Manitoba
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Age Friendly Manitoba

Age Friendly Manitoba

Additional Driving Tips

Handling Diverse Driving Conditions

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Rural Roads

While rural roads often have less traffic than city streets or highways, they can pose special challenges for any driver.

Here are just a few potentially dangerous situations to watch out for:

  • "Instant intersections" - as you drive, scan both sides of the road, watching for hidden driveways, farm field accesses etc., which can become "instant intersections".
  • Watch for slow moving vehicles, like farm or construction equipment.
  • Avoid passing whenever possible. If you must pass a slow moving vehicle, ensure that there are no oncoming vehicles and give the vehicles behind you plenty of notice of your intention by signaling early.

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City Driving

City driving can be frustrating, even nerve-racking, but if you observe the traffic rules, signs and signals and keep the following tips in mind, it can be much easier.

  • Plan your route ahead of time.
  • Make sure that you are in the correct lane. For example, if you know you will need to make a right turn in three or four blocks, try to get in and stay in the right-hand lane well in advance of your turn.
  • Be alert for construction and resulting detours.
  • Watch for pedestrians.
  • Be alert and obey traffic signals.
  • Scan the traffic conditions for about one block ahead.
  • Be alert for potential traffic problems.
  • Watch for brake lights.
  • Avoid left turns whenever possible.
  • Stop far enough back at lights to be able to maneuver out of dangerous or emergency situations.

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Parking Lots

Pull straight through to a parking spot and park with the nose of the car facing out whenever possible, to avoid backing out.

Drive in proper lanes only, never drive across parking spaces.

Be alert for vehicles which may suddenly back out of parking spaces. At night, always try to park in well-lit areas.

When you return to your vehicle, have your keys ready in your hand.

Approach the car from the rear so that you can see the entire car and notice if anyone is hiding or lurking nearby. As you approach, look under the vehicle too. Always check inside the vehicle before getting in.

If you see anything suspicious, go back and get help!

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Highway Driving

Highway driving is often the most intimidating form of driving for the mature driver. High speeds and multiple lanes, exit and entrance ramps can seem daunting. But keeping these guidelines in mind will make highways look a little friendlier:

  • Always plan your route carefully. Make sure you know the names and locations of all of the roads and exits that you will need to take.
  • Obey posted speed limits. Remember that you must maintain at least the minimum posted speed.
  • Try to maintain a steady speed.
  • Avoid unnecessary lane changes, stay in the right-hand lane especially if you are moving slower than the rest of the traffic. Do not use the left, or "fast" lane unless you are passing another vehicle.
  • If you are uncomfortable driving at high speeds, try to avoid the highway whenever possible.
  • Do not follow too closely behind the vehicle in front of you.
  • Observe directional and warning signs.
  • Never back up on the highway.

Drowsiness can be a real danger with highway driving. To avoid drowsiness, keep your eyes moving, scanning the road ahead. Move your head often. Open the window to get fresh air. Take frequent rest stops; get out of the car and stretch or walk around. If you find yourself becoming too sleepy to drive, pull off the road and find a motel.

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Inclement Driving Conditions Driving in Ice and Snow

The first rule of driving in ice and snow is: Don't! However, if you absolutely must drive in this weather condition:

  • Make absolutely certain your vehicle is road worthy before you drive; check windshield wipers and window defrosters, clear all windows and headlights and brake lights of ice and snow, check tire tread. Get a good set of snow tires.
  • Maintain a safe speed. You will have to drive more slowly than usual.
  • Maintain a greater distance from the car in front of you, so that you'll have plenty of stopping time.
  • Remember that bridges, overpasses and exit ramps may be hazardous and iced over even when other roads are in good condition.
  • Do not use cruise control on icy or snow-packed roads.

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If you Start to Skid

  • Don't panic, stay calm. Calm, smooth movements can help you avoid a collision.
  • Take your foot off of the accelerator pedal.
  • Don't brake, unless it is absolutely necessary.
  • Steer gently in the direction that the rear end of the car is skidding. In other words, steer in the direction you want to go.
  • Always, always wear your seat belt.

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Rain and Fog

Again, it's best if you can avoid driving in these conditions. But if you can't:

  • Remember that streets are slickest just after a rain begins.
  • Don't use cruise control on rain-slicked roads or in foggy conditions. Turn on your headlights in rain or fog. Don't use your high beam lights in fog.
  • Lower your speed.
  • In fog, watch the tail lights in front of you carefully, but don't follow too closely. Be especially alert for brake lights.

