Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/561260
48 G O I N G P L A C E S | F A L L 2 0 1 5 Back to (Driving) School 10 ways to fine-tune your skills on the road by Mark Richardson BEHIND THE WHEEL New driver in the house? Add an associate member. They get all the same member benefits at a fraction of the cost. 1 Hold the wheel correctly. Hold the steering wheel as if it's a clock, with your hands in the 9 and 3 positions. is way, if you need to make a sudden cor- rection, you can likely do so without letting go of the wheel, and you'll keep as much control as possible. is hand position also ensures your risk of injury is reduced if the air bag deploys. 2 Sit properly. Raise the seat back so you're upright and at least 12 inches from the wheel. Your elbows should be at a 90-degree angle, with your shoulder blades supported by the seat back. You'll be more alert and better positioned for reacting to the unexpected. 3 Set up your mirrors accurately. Most people arrange their side mirrors so they can see the edge of their car, but this area is visible with the rear-view mirror. Set the side mirrors wider so the view is just outside the frame of your car door, and you can lessen the blind spots. 4 Follow the four-second rule. Avoid tailgating by keeping at least four seconds of driving time between you and the vehicle in front. is gives you space to brake in a hurry and will also let you see farther down the road to anticipate potential problems. 5 Hang up the phone. is is probably the most dangerous distraction, and it's against the law. But go further: don't make phone calls even with a hands-free device. It's still a distraction. 6 Signal every time. Don't just turn on your indicators when there's another vehicle nearby; do it every time. en you'll be in the habit to signal when you really need to. 7 Back into parking spaces. Always reverse into a space in a parking lot if you can't drive right through. It's safer when leaving because you can better see traffic driving down the access lanes toward you. 8 Keep to the right. If the right lane is clear, drive in it. e law says keep right except to pass; to do otherwise blocks faster traffic and frustrates drivers. An irritated driver is a bad driver – you don't want a tailgater behind you. 9 Read the manual. Look through the owner's manual – you may learn something you didn't know. It will also tell you the correct recommended tire pressures; don't go by the maximum pressures printed on the tires themselves. 10 Clean your car. Just as you feel better when you wear clean clothes, you'll drive better when you feel pride in your vehicle. Toss the garbage and run your ride through a car wash or bring out the bucket and handwash on the next sunny day. at good feeling will rub off on the road. GP Visit driveright.caa.ca for reminders, tips and tools for parents and new drivers.