Discussions

Good morning Brandon! This morning I thought I’d finally sign in to eBrandon and post this topic. When you are ON the road a good 75% of drivers fail to remember how to drive! First of all, turn signals are meant to indicate breaking, and the turn of course! SO WHY ARE WE BREAKING 40KM in 1.5m and then signalling as your tires turn! The amount of times I’ve almost slammed into the back end of someone and I’ve been doing 50-55km! Parents, elderly and MOST especially the youth! I’m 19 turning 20 with 3+ merits and a clean abstract! We’re not in BC where rush hour traffic stalls your highway trip home from 40 minutes to 2 and a half hours! Signal at least 30 meters, use passing lanes correctly if you are going to speed or if you’re out put putting stay in the right lane. Im not telling you to drive defensively because you’re pissing me off, but because you’ll save a life, you’ll save an accident & you’ll be an encouragement to all these good drivers paying money for all the ignorant drivers. I’ve bit my tongue for a year on this topic already but after being pushed on the median by a fellow driver who failed to signal, shoulder check and mirror check I KNOW we need change. What if the person in my position had a family in the vehicle or less motor control, slower reactions or the median had a j walker. A j walker that could have been a teen or young adult, an elderly couple on a walk. Life is so unpredictable and that’s the most predictable part. Why do you think driving is so defensive nowadays. With all due respect Brandon, how does the PO pull over anyone to ticket them for failure to signal etc. When all drivers are merely hanging on the edge of not signalling. When you pay for the privilege of a license, you’re paying for holding the responsibility over your actions on the road. It’s 2019 and if you’re not finna give up driving, maybe pickup that handbook for a refresher. No ones life will ever, EVER be worth driver stupidity. If you’ve made it through this whole discussion thank you.

You sound quite passionate about driving. Maybe you should start teaching driving ?  
 
Also curious about the 75 % stat. is this a real fact about Brandon drivers ?  
 
Cheers

These are not just turn signals, they are indicators, to let other road users know that you are going to make a manoeuvrer. They need to be used when changing lanes, pulling out to pass vehicles or going back into or out of a passing lane.  
They should also be used when reversing out of a parking spot to warn others of your movement and intentions.  
When using them to indicate a turn they should be on for at least ten flashes before the turn is made.  
MSMM was what we were always taught.  
I do agree with the op that they are used far too late, if at all, gave up being a mind reader ages ago.  
 
Edited by vegimite, 2019-09-02 10:55:04

I guarantee you it is close. Open your eyes while you drive! I’m not passionate about driving, I’m passionate about people’s lives and not having to pay a deductible because these drivers aren’t following procedure! If anything bad driving habits have made me want to drive less! Driving is not a hobby? If so ya teaching it would be good or actually attending events that allow advance use of the vehicle? Like mentioned below there’s lane changes and parallel parking being missed with the indicators aka “turn signals”. I literally only get in my vehicle at 7:20 am , for lunch and 5pm leaving work, I still experience all the bad drivers just the same.

Also these drivers have been taught by professionals, and taking a test on the handbook! Like someone new teaching them would keep them from crapping on the rules again  
 
Cheers

Welcome to driving in Brandon. You have only been driving a couple years, but will learn that people don’t change and drivers will continue to drive how they want, skilled and unskilled. It’s YOU who has to be responsible. For yourself. Anticipate that people are careless and inconsiderate, so that you continue to be a defensive driver. You can only do your best.

1.) I was under the impression that the "leave one car length between you and the oncoming vehicle" regulation was meant for this very situation. So that you don't slam into an oncoming driver who has to hit the brakes for any reason, idiotic or not.  
 
2.) Observing driving habits, and the number of smashed up vehicles on places like the MPI salvage listings (not to mention other uniquely human situations such as DUI's, distracted driving, or overtired driving) makes me look forward to the ever decreasing amount of human inputs that vehicles will need in the future.  
 
I'm not talking about the problematic solo-autonomy that freaks people out when it goes haywire today, either. I'm talking about a system of vehicles and infrastructure that is interconnected. Similar to how TCAS keeps aircraft apart in the skies.  
Sure, collisions have happened since. But to my recollection, both of the most well knows incidents involved in human factors. In Germany, one crew ignored the computer, and in Brazil, one crew accidentally disabled the system.  
 
