Boyd Autobody & Glass Articles

Most safe driving skills teach you to remain in control of your vehicle at all times. But that's not always possible.

There are times when even the safest drivers lose control of their vehicle: There might be water or ice or gravel that robs us of control, or a collision might cause us to lose control as well. If we lose control of the vehicle, here's how to stay safe. 

What you need to do first

We're making an assumption here that you are already driving safely, which means your seat belt is buckled, your hands are at "nine and three" on the steering wheel, and you're not talking on your cell phone.

When you lose control

Here is what you should do when you lose control:

Don't panic. Yes,

The seasons change. As fall approaches, the weather will be different than it has been all summer and it will change how our cars handle. Therefore, it should change how we drive so we can drive our cars more safely.

The sun is rising later and it is setting earlier. Dusk and dawn are the most difficult times to drive because the sun might be right in our eyes and the rapidly changing daylight at these times can also have an impact on how well see The trees are changing color and dropping their leaves. This can create a number of distractions – from a beautiful tree that captures our attention momentarily to a small whirlwind of leaves that blow around and distract us briefly. Yes, this might seem minor but even a small distraction is...

A lot of collisions occur at intersections

We thought it would be a good idea to write an article reminding people how to drive safely through intersections. We're focusing on intersections with lights but the same amount of care and attention is required for intersections with stop signs.

Recommendations If the light is green while you're approaching the intersection, slow down slightly and check the cross streets for cars that aren't stopping for their red light, and the left turn lane for oncoming traffic that might turn in front of you. If you get into a collision, it's likely that it will come from one of these trouble spots. Slowing down slightly gives you extra time to evaluate the risks and judge what your best option is When the...

In 2009, Transport Canada measured the number of collisions causing injury or death on Canadian roads

The number, they found, was 124,000. That's not a number that is likely to go down. At Boyd, we'd like to see that number diminished as more Canadians become careful drivers.

We've dedicated 2012 to be the Year of Safer Driving, and we're doing our part by encouraging everyone to work on just one driving skill each month. We believe that if we all can improve one driving skill each and every month, we'll all drive safer and diminish the number of injury- or death-causing collisions on Canadian roads.

This month, the safe driving skill to work on is braking in time.

Our vehicle's brakes give us a false sense of security.

Be Aware of Your Surroundings

When driving, it's so easy to forget about the other drivers out there and just to focus on what our vehicle is doing and where we need to go. We share the road with many other people who are all hurtling down the asphalt in glass-and-steel contraptions at dangerously high speeds.

If you want to be a safer driver, be aware of the four kinds of personalities on the road

Chances are, you'll recognize yourself as one of these personalities and -- more importantly -- you'll spot these personalities among other drivers. Knowing how you and everyone else reacts can help you predict and avoid collisions.

The timid driver

The timid driver is the one who drives slower than the speed limit and sometimes brakes...

Transport Canada has released a shocking statistic – in 2009, there were 124,000 collisions causing injury or death

In the past 3 years since those numbers were researched, is it likely that collisions have decreased? We don't think so.

So we're trying to do something about it. Each month, we've been highlighting one skill to help Canadian drivers improve on the roads. Although we'd love to see sweeping improvements in how safely drivers drive, we think that a realistic goal would be to improve one driving skill each month. If everyone worked at improving just one driving skill each month, imagine how much safer our roads would be!

This month, we're focusing on the safe driving skill of remaining in control. That sounds like...

Everyone Can Agree That Safe Drivers Have Fewer Collisions

The problem is, we don't always remember to be safe when we are behind the wheel. Part of our human nature and trying to live in our busy and stressful culture means that we are rushing everywhere we go and we sometimes take risks that might not normally be taken.

There Is A Disconnect Between What We Say and What We Do

Not because we are necessarily hypocritical by nature, but when we are behind the wheel, we might be in a hurry and therefore have an "incentive" to rush and make riskier driving decisions.

One of the ways that you can be a safer driver, is to provide an incentive to be a safer driver. This needs to be greater than the...

We all know we should be safer drivers

But sometimes we can put off acquiring new good habits because it seems like a lot of work. We know it's a good idea but who has the time to learn something new? So here are some simple strategies to be a safer driver right now. You can implement these instantly for instant results and you don't have to learn anything new.

Slow down to the speed limit. Many drivers drive between ten and twenty kilometres over the speed limit. But speed limits were chosen for a reason and the distance to stop a vehicle grows exponentially longer the faster you go. So slow down to the speed limit. This one should be easy! Turn off those distractions. Eliminate the desire to check your cell phone by turning it off while...

Excuses That Have Stood The Test of Time!

As a child, were you ever caught doing something you know you shouldn't have been doing? In a desperate "last ditch effort" to get out of trouble, we fire up the same old lame excuses that have stood the test of time:

"I didn't know it... it was my sister!" "The dog ate my homework" "I'll do it tomorrow" Etc.

Popular Excuses People Use When Driving Unsafely

Unfortunately, we never outgrow the need to rely on excuses, and sometimes we feel forced to rely on grown-up versions of those excuses when we drive unsafely.

• "I didn't wear my seat belt because it was just a quick trip down the street". This can be easily avoided by always wearing your...

It Happens Every Day On Canadian Roads

One vehicle stops suddenly and the vehicle behind them locks up their brakes but can't stop in time and – CRASH – two cars try to occupy the same space. In the eyes of the law, the second car that couldn't stop in time is the one at fault in this completely avoidable collision scenario.

Drivers Are Not Keeping Safe Distance From Each Other

The reason is, drivers tend to follow each other too closely.

In some cases, it's obvious: Tailgaters ride right up on the bumper of the vehicle in front of them, which something you should only see in a NASCAR race and not on the roads.

In some cases, it's less obvious: Drivers might attempt to drive safely but still don't leave...