markings can communicate ‘safety’ information to the driver. Disobeying a guideline could have serious consequences…. a close call, a crash that involves injuries or even a crash that causes a fatality! Passing just to get ahead of the driver in front isn’t worth the risk!

09/17/2021

Passing is always a very risky maneuver (as this driver could well find out!). Would YOU pass in this driving situation? Why? OR Why not? Is the pass SAFE? Is the pass LEGAL? Is the pass NECESSARY?
Is the pass SAFE? Drivers should think about more than oncoming traffic! Is there a passing lane coming up soon? Are there risks from driveways, side roads or hidden intersections that could affect your pass? Is the pass within the capabilities of the driver? …. or the vehicle?
Is the pass LEGAL? Are pavement markings the LAW where you live… or just a GUIDELINE? When is passing LEGAL in your jurisdiction? The answers might surprise you!
And last, is the pass NECESSARY? Why are you passing to begin with? Is there a reason or do you just prefer to be ‘in the lead’? What effect will the pass have on your fuel consumption? .. or to the environment?
What are your thoughts?

09/14/2021

It’s almost ‘that time’…. time for a new driver in your family! What do you do first? Get your G1? practice with a co-driver? start YD? when can your new driver test to drive alone? Let us help out!
Your new driver can start preparing for the written test to get a G1 in Ontario BEFORE turning 16! Check out apps that are available for practise questions OR use the Driver’s Handbook Online.
Sign up for YD! Yes, you can register BEFORE turning 16 or having your G1! Choose from courses available in your area or contact your local YD centre.
Start practising with your co-driver as soon as you get your G1! Keep the practise to quiet areas with low traffic – even a parking lot is a great place to start! Keep it simple! Stick to basic turns using hand over hand and develop smooth car control skills.
Once you start your in car lessons with your YD instructor, schedule practise time with your co-driver to practise the new skills you learn! A good rule of thumb is one hour of dedicated practise for each lesson you do with your instructor. Driving from point A to B is great… but it might not include the specific skills you and your instructor are working on.
Plan your route to areas that you and your instructor use during lessons. Drive in a variety of traffic conditions! Include skills that you may not encounter during regular driving (like hill parking or parallel parking!).
Consider a road test package with Young Drivers! It can include a review lesson and a warm up drive on the day of your test. Use the YD vehicle you have done your lessons in for your road test! Your local YD centre can provide specific details for your area.
Then.. .ENJOY your freedom! Stay focused and alert to your surroundings! Congratulations! You have just taken the first step toward a lifetime of collision free driving!

09/10/2021

With in person school resuming in most areas, school buses transport thousands of children to and from school. Where do you stop when the school bus does? How far away should you be? Is there a law? Each province is responsible for setting the laws/rules that drivers must apply when dealing with school buses.
When approaching a stopped school bus from the FRONT, in Ontario stop at a SAFE DISTANCE away from the bus. This distance should allow children to get off the bus and cross the road in front of you – giving them plenty of space to walk around the bus’s front blind area and remain visible to the driver.
When approaching a stopped school bus from the REAR, in Ontario drivers must come to a full stop 20 METRES (about 4 or 5 vehicle lengths) away from the rear of the school bus. This distance allows the flashing lights to be seen by other drivers approaching from behind the stopped traffic. Approaching drivers should ‘control traffic’ behind by slowing early, monitoring traffic behind using the rear-view mirror, using HAZARD LIGHTS as additional communication, and maintaining an escape route just in case (the escape route should not put the school bus or children getting on or off the bus in danger!).
Drivers sharing the road with school buses play an important role in helping children get to their destination safely.

09/03/2021

Renewal deadlines have been reinstated! Check out the information below!

Ontario has reinstated renewal deadlines for driver’s licences, licence plate stickers, and Ontario health cards. If you have not renewed since March 1, 2020, you must renew your documents by February 28, 2022.

Learn more: Ontario.ca/RenewalDeadlines

08/31/2021

School crossing guards help children safely cross the street. The crossing guards also remind drivers of the presence of pedestrians at key intersections in your city or town.
Drivers – watch for school crossing guards! They are easy to recognize with their bright orange vests, orange wristbands (in some cities) and they hold a ‘stop sign’ upright when escorting children across the street! Motorists must STOP BEFORE reaching the crosswalk when the stop sign is UPRIGHT! Be courteous and attentive to the crossing guard, especially in bad weather. Slow early and know what is behind you – will the vehicle be able to slow down too?
School crossing guards must stay on the road until all pedestrians have safely reached the sidewalk! If you step out into the roadway AFTER the ‘don’t walk’ signal starts to flash, you are putting yourself AND the crossing guard at risk!
Obey the walk signals and your crossing guard! The crossing guard may hold pedestrians back on a walk signal or green light – maybe there is an emergency vehicle approaching or the crossing guard is concerned about the speed of approaching traffic.
Encourage children to pay attention to the stopped traffic – make eye contact with the drivers BEFORE stepping out into the crosswalk. Get off bikes, scooters and skateboards before crossing. This will help avoid collisions with other pedestrians crossing OR with the school crossing guard!
Let’s keep our crossing guards safe!

