Young Drivers of Canada - Brantford

Adverse Conditions: Driving in Winter Participating in a winter driving course can provide numerous benefits, especially for those who live in regions with harsh winter weather conditions. Here are some of the advantages: √ Improved Safety: Essential skills and techniques for navigating slippery and hazardous...

Do you drive around the block just to avoid parallel parking? Are you worried about doing a parallel park on your upcoming road test? Have no fear! Help is near!
Most driving instructors believe that it is easier to learn to parallel park than learn all the steps to perform a three point turn! Honestly, a good parallel park will get you through your road test – you don’t need to do perfect park! You can end too far away from the curb (which is better than too close!), you can end up crooked (not parallel is ok – just not too crooked!), you CAN peek into the back up camera (if you checked out last week’s tip, you already knew that!). Remember to signal at the beginning of your park and to look behind while backing!
Keep these points in mind:
#1…. Start parallel to the car you are going to park behind, one metre away and back bumpers lined up.
#2…. Creep backward slowly, steer toward your parking space and stop when your car is 45 degrees toward the curb (use your back up camera to help you judge the angle!).
#3…. Here’s the step that makes the difference – creep backward a few centimeters and straighten your tires.
#4…. Creep backward slowly (in a straight line) until the passenger side rear corner is the distance away from the curb that you want (use your back up camera to help you judge the distance!).
#5…. Creep backward slowly and steer away from the curb to bring your front end into the space, straighten tires when you are parallel to the curb.
Try it out a few times and let us know what you think! Here’s a video link to put the steps in motion! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2d72Kkrhxg...

Looking for a last minute Christmas gift? Give the gift of freedom! Help someone learn how to drive today.

EASY AS 1, 2, 3.
1. Click "BUY NOW" and choose the amount you'd like to give.
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3. Print & share with loved ones!

Find our gift cards here -
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Wishing you and your loved ones a joyous and gratitude-filled holiday! Happy Thanksgiving!

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!

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?

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!

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.

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

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!

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!

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

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!

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!

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.

Taking your G Test? Never heard of a ‘roadside stop’?
If you do need to stop on shoulder for a short time, use this information for a safe ‘roadside stop’:
1. Check your surroundings (mirrors, blind spot) to be sure it is safe.
2. With no traffic close behind, lane change onto the right shoulder. Remember to wait until you are past driveways or vehicles waiting to enter the roadway!
3. Reduce speed, stop parallel to the edge of the road.
4. Cancel the signal and put on the hazard lights.
5. Put the gear selector in park. Set the parking brake.
To leave, remember to turn off the hazard lights so the turn signal will be visible. Unsecure the car, check your surroundings and when safe, pull safely back onto the road.
That’s all there is to it!

Did you know “Every driver of a vehicle in the lane of traffic adjacent to a bus bay shall yield the right of way to the driver of a bus who has indicated his or her intention, as prescribed, to re-enter that lane from the bus bay.” - Ontario Highway Traffic Act, Section 142(1).
This sign on the back of transit buses is a reminder to drivers approaching a bus stopped at a bus stop to yield to the bus, once the bus has signalled its intent to return to the lane and re-enter the flow of traffic.
The law (in effect in Ontario since 2004) is designed to make it easier for buses to get back into the flow of traffic AFTER stopping for passengers! The goal is to make public transit more efficient for transit users, thus encouraging more people to leave their cars at home!
See a bus at a bus stop? Respond early, change lanes if you can. Anticipate the left signal so when it appears you are READY to yield right of way to the bus re-entering the lane. Road safety is everyone’s responsibility!

It’s been a year OR more since your G2 Test….. and your G Test is coming up.
Did you know you will have to ‘declare your driving experience’ to make sure you have enough highway experience in the previous 3 months to proceed with your G test?
Five trips of an average 5-15 km on a highway with speeds of over 80 km/hour or a 400 series freeway is the absolute minimum to qualify! ... Anything less and your road test appointment will be cancelled by Drive Test.
If you don’t typically drive on highways, you may need to spend time practicing to accumulate the required experience before your test! Check out this page for even more information about your G Test! https://drivetest.ca/tests/road-tests-cars.html

Did you know that this pavement marking is called a “sharrow”? Short for shared-use arrows or a shared use lane marking, they are generally used on roadways where space does not permit a marked/striped bike lane.
Sharrows guide cyclists on the road and warn drivers to expect cycles in or near their travel lane. Often sharrows are positioned to allow drivers and cyclists to share space side by side. When that isn’t possible, positioning in the centre of the lane should suggest to drivers to keep behind a cyclist and wait for a safe place to pass.
A ‘bike lane’ is defined as a portion of the roadway that has been designated by striping, signage, and pavement markings for the preferential or exclusive use of bicyclists. Thanks to the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) for the definition! Bike lanes enable cyclists to ride at their preferred speed without interference with traffic.
Does your city have sharrows?... bike lanes?.... or both?