If anything, we may end up facing similar situations to the airline industry in this age of automation. How do you keep humans from losing their driving ability once driving becomes unnecessary?  
 
If you need any incentive at all . . . Imagine how much insurance rates should drop.  
 
Edited by Simonwalcal, 2019-09-02 11:53:35

Changing lanes through an intersection, and STILL not signalling. Worst corner: Northbound on First St. crossing Richmond. One lane changes to two.  
 
CROSS the intersection, THEN signal, shoulder check, and move to the right lane and you won't hear my horn.

As a commercial semi driver I find Brandon extremely frustrating to operate a large vehicle in. Not all Brandon drivers are bad, some are good... I find the traffic lights annoying.  
 
As for the lack of turn signals used...maybe this would help....

Canada wide should implement the following rules to have your drivers license.  
 
Perform a drivers test. Minimum 30 minutes in city driving going through various driving situations (traffic circles, 18th street zipper merge and bus lane, parking lot driving), 20 minutes on 4 lane hwy and 20 min on a 2 lane highway.  
 
First 4 years of your license (thinking 16 to 20) you need to perform a drivers test yearly. Less then 3 driving infractions you earn your merit on insurance. For every infraction over 3 its a 2 point demerit. To some max where you need to go back through drivers ed. And start 4 year process over.  
 
From age 20 on you need to test every 5 years. (25,30,35 ect) to age of 65. Start with your 5 merits and for every 2 driving infractions you lose a merit. City driving to a max of 6 infractions in which you lose 2 merits per infractions. Hyw driving to a max of 4 and then lose 2 merits per infraction.  
 
After 65 its every 2 years. With eye tests and reaction tests.  
 
You pay a $50 fee for the test and if you perform flawless you get half back.  
 
Real consequences to bad driving and in 5 years your terrible habits shouldn't come out to bad.  
 
As they change infrastructure in your city and alter driving rules you as a driver can keep up on them and know how to handle situations.

Am frustrated with traffic violations lately. Rolling through stop signs infuriates me. STOP means STOP. No signal lights, People driving with hoodies up(how can you see what’s beside you)? . We need some serious fines for these infractions! The ones who break the law are well aware of the rules, they CHOOSE to not obey the rules of the road

"they CHOOSE to not obey the rules of the road". Exactly. They have a license. They had to pass the exam to get it. As soon as they get their license they start breaking the rules. They didn't forget how to drive. They drive every day, most of them. You don't forget how to do something that you do everyday. Retest? They already passed it once and now they've had more time behind the wheel. They can easily pass it again, then go back to breaking all of the rules again.

Rolling stops also irk me... I live near several stop signs. When I’m out walking my dog, I count how many people roll on through vs stop- it’s usually more than half, even though I’m near schools and a busy pedestrian path. A 4-way stop is also annoying for this.. It happens regularly where I’m stopping, then someone rolls up and keeps going like it’s their turn. Or you’re not sure when their turn is because they are still rolling. Thankfully everyone’s moving slow at the stop signs, so a crash can be avoided but it still irritates me.

The worst are people stopping a full car length behind the stop line just to beat you to go first. Technically they are driving through the stop sign at that point. It’s amazing how many people do that. Also, people treating a lighted intersection with flashing yellow and red like a 4-way stop. Flashing yellow means that you must proceed with caution, rather than come to a complete stop. Flashing red means you must come to a complete stop and move through the intersection only when it is safe.

I laugh at the ones that stop way back from the lights. I am not sure why but many lights don't change to green as many don't change unless they can tell traffic is there by them going to the stopping line.  
 
I don't know how many times I have had to get out with a long line of cards behind me to tell the driver ahead of me to move up or the light would never change!

A lot of Drivers seem to be in such a hurry, & don't respect the rules of the road. Speed limits mean absolutely nothing anymore. If the speed sign shows 50km they do (70)km. If the speed sign shows 100km they do (120km) or more, and it doesn't matter about the road condition. If you do the speed limit, everyone is angry and assumes that you're the problem. It's a war zone out there. PLEASE, be "Safe".