Smarter Driver Podcast

By: Rick August PhD
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  • Summary

  • Welcome to the smarter driver podcast. I’m your host, Dr. Rick August. Here, we’re going to get you on the road to being a safer, smarter driver. And no…my degree’s not in driving. My degree in fact, is in legal history, which many of you know is the study of policing, courts and prisons. My expertise is in policing as it relates to traffic. Here we’re going to look at the fundamental conflict of traffic which is: Collisions vs. Congestion And we’re going to look at the arena of social driving. The challenges you face as a driver, the challenges you face when getting a license, or starting a career as a truck or bus driver. The car’s all gassed up, we’re ready to go. Let’s get started. With the smarter driver podcast we provide the stepping stones towards your success in driving. We empower you to achieve your goals and aspirations as they relate to getting your first license, becoming a safer, smarter driver, or starting a career as a truck or bus driver. If you’re just starting out and working towards getting your first license, be sure to check out the smarter driver course package down in the description. Guaranteed to pass first time. As well, if there’s something about driving that really irks you, and you’d like to get it off your chest, please leave a comment. I’m your host, Dr. Rick August. Thanks very much for listening. And remember, pick the best answer not necessarily the right answer. Have a great day, bye now.
    2022
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Personal Success
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Episodes
  • New Driver Defensive Driving

    New Driver Defensive Driving
    Jul 29 2022
    New Driver Defensive Driving Is driving after you get your license really that much different? Are the skills, abilities and things you learned when practicing to get your license completely useless? The answer is NO. Listen to the podcast to find out why. Pass Your Driving Test First Time Course Package: https://www.smartdrivetest.com/new-drivers/smarter-driver-course-package Pre-Trip Inspection Checklist: https://www.smartdrivetest.com/driving-test-inspection-checklist Smart Drive Test YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/smartdrivetest Website: https://www.smartdrivetest.com Focus on and continue to implement the fundamentals driving skills you learned when you were practicing for your driver’s test. Maintain a 3-4 second following distance in front of your vehicle. When stopped in traffic, stop back so that you can see the tires of the vehicle in front making clear contact with the pavement. Signal every time you change direction of the vehicle; shoulder check every time you change direction of the vehicle. Apply the parking brake every time you park the vehicle. Practice these skills so that these become habits. That way, when you get distracted…that way when you make mistakes, this “minimum safe distance” will compensate for your errors in driving. Social Driving Most of the time we get along with other traffic on the roadway. Yet, drivers follow too close to vehicles in front, fail to signal, and charge yellow lights. Consequently, they give up control of their vehicle. Most of the time, nothing happens. Most of the time, they are hoping on a “wing & a prayer” that they’ll be able to react in time to get the vehicle stopped if the vehicle in front slows down or brakes suddenly. Driving above the posted speed limit;Not stopping at STOP signs;Not signaling;Drifting when turning on multi-lane roads;Following too close;Charging yellow lights. Signals are to tell other road users that you wish to move over, NOT that you are moving over! It’s a victimless crime. Nobody got hurt, thus there’s nothing wrong with what we’re doing or nothing wrong with the way we’re driving. How many times have you heard drivers say: “I’ve been driving for 20 years and never had a crash.” The actions of drivers are often retaliatory. Someone tailgates us, for example, and we slow down 10mph just to get back at the other driver; or we tailgate someone because they’re going too slow. Left-Hand Turns & New Drivers Left-hand turns are the highest risk areas for new drivers. Often new drivers misjudge the gap and get “T” boned in the intersection. “T” bone crashes are often fatal to vehicle occupants because there’s very little in the vehicle to protect them. The configuration of the crash causes all its energy to be concentrated in one area. And that area is right at the rib-cage of the occupant where the vital organs are located. When waiting to make your left turn, wait with the front steer tires on the front crosswalk line. That way, you’re committed to the turn, “but you’re not in the intersection.” If something goes wrong in the intersection, you’re not going to be involved because you’re not there. And when the gap presents itself on the other side, drive straight forward in the intersection to “meet the gap.” Finally, if you’re not comfortable with the gap, DON’T GO! Don’t get pressured by others. If you succumb to the social pressure of driving, that’s often when mistakes happen. Finally, if you get caught out on the yellow light, double and triple check that oncoming traffic is in fact coming to a stop. DON’T panic if the light turns red and you’re still in the intersection. Remember: you own the intersection and do not proceed on the turn until you are 120% sure that oncoming traffic is STOPPED. Space Management Focus on What You’re Doing If you’re not near anything, it’s less likely that you’re going to hit something. In the arena of social driving, most follow too close to other road users. But, how do you know? If you're touching the brake pedal for anything other than: coming to a stop;slowing to turn;controlling speed on a downhill;or unexpected events, you're most likely following too close. You can always manage the space in front of your vehicle. Yes, every now and again other vehicles are going to move into that space. The vehicle will be travelling faster than you, so they won’t be there long. After they move into your forward space, you can reclaim your buffer of space by simply adjusting your speed. If you’re able, you can create more space around your vehicle by not driving beside other vehicles for more than a few moments. If other vehicles tailgate you, increase your following distance even more. With more space in front you can avoid aggressive braking. This technique guards against the tailgater rear-ending you. If you’re in the left lane, move to the right. And if there’s a safe place to pull over, pull over and let the ...
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    35 mins
  • Driving Cultures

