Safe driving starts with an active awareness of everything happening around your vehicle. The Official Ministry of Transportation (MTO) Driver’s Handbook outlines several everyday habits that help drivers stay in control, communicate with others and prepare for unexpected situations.
For new drivers in Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Newmarket and across Ontario, these fundamentals are important both for everyday driving and for building the skills needed for Ontario road tests.
Stay aware of traffic around you
Develop a regular routine for looking ahead, behind and from side to side. Check your mirrors about every five seconds, and check your blind spots by turning your head to look over your shoulder.
Avoid driving in another vehicle’s blind spot. You can help keep other drivers out of your blind spot by changing your speed when appropriate. Be especially careful around large commercial vehicles, which typically have large blind spots along their sides and behind them.
Use extra caution at dusk and dawn, when changing light conditions can make it harder for everyone to see clearly. Keep a cushion of space around your vehicle and anticipate that other road users may make mistakes. Look well ahead and watch for:
- People sitting in parked vehicles who may pull out or open a door
- Smaller vehicles
- Bicycles
- Pedestrians
Steer smoothly and precisely
Your steering should be smooth and controlled. You should be able to steer in a straight line while shifting gears, adjusting vehicle controls or checking your blind spot. Perform most steering and lane changes without taking either hand off the wheel.
A useful hand position is to imagine the steering wheel as a clock and place your hands at approximately nine o’clock and three o’clock.
Use turn signals and brake lights properly
Turn signals and brake lights tell other road users what you intend to do. Signal before you:
- Stop or slow down
- Turn
- Change lanes
- Leave the road
- Move out from a parked position
Give the correct signal well before taking action and make sure other drivers can see it. Signalling alone is not enough: check that the way is clear, then move only when it is safe to do so. Continue to follow the rules for turns, lane changes and yielding to vehicles and pedestrians.
If your turn signals or brake lights are not working, use the appropriate hand and arm signals. When watching for signals from others, remember that cyclists may signal a right turn by holding their right arm straight out.
Keep right unless passing or turning left
Keep to the right side of the road or the right-hand lane on a multi-lane road unless you are turning left or passing another vehicle. This is particularly important when you are travelling more slowly than surrounding traffic.
Obey speed limits and adjust for conditions
Follow the maximum speed limit posted on road signs, but always choose a speed that allows you to stop safely. You may need to drive below the posted maximum in bad weather, heavy traffic or construction zones.
School zones and construction zones may have lower speed limits to protect children and people working on or near the road. Where no speed limit is posted, the maximum is 50 km/h in cities, towns and villages, and 80 km/h elsewhere.
Cruise control may help improve fuel economy and prevent you from unintentionally exceeding the speed limit. However, do not use it in adverse conditions such as wet, icy or slippery roads, in heavy traffic or when you are feeling fatigued.
Speed-measuring warning devices are illegal. If you are caught driving with such a device, you may be fined and accumulate demerit points.
Follow police directions
When a police officer is directing traffic, you must follow the officer’s directions, even if they differ from traffic lights or signs.
If a police officer signals you to pull over, move as far to the right as you safely can and come to a complete stop. Stay in your vehicle and wait for the officer. When requested, you must immediately surrender your driver’s licence, vehicle permit or a copy of it, and proof of insurance. Contrary to a common misconception, you do not have 24 hours to present these documents.
Failing to obey a police officer’s direction to pull over can result in a fine, licence suspension or even imprisonment.
Maintain a safe following distance
As a general rule, travel at the same speed as surrounding traffic without exceeding the speed limit. Leave enough space around your vehicle so other drivers can see you and so you have room to react.
When following another vehicle, maintain at least a two-second gap. This gives you a better view around the vehicle ahead and provides more distance to stop if it brakes suddenly.
How to measure two seconds
- Choose a fixed marker ahead, such as a road sign or telephone pole.
- When the rear of the vehicle ahead passes the marker, count “one thousand and one, one thousand and two.”
- When the front of your vehicle reaches the marker, stop counting.
If you reach the marker before counting “one thousand and two,” you are following too closely. The two-second rule is a minimum for ideal driving conditions. Leave additional space in bad weather, when following motorcycles or large trucks, or when carrying a heavy load.
At the same time, do not block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic.
Key takeaways for new Ontario drivers
- Scan regularly and check your mirrors and blind spots.
- Steer smoothly and keep your hands positioned at approximately nine and three.
- Signal early, check that the way is clear and move only when safe.
- Keep right unless turning left or passing.
- Adjust your speed for weather, traffic and road conditions.
- Follow police directions and keep your required documents available.
- Maintain at least two seconds of following distance, adding more space when conditions require it.
These habits take practice, but they are the foundation of safe, confident driving. WDS Driving School helps learners in Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Scarborough and Newmarket build practical driving skills and prepare for Ontario road tests. Contact WDS to learn more or book your driving lessons.
A turn signal communicates your intention, but it doesn’t make a lane change or turn safe on its own. What helps you remember to check your mirrors and blind spots before moving?
The two-second rule is only a starting point—rain, snow, heavy loads and large vehicles all call for extra space. What fixed roadside marker do you find easiest to use when checking your following distance?