08/27/2021

School buses. Chrome yellow. Display the words ‘School Bus’. Back to school means sharing the road with school buses! Drivers (whether approaching from in front OR behind…. unless there is a median) must STOP for school buses with the alternating red lights flashing. This law applies everywhere, regardless of the posted speed limit!
School buses also use a stop arm on the driver’s side of the bus. This arm, a standard stop sign with alternating flashing red lights at the top and bottom, swings out AFTER the upper alternating red lights begin to flash. Drivers MUST REMAIN STOPPED until the ARM FOLDS AWAY and ALL LIGHTS STOP FLASHING!
In Ontario, drivers who don’t stop for a school bus can be fined $400 to $2,000 and accumulate 6 demerit points for a FIRST OFFENSE! Break the rule a second time within 5 years and monetary penalties increase from $1,000 to $4,000 AND you COULD also go to jail for up to 6 months!
Note to all vehicle owners… if the driver is not charged, the vehicle’s owner can also be fined $400 to $2,000 for the first offense and $1,000 to $4,000 for subsequent offenses! If the vehicle owner does not pay the fine, they will not be able to renew the vehicle’s permit!
JUST STOP for school buses! Road safety is everyone’s responsibility!

08/24/2021

After many months of online classes, very soon students will be returning to in person learning. Everyone is a little out of practise with the back to school routine!
Parents and guardians should take some extra time for reminders about traffic safety – cross at designated intersections (where there is a crossing guard if possible), look BOTH ways for traffic (and only step into the roadway when it is SAFE!), cyclists should be mindful of pedestrians when sharing the sidewalk.
Drivers need to adjust the time it will take to reach your destination especially if you must travel through school zones or on school bus routes. Pay attention to children so excited to see their friends and teachers that they may forget about looking for traffic. Be mindful of increased school bus traffic near schools as they drop students off in the morning and pick up students in the afternoon. Plan your route to avoid these areas at these times if you can!
Obey crossing guards that may be in place before and after school! They are doing their best to keep an eye on traffic and the children crossing at the same time. Slow down early to control your speed and the speed of drivers behind – send a clear message to those crossing AND to the crossing guard! Wait for children and the crossing guard to clear the roadway – the crossing guard will lower the sign (and usually make eye contact with the drivers) to communicate the way is clear.
Let’s make this the safest back to school season ever! Road safety is everyone’s responsibility!
safety

08/20/2021

Did you know that pedestrian fatalities account for almost 1/5th of the traffic related fatalities (Ontario Ministry of Transportation, 2017)? Pedestrians have a 90% chance of surviving a crash at 30 km/h or less but only a 50% chance at higher speeds!
Penalties have increased for drivers that endanger pedestrians – higher fines, more demerit points and new penalties for drivers who are convicted of careless driving involving the injury or death of a pedestrian.
Drivers should always look for pedestrians – especially if turning at an intersection! Driving a truck? Be mindful of the blind areas and blind spots! Watch for children! SLOW DOWN in school zones, residential areas and any areas where children could be walking or playing. Be patient! Seniors and some pedestrians may need a little more time to cross the road.
Pedestrians should try to cross at marked crossings or crosswalks. Make eye contact with drivers BEFORE you step out into the road. Wear bright or reflective clothing – especially if you are out at dusk or when it is dark. At traffic lights, cross only when vehicle traffic has come to a complete stop. Never cross on a red light!
Road safety is up to drivers AND pedestrians! SLOW DOWN! Watch for Community Safety Zones that indicate areas where public safety is a special concern!

08/17/2021

Hill parking? But my city/town doesn’t have any hills? Most provincial road tests include hill parking as a required skill… and you never know when you will be in a city/town that DOES have hills! Some cities in North America can tow improperly hill-parked cars!
Hill parking really isn’t fancy. You do a regular lane change to pull over to the curb (just like you would park on a level street!). Note that some provincial road tests do have a set distance from the curb …. lucky Ontario does NOT! Then you angle the tires to prevent the vehicle from rolling into traffic. If you are parking on a two-way street:
For UPHILL with CURB, angle your wheels sharply LEFT/away from the curb and roll back gently touching the curb.
For UPHILL with NO CURB, angle your wheels sharply RIGHT/away from the road (so your vehicle will roll OFF the road and away from traffic).
For DOWNHILL (with or without curb), angle your wheels sharply RIGHT/away from the road (and gently touch the curb if there is one!
Then secure the car – transmission in PARK and set the parking brake. If you are driving a standard shift, choose first gear or reverse and set the parking brake. That’s it! 😊
Some tips from your YD instructors – on REAL HILLS neutral gear can help control your speed, slower is better, try not to steer when your vehicle is stopped, turn a minimum of one full revolution of the steering wheel (getting as close to lock without hitting is BEST), use some effort to set manual parking brakes (so you don’t roll forward or backward when you take your foot off the brake!).
Remember to take your keys, lock your door and watch for traffic as you exit the vehicle!

08/13/2021

How right of way is applied at an all way stop is not as obvious as some drivers might think! Who goes first? Did I stop first? When does the pedestrian get to go? Moments of indecision can lead to false starts (and increased chance of being rear ended) and possible collisions with pedestrians (especially children)!
Right of way, at an all way stop is GIVEN to the FIRST vehicle to come to a complete STOP at the designated stop position! Stop = velocity zero, no forward motion, all four tires STOPPED. Completely.
If two (or more) drivers arrive and stop at the same time, right of way is given to the driver approaching from the RIGHT. So far so good… right?
What if all four drivers arrive and stop at the same time? Then what? This is a tough one – all drivers have a driver on their right! Usually what happens is one driver will start to move, then the driver furthest to the right, then the next driver, and so on…. A better choice would be the fourth driver should slow early and arrive and stop AFTER the first three vehicles have stopped simultaneously.
Waving can work – communication you are giving up your right of way … but it can be tricky when there are multiple cars waiting at the all way stop.
Watch for pedestrians that may affect right of way order (pedestrians should be given right of why when it is practical to do so) and pay attention to your mirror when slowing!
Road safety is everyone’s responsibility.