How many times have you witnessed a driver turn right on a red…. without SLOWING or STOPPING? Unless a sign tells you NOT to, drivers in Ontario are permitted to turn right facing a red light as long as you FIRST come to a COMPLETE STOP and wait until the way is clear. You must yield to pedestrians and other traffic facing the green light. Intersections where right turns facing red are NOT permitted are clearly marked!
On a multilane street, you must start your right turn from the lane closest to the right AND end up on the rightmost lane (even if the lane is ending up ahead!).
According to the Vision Zero 2.0 Road Safety Plan, 2% of serious injury or fatal collisions with pedestrians and 4% of serious injury or fatal collisions with cyclists happen with a vehicle turning right facing a red light. For this reason, some cities have prohibited right turn on red. More cities are considering the ban to protect their pedestrians and cyclists!
It is the driver’s responsibility to know and apply the laws as they exist wherever they drive! Road safety is everyone’s responsibility!

Going for you G2 Test? … or your G Test? YES, you CAN GLANCE at the backup camera when parking! FOR REAL!
Back up camera technology allows the driver a much clearer and more accurate view of obstacles that might be behind the car. Some technology even sounds a warning tone when you are getting too close to something!
On your road test, it is expected that you will ‘look where you want to go’… so when backing, you do need to turn around and look back over the most appropriate shoulder. BUT… you CAN GLANCE at your mirrors (inside or outside mirrors) AND your back up camera! EVERYTHING you see works together to give you the best information to perform your parking skill…. smoothly and accurately.
The key is a GLANCE! A one or two second peek at the camera to confirm your position…. whether it is to judge the 45 degree angle on your parallel park or the distance from the rear curb when backing into your parking space. GLANCE!
Technology is here to stay! Learn to use it so it becomes an advantage…. even on your ROAD TEST!

Hazard lights are a pair of intermittent flashing lights that flash in unison to warn drivers that your vehicle may be temporarily impeding the flow of traffic. They are activated by pressing a button identified by a red triangle.
Most jurisdictions have laws that relate to specific situations where hazard lights MUST be used. In Ontario, hazard lights should be used when pulled over for a roadside stop or during an emergency situation.
Drivers use hazard lights to communicate! Think about it – hazards send an ‘emergency’ message to both approaching drivers (and drivers in front of you) AND drivers behind you AT THE SAME TIME! Maybe you want to warn them about wildlife close to the road, or about stopped traffic ahead, or about debris that is scattered on the road, or about something unusual happening.
The communication is only effective if the drivers that receive the message DO SOMETHING! Check your surroundings and slow down. Look for your escape routes – just in case. Avoid distractions! If necessary, activate your hazard lights to continue the ‘emergency’ message.
Remember to turn your hazards OFF when you are through or past the emergency. If you leave them ON, your turn signals will NOT be visible to other road users!

Extreme weather conditions are becoming more common – heat, cold, snow, rain….. The chances we will encounter a washed out road have greatly increased!
The first thing to remember about driving through a flooded section of road is DON’T! Whether it looks like it is standing water or it has a bit (or a lot) of flow, never underestimate what you can’t see! The small stream of water that normally flows through the culvert can swell and create a force that erodes the soil away from around the culvert. As the water continues the pass through the now larger opening, the road foundation washes away causing the road to actually collapse! WASHOUT!
Be mindful of downed power lines – electric current is conducted by water! The force of the water could erode the soil supporting the power lines! This hazard is especially difficult to detect at NIGHT!
Road conditions can change very quickly. Having enough space between vehicles (following distance) will make it easier to see farther ahead. Be aware of your surroundings – pay attention to what drivers are doing ahead of you. Are they braking? … using their hazard lights? Stay focused and strive to drive proactively!