Mental Health

Strong emotions (such as anger) can get in the way of driving safely. They can also affect your alertness, decision-making, and concentration.

If you feel upset or angry,

– Wait to drive
– Ask someone else to drive
– Be aware of potential problem situations well in advance
– Adjust your expectations
– Avoid areas with heavy traffic
– Stop driving and rest if need be

Alcohol is a factor in almost 1/2 of all fatal collisions.

The leading cause of death of teens age 16-19 is motor vehicle crashes, and often alcohol is involved.

As a responsible driver you should never drink and drive.

Most of the information you need for driving is collected through the use of your eyes.

Some defects will mean restrictions on a driver’s license, and in extreme cases, a license is not issued.

Every driver should get their eyes tested every two years, or at any time if vision becomes blurred or there is trouble focusing.

Field of Vision – Includes all the area that you can see

Central Vision: A 3 degree conic range (right directly in front of you) that identifies details, colour etc.

Peripheral Vision: A range of up to 180 degrees to the left and right (for most people) that identifies movements, masses and shapes.

As speed is increased on a highway, a driver’s field of vision is reduced. The faster the speed of the vehicle, the narrower the field of vision; thus it is important that all drivers learn to scan more at higher speeds

Stereoscopic Vision – The combination of the information collected from both eyes that allows you judge distance, depth and relative speeds.
Selective Vision – Due to the amount of information collected by your eyes when driving, the new driver can be affected by information overload.

It is necessary to train your brain to only consider what is important to the situation at hand in a process called “selective seeing”

A pedestrian on the sidewalk is seen whereas a pedestrian walking toward the roadway is seen and then confirmed as a potential hazard

Monocular Vision

People who have suffered the loss vision in one eye must learn how to assess distance, speed and safety margins without 3D vision.

This can develop as a symptom of fatigue of which the driver may not be aware that an adjustment is needed.

Colour Perception

Not everyone can see colours in the same way, and so those who are colour blind must rely on the shape of sign and position of lights to gauge what some visual information is.

Tunnel Vision

An affliction where the field of view is reduced to 14 degrees from the usual 180. Those who have tunnel vision must scan more often.

Other Senses

Hearing

Gives the driver to be more aware of situations both inside (an engine knock) and outside (a train whistle) of the vehicle.
Allows advanced warning to the driver who may hear something coming ahead before seeing it.
Be sure your stereo is not turned too loud to block out the ability to hear the noises around you.

Smell

Can give you an alert to vehicle problems (ex. The smell of smoke can warn of an overheated engine)
Carbon monoxide is odourless, however other gases present in exhaust can warn you of the presence exhaust fumes in your vehicle.

Kinesthetic Sense

The ability to detect a change in vehicle balance of motion; permits you to fell acceleration, deceleration and weight transfer.

Carbon Monoxide

An odourless, colourless, tasteless gas that is a result of combustion of the internal combustion engine.

A deadly poison that the body absorbs faster than oxygen and sedates a person.

Always drive with fresh air circulating in the cab and never run your engine in an enclosed space like a garage or underground parking lot.

If someone in your car succumbs to carbon monoxide poisoning, get them outside to fresh air immediately.