    Driving Cultures
    Jul 22 2022
    Driving Cultures Is It More Difficult to Drive in Other Places? Many drivers feel that their city is the worse for drivers and driving culture. There’s road rage, people cut you off, and of course they don’t signal.   Pass Your Driving Test First Time Course Package: https://www.smartdrivetest.com/new-drivers/smarter-driver-course-package Pre-Trip Inspection Checklist: https://www.smartdrivetest.com/driving-test-inspection-checklist Smart Drive Test YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/smartdrivetest Website: https://www.smartdrivetest.com In a Smart Drive Test poll done on 10 June 2022, less than 20% of drivers have driven in other countries. And from that information, it’s posited that most have a limited view of driving. But the question remains, is it more difficult to drive in other places. And yes, places like India and China, that don’t have well established traffic management systems, are going to be more challenging. But the differences between Europe and North America are minimal. Roundabouts A number of Americans and Canadians don’t like roundabouts. One could surmise that it’s due to the fact that these were introduced without any education about how to use these. Roundabouts are better than conventional intersections. These types of intersections: Move more traffic per hours;Have less points of conflict, thus fewer crashes;Reduce urban noise pollution. And yes, the first few times you drive through a roundabout can be intimidating. If the way is clear in the roundabout, you don’t have to stop and can simply proceed. Or the unvitiated, you have to be both prepared to stop and proceed when approaching the roundabout. There are some multi-lane roundabouts in North America, but for the most part these are not yet widely accepted. If you do encounter a multi-lane roundabout, stay in your lane when entering the roundabout, and when exiting. Be sure to scan and signal when exiting to reduce the chances of other traffic crashing into you. When the round about in congested, go slow and hold your course. Driving on the Left Side Smarter Driver Redmesa29 commented: Years ago I was a transit bus mechanic near Vail Colorado. We would have Aussie & Kiwi seasonal drivers come in for the winter. I asked a driver how they were able to drive here considering they drive on the opposite side of the road there. He said, just remember in the US & Down Under the driver sits towards the center of the road. And he is absolutely correct. Relatively speaking you are still sitting in the same position on the roadway. And the pedals on a right-hand drive are the same as in a left-hand drive. Depending on the brand of vehicle you’re driving, the only thing that might be a bit different, is that the signals and wipers are on the opposite sides of the steering wheel. And of course, if you’re driving a manual transmission, you’ll be shifting the transmission with your left hand – which isn’t has tough as you might think. For those coming from countries where they drive on the right, you’re more in danger as a pedestrian, and cyclist or a motorcycle rider. And because of this danger, the streets of London, England have “Look Right” painted on the roadway at intersections to ensure that pedestrians look the correct way before stepping out into the roadway. Freeways & Motorways Motorways and freeways are the same the world over. In their truest form, freeways are called “limited access highways.” There are only certain points where you can get on and off the freeway. And these on- and off-ramps lanes are separated by continuity lines. In other words, there aren’t any conventional intersections. Only motorized vehicles travelling at the posted speed limit are allowed. There aren’t farm tractors, industrial equipment, cyclists or pedestrians along these roadways. And traffic is travelling in the same direction, which significantly reduces the severity of car crashes. On freeways and motorways, manage space well. Have a following distance of 4-6 seconds. And if there are more than 2 lanes, travel in the middle lane, or first lane left of the right-most lane for your best defensive posturing. Right-of-Way is Never Taken You can be right, or you can be dead-right. The right-of-way is never taken, it’s always given. No matter where you go, no matter what you do, always give others the right of way if they’re intersecting with your path of travel. When moving through crowded intersections or roundabouts, and another driver or rider wants over, let off the gas and allow the other vehicle to move sideways. Is a few seconds of your time worth risking a crash. Not to mention the time, energy and money that goes into the post-crash clean up. And that’s if you’re lucky enough to escape the collision without any injuries or hospital time. In the post-crash world, there will most likely be a time where you’re without your vehicle. Without your vehicle you’ll have to arrange alternative forms of ...
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    33 mins
  • Distracted Driving

    Distracted Driving
    Jul 15 2022

    Distracted driving is the practice of driving a motor vehicle while engaged in another activity, typically one that involves the use of a mobile phone or other electronic device. And the use of cell phones and other electronic devices while driving has received the bulk of the distracted driving campaigns attention.

    The laundry list of activities that account for distracted driving is exhaustive.

    • Eating
    • Driving
    • Reaching for something in the car
    • Tuning the radio
    • Shaving
    • Putting on makeup
    • Billboards along the roadway
    • Actions of other road users
    • And so on, and so on

    "The Automobile Association of America (AAA) now says that distracted driving accounts for 25 to 50 percent of all accident. The discrepancy in that statistic is alarming. It could be ¼ of all crashes, or it could be ½ of all crashes that are caused by distractions.

    In the overall marketing campaign, it’s more finger pointing. The campaigns simply move to blame drivers. And blaming drivers is NOT going to reduce the incidences of distracted driving.

    As traffic safety authorities we must give drivers skills and abilities to effectively deal safely with the task of driving when they’re distracted.

    Because human beings are simply not designed to focus 100% on the task of driving when behind the wheel of a car. Not only has social media and other sources created ingenious ways to get our attention, but as human beings we can only concentrate on a task for no more than 20 minutes before needing a break.

    If you’re going to search for a new radio station, you’re looking for another podcast, or you’re reaching for the bottle of water in the back seat, make sure that you have lots of space around your vehicle. Be sure that you’re the only vehicle on the roadway. Have situational awareness for other cars, vehicles and road users before you allow your attention to wane from the task of driving.
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    34 mins

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