Driver Safety Education Blog

This article was thought to be appropriate for this blog. I certainly agree. My thanks go to the media person from Ford of Canada who was kind enough to send it to me.

Parents: How to Tackle the Other Talk

Edmonton, AB, February 14, 2011 – As a parent, there may be nothing scarier than handing over the family car keys to your young teen driver. No matter how many hours you have spent sitting in the passenger seat with your child – your hands clenched and your foot like lead on that imaginary brake – you worry: Are they prepared for the uncertainties of the road?

While many families choose to enroll teens in a driving school, it’s likely that your teen will still need lots of practice in the car with you. Ford suggests the following to make “The Talk” a joy ride:

1. Understand the license rules. The Province of Alberta requires new drivers to hold a Learner’s License for at least one year, and it takes a minimum of three years to progress through the graduated license process and become a fully licensed driver. There are restrictions on each level, so make sure your teen understands his or her responsibilities as a learner, probationary driver or fully licensed driver.

2. Know the rules of the road and the name(s) of the game. Be sure you are familiar with driving rules. Use the correct terms to refer to vehicle and road parts. In case of panic, your young driver will turn to you, and you need to be prepared to respond quickly and with confidence.

3. Gauge their understanding. It is very common for teen drivers to be nervous starting out. As you drive with them, make sure they understand everything that you are explaining. It can be very easy for them to become overwhelmed.

4. Stay calm and positive. Don’t get frustrated! If you start to get discouraged, they will too. Remain patient and encourage your teen as much as possible. This will make it easier for you to get your point across.

5. Practice makes perfect. Do everything you can to encourage your young driver to practice, practice, practice. If they volunteer to drive you to the post office, let them. While the stress may make it a chore at first, think of how much better you will feel when it comes time to hand over the keys for good, knowing that they practiced.

6. Reinforce the facts. By now all teens have read or heard about teen driving fatalities linked to driver distraction, drinking and other behaviours. Make it a point to reiterate these issues whenever possible. Driving is a privilege, not a right.

For more information on Ford of Canada, visit www.ford.ca.

Safe Driving...Learn the rules...Learn the road...

Cheers - Mike

I just had to pass this along.

Welcome to SPEEDKILLS

The town/hamlet of Speed, Victoria state in Australia changed its name temporarily to emphasize a Slow Down road safety campaign.

See this CBC link for the story.

Safe driving...Slow down...

Cheers - Mike

News release from the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators.

Transmitted At: 2011-01-26 08:00

New Road Safety Strategy Aims to Ensure Canada Has World's Safest Roads
The Ministers Responsible for Transportation and Highway Safety have approved a new five-year Road Safety Strategy under which Canada will continue to strive to have the safest roads in the world. The strategy will be used by individual jurisdictions to develop federal/provincial/territorial action plans to address key highway safety concerns and priorities for their respective and unique situations.

Road Safety Strategy 2015 will carry on the progress that has been achieved in reducing fatalities and serious injuries on Canada's roads since 1996 when Canada's first road safety plan was introduced. The provisional fatality total for 2009 is 8.7% lower than the number of road users killed in traffic crashes during 2008 and represents a 25.1% reduction over the 1996-2001 baseline figure. This is the lowest death toll on record in Canada in more than 60 years.

The new Road Safety Strategy is the result of a broad collaborative effort between all levels of government, public and private road safety stakeholders and the enforcement community. It provides each province and territory with a wide variety of solutions to address key road safety risks - initiatives that are focused on road users, the vehicles they use and the roadway infrastructure on which they operate. The Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators (CCMTA) will lead the implementation of the strategy and support stakeholders in the process.

"This strategy represents Canada's desire to be a leader in road safety," said Chuck Strahl, the Federal Minister of Transport and Co-Chair of the Council of Ministers Responsible for Transportation and Highway Safety. "It highlights our ambition to have the best possible road safety outcomes for Canada."

"The number of road fatalities and serious injuries is declining nationwide," said Luke Ouellette, Minister of Transportation of Alberta and Co-Chair of the Council of Ministers Responsible for Transportation and Highway Safety. "These results are encouraging and we look forward to continued improvement over the next five years."

The unveiling of Road Safety Strategy 2015 coincides with the National Year of Road Safety in 2011, an ambitious undertaking which aims to raise public awareness and promote road safety activities nationwide. The Canadian Global Road Safety Committee, whose membership is made up of injury prevention and road safety professionals, is leading this initiative.

It is expected that Road Safety Strategy 2015 will continue to inspire all Canadians to work together toward the common objective of making Canada's roads the safest in the world. Road Safety Strategy 2015 will be officially launched at CCMTA's 2011 Annual Meeting, to be held May 15-19, 2011, in Victoria, B.C.

ROAD SAFETY STRATEGY 2015 - BACKGROUNDER http://ccmta.ca/english/pdf/RSS_2015_Backgrounder.pdf

CCMTA is a non-profit organization comprising representatives of the provincial, territorial and federal governments of Canada which makes decisions on administrative and operational matters dealing with licensing, registration and control of motor vehicle transportation and highway safety. It also comprises associate members whose expertise and opinions are sought in the development of strategies and programs.

For further information:
please visit www.roadsafetystrategy.ca or contact Valerie Todd, Programs Manager, CCMTA, tel.: (613) 736-1003 x 251; email: vtodd@ccmta.ca