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Night Driving

Night driving can be especially difficult for the mature driver because of changes in vision. Some tips on handling these obstacles have already been covered under the earlier section, but here are some other helpful guidelines on dealing with night driving:

  • Try to stay on streets with which you are familiar.
  • Don't look directly into oncoming headlights. Look to the side at the white line or the shoulder of the road.
  • Make an extra effort to scan, not just the road ahead, but both sides of the road.
  • Use high beams when necessary, but remember to switch back to low beams when you see oncoming vehicles.
  • If a vehicle behind you either flashes its high beams at you or leaves them on and follows too closely, slow down and encourage the driver to pass.

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Road Construction

  • Lower your speed through all construction zones. Be on the lookout for special posted speeds.
  • Increase the distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you. Watch for and follow detour signs.
  • Don't use cruise control through construction zones.
  • Be on the lookout for workers and flagpersons. Follow directions from flagperson or law enforcement officials.

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Sharing the Road with Trucks

To reduce the chance of an accident with a large truck, it is important to understand how to share the road safely with them. Here are a few points to consider when sharing the road with trucks:

  • Trucks take much longer to stop than a car travelling at the same speed.
  • Trucks make very wide right turns, swinging out to the left before making the turn. Never pass a truck without carefully watching for turn signals first.
  • Trucks have more severe blind spots than passenger cars. Always keep in mind that if you cannot see the truck driver in his side mirror, he cannot see you.
  • Do not cut into the open space in front of a truck when you are trying to reach an exit or turn.
  • Don't linger alongside a truck when passing. If you linger alongside the truck, your position makes it impossible for the trucker to take evasive action if an obstacle appears in the road ahead.
  • Don't follow too closely behind a truck.
  • Never underestimate the size and speed of an approaching semi-trailer truck. Because of its large size, a semi-trailer truck often appears to be travelling at a slower speed than it actually is. A substantial number of car-truck collisions take place at intersections because the driver of the car does not realize how close the truck is or how quickly it is approaching.

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Sharing the Road with Motorcycles, Bicycles and Other Two-Wheeled Vehicles

Drivers must routinely share the roadway with two-wheeled vehicles such as motorcycles and bicycles. To keep yourself and the two-wheeled traffic safe, remember:

  • Motorcycles and bicycles are entitled to the same right-of-way and are required to obey the same traffic laws as are operators of automobiles or trucks.
  • Because two-wheeled vehicles are much smaller and more difficult to spot than other vehicles on the road, it is extremely important that you, the automobile driver, be extra alert for two-wheeled vehicles. This is especially true at night or during other low-light times because often bicycles do not have headlights or proper reflectors.
  • Two-wheeled vehicles have a much shorter stopping distance than heavier cars or trucks and as a result can stop suddenly. Increase your following distance behind motorcycles or bicycles.

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Following Safely

Rear end crashes are most commonly caused by following too closely. You are responsible for maintaining a safe following distance - one which provides you with sufficient time to stop in an emergency. Use a four-second following distance when following under ideal driving conditions - allow more time under adverse conditions. The four second following distance works at any speed. Here is the way to calculate it:

  1. Watch for when the rear of the vehicle ahead of you passes a sign or a marker.
  2. Start counting: One thousand and one, one thousand and two, one thousand and three, one thousand and four.
  3. If the front of your vehicle reaches the sign or marker before you stop counting, you are following too closely. The safety factor or following distance is greater if it takes more than four seconds.

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Know Your Limits

Being a safe driver means more than avoiding collisions. It also means paying attention to road conditions and being aware of your own changing abilities. Just a few simple adjustments, such as limiting your driving to certain times or under certain conditions can help protect you and those around you from dangerous collisions.

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Conditional Driving

Conditional driving licences may be issued by the Division of Driver and Vehicle Licencing to allow drivers with changing physical abilities to drive under certain conditions. For example, your conditional licence might allow you to drive during the day and at speeds less than 70 km per hour. This would allow you to still drive in town during the day to activities such as appointments or shopping trips.

With a conditional licence, you can continue to drive, but only under conditions that are comfortable and safe for you and other drivers. For further information on conditional licences, you can call 945-7386.

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Getting Additional Help

There are organizations in Manitoba that offer refresher courses for older drivers. These courses can update you on traffic laws, signs, signals, markings and give practical advice to help you drive safely.

For further information on available courses, contact the following organizations:

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When to stop

There are organizations in Manitoba that offer refresher courses for older drivers.

A driver's chronological age is not a good predictor of driving ability. What counts on the road is performance. Here are a few of the signs of diminished capacity for driving safely:

  • Having a series of minor collisions or near misses.
  • Having wandering thoughts or being unable to concentrate while driving.
  • Being unable to read ordinary road signs.
  • Having other drivers honk at you frequently.
  • Being spoken to about your driving by police, family, and friends.

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