Lessons for New Canadian Drivers

Contrary to popular belief, if you’re learning to drive for the first time in Canada, it’s actually easier to learn, and you’re more likely to develop good driving habits right from day one. The real challenge lies in emptying the cups filled with old habits.

Driving in Canada: Where New Beginnings Lead to Better Driving Habits 🚗🍁 [image from tyler_clemmensen]

I’ve been learning to drive cars these days here in Canada. I read somewhere that it takes approx. 50 hours of driving practice to confidently learn this skill.

I was scared when I began my practical lessons. I not only had to learn how to drive a car but also to know the right of way, two examinations at once and I horribly failed my first driving test.

I am about to the take the second one in a few weeks and I feel a lot more confident than the last time.

When it comes to driving in Canada, just follow these three things:

1. Drive defensively.
2. Know your right of way but be ready to relinquish.
3. Be present, be practical.

Defensive Driving

Don’t trust intention (signal); trust action (where they’re heading). [Image from stevepb. 2023]

I summarize defensive driving as this:

Know your right of way in the road, but don’t bank your life on it. Don’t trust other’s intentions, trust their actions. There’re lunatics out there trying to win a war on the asphalt. It’s not a road for them, it’s a battlefield, and they are there to win. It’s madness out there. Don’t hesitate to yield your right of way, even at the faintest scent of other’s lunacy. Allow yourself to be the last — it’s a liberating feeling. There is no race to run, nothing to conquer, nothing to prove. Just enjoy the ride!

Summary of Right of Way

Respect others’ right of way but be ready to relinquish your right at the hint of other’s lunacy [image from bpcraddock. 2023]

I could summarize the rights of way this way:

1. Emergency vehicles (ambulances, fire trucks, police cars), school buses, pedestrians, cyclists, and large vehicles have higher priority than you. Never obstruct their path; always yield to them without exception and give them extra space.
2. At intersections and merging traffic, vehicles going straight have higher priority; they won’t stop or slow down for you.
3. At intersections, yield to vehicles on your right and to vehicles turning to their right. The keyword is “yield to anyone whoever is on the right or turning right”. If you can, stop 🛑 and salute those people who are on your right side, that will give you ample time to yield to them :-)
4. You might be thinking, “What if all vehicles reach the intersection at the same time with no stop sign?” There is no specific rule for such race-condition cases; use hand gestures, make eye contact, show initiative, blink with your headlights or do whatever you want to call it and proceed safely. Just remember that safety is more important than anything. If you fail to do so, you’ll fail the driving test anyway. Follow the same principle wherever you get confused.
5. If you’re turning left, forget everything you’ve read about this turn. Repeat to yourself that you have zero right of way while turning left. You’re going to intersect with traffic coming from two directions and then merge and also accommodate the right-turning traffic. Each traffic path will have more priority than you. A left turn requires more manoeuvres than turning right. Never follow another car into such an intersection or any kind of intersection. At any point, there should be only one car in the intersection. Do learn about the “Yellow Trap” rule; sometimes, you might find yourself in this situation while driving in real life. Just don’t block the intersection and stay safe; that’s all that’s expected from you by this rule. There are techniques related to it; study them, but remember that you have no right of way while turning left. It’s your responsibility to clear the intersection as soon as possible without blocking straight-going traffic.
6. When you’re turning right at a red light, this is the order of right of way: First pedestrians or cyclists -> second, those who are stuck in a “Yellow Trap” trying to make a left turn-> Straight-going traffic, third-> and finally you making your right turn. The law suggests allowing those cars stuck in such a trap to go first. So, when you make your right turn at a “red light”, please do make sure to also check for those cars who are trying to make their left turn and give them space to make their turn. It never hurts to be courteous, share the road with others gracefully.
7. Yellow light is not an invitation to speed up; it’s a reminder to slow down and possibly come to a full stop 🛑 if you can.
8. Never follow just one car. Also, respond to obvious things happening right in front of you instead of blindly trusting the traffic lights.
9. Right of way is only a set of rules. The ultimate rule says, “Be safe than sorry”, and you’ll be tested only for this. The rule doesn’t say to trample down someone just because they are not following the rules.

Practical Driving Lessons I Learnt

Driving is like grammar, a symphony that needs to be mastered [image from postman85. 2023]

Now, let me share a few practical lessons I learned while practising driving here in Canada. I’m confident that you’ll discover these on your own when you start going on the roads.

1. Personal secret: Cyclists are the worst; never trust they’ll follow the rules. Always yield to them! Worship pedestrians but fear cyclists.
2. Assume the world has gone insane, and you’re the last beacon of sanity keeping the light of humanity alive on the road. People change behind the wheel.
3. Before making any change, which includes applying the brake or accelerating, think of others, and check your surroundings and blind spots. For example, crazy people might be behind you. If you brake without checking the rearview mirror and they are busy on their phone, they will rear-end you.
4. Remember, you’re not obligated to turn right on a red light. It’s a privilege, not a requirement. If you don’t feel like doing it, don’t do it, even if others honk. It’s one of those rare opportunities in life when you’re not punished for doing nothing but sitting there. Enjoy the show.
5. If the path is clear at an intersection, you don’t need to brake. Ideally, you should never brake when you’re already in the intersection, whether you’re going straight or turning right or left. Brake if necessary before the intersection; once you’re in it, maintain your speed and accelerate while exiting.
6. At intersections, don’t just look for lights and signals; also, watch for crosswalks you’ll be crossing in your path.
7. Keep your gaze ahead, focusing on the horizon where you want to go, not just where your car is headed.
8. Imagine your right leg as the centre of gravity for your car and lane. Use it as a reference point. This will unconsciously help you keep your car in your lane even while turning sharp turns.
9. Never attempt to squeeze between cars, especially large vehicles. Leave lots of room. Avoid putting yourself in a corner, especially while turning right.
10. Stay aware of your surroundings, and constantly scan for potential hazards.
11. Don’t rely solely on others’ signals; observe where their cars are indeed going. Pay attention to the body language of other cars; it often reflects the intentions of their drivers.
12. Drive within your field of vision and react only to what you can see and respond safely.
13. Drive in such a way that others would have to ideally make zero adjustments to accommodate you.
14. Don’t signal or wave at anyone, especially pedestrians and cyclists, to make a move, no matter what!
15. Driving is an engaging and exciting activity, enjoy it but make it boring. Keep it simple. Minimize unnecessary lane changes and movements on the road. The less you change, the lower the chance of making a mistake and passing your driving test on the first attempt itself.

My driving instructor calls driving a grammar, a symphony; he says you learn the basics to master the dance, not the other way around!

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