Safe Driving Practices and Hazard Awareness
See and be seen
Safe driving is mostly about searching ahead and leaving room to react. Scan 12 to 15 seconds down the road, check mirrors every few seconds, and keep your vehicle out of other drivers' blind spots. Signal early and shoulder-check before every lane change. At night, never overdrive your headlights: drive slowly enough to stop within the distance you can see.
Impairment, fatigue and distraction
Alcohol, cannabis, prescription drugs and fatigue all degrade judgment, reaction time and lane control. Ontario has zero tolerance for alcohol for novice and young drivers - any amount is a violation. Fatigue is fought with rest, not caffeine or an open window. Distraction, especially phone use, is a leading cause of collisions; even hands-free conversations increase risk.
Weather and road surface hazards
In fog, use low-beam headlights - high beams reflect back and reduce visibility. On wet roads, slow down and increase following distance to avoid hydroplaning; on ice, steer and brake gently. Black ice forms first on bridges, overpasses and shaded stretches. In snow, clear all windows and lights before moving.
Worked example
Heavy rain begins and visibility drops. Your instinct is to keep the same speed and simply follow the tail lights ahead. Correct approach: reduce speed, turn on low beams, extend following distance to at least four seconds, and avoid sudden braking so drivers behind you have time to react.
Rule of thumb
If conditions change, the only free adjustment you have is speed and space. Use both before